# USA - execution by firing squad **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 7, 2025, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-execution-by-firing-squad/1015273 "2025-03-07T23:49:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2025, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-execution-by-firing-squad/1015273/1 "2025-03-07T23:49:54Z")
I’m surprised at how many states allow execution by firing squad. I though Utah was the only one (remember [Gary Gilmore - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Gilmore)? A South Carolina man is scheduled to be executed in the manner tonight (March 7). He also had the choice of lethal injection or the electric chair. South Carolina uses three shooters - all with live ammunition, while Utah uses five shooters - four with live ammunition, and one with blanks (unknown to the shooter)… [Brad Sigmon death sentence: How does the firing squad work in South Carolina? - 6abc Philadelphia](https://6abc.com/post/brad-sigmon-death-sentence-how-does-firing-squad-work-south-carolina/15988206/) ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2025, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-execution-by-firing-squad/1015273/2 "2025-03-08T00:08:13Z")
Yikes! With only three shooters there seems to be a chance that not enough will hit the heart directly. Hopefully the shooters are trained enough to not jerk the trigger. And they adjusted the sights for 15 feet otherwise all of the shots will be off. For that matter none of the rifle I have shot could even be adjusted to zero that close. Most of them bottom out at 50 or 100 yards. I think one of the bullets that hit Gilmore was in the shoulder. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2025, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-execution-by-firing-squad/1015273/3 "2025-03-08T00:39:59Z")
This was the fourth time there has been a firing squad execution in the US since the death penalty was reinstituted. The other three were in Utah in 1977, 1996 and 2010. This one went well as these things go. Between that, injection and electric chair, I’d choose the bullets too. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2025, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-execution-by-firing-squad/1015273/4 "2025-03-08T00:59:55Z")
They croaked him. > **[A South Carolina man executed by firing squad is the first US prisoner killed...](https://apnews.com/article/firing-squad-execution-south-carolina-sigmond-c998f11ecd3fcbf117d55b682ce3604a)** > > A South Carolina man has been executed by firing squad, becoming the first U.S. prisoner in 15 years to die by this method. Brad Sigmon was pronounced dead at 6:08 p.m. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2025, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-execution-by-firing-squad/1015273/5 "2025-03-08T01:02:10Z")
I thought the idea with multiple shooters is that only one of them shot an actual bullet, and the others had blanks or something. (The idea that each shooter didn’t know if their rifle was the one w/ the bullet, and thus the odds of them being the executioner were low.) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2025, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-execution-by-firing-squad/1015273/6 "2025-03-08T01:04:38Z")
I thought it was that all but one of them had a bullet, so there would be plenty of bullets, but no one shooter knew for certain he’d taken a man’s life. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2025, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-execution-by-firing-squad/1015273/7 "2025-03-08T01:10:36Z")
While I am against legal execution (I don’t think it deters any sort of crime), if you are going to do it, firing squad seems to be the most reliable if done correctly. Also, I have no idea how you wouldn’t know you had a blank. The difference between firing a live .308 round (what SC used) and a blank would be noticeable. I think anyone witnessing this would also know who had the blank. Seems like a dumb thing to do either way. If you don’t want to kill a man, don’t sign up to be on the firing squad. I’m sure it isn’t compelled duty. Also timely as Idaho is getting ready to start shooting people to death like Kohberger: > **[Firing squad could become Idaho’s main execution method under a bill awaiting...](https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/05/us/firing-squad-idaho-execution/index.html)** > > Death by firing squad could become Idaho’s primary method of execution under a bill headed to the governor’s desk this week. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2025, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-execution-by-firing-squad/1015273/8 "2025-03-08T01:14:22Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > I thought the idea with multiple shooters is that only one of them shot an actual bullet, and the others had blanks or something. (The idea that each shooter didn’t know if their rifle was the one w/ the bullet, and thus the odds of them being the executioner were low.) That’s how they do it in Utah. This was South Carolina. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2025, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-execution-by-firing-squad/1015273/9 "2025-03-08T01:19:09Z")
Utah is five shooters, none of whom are corrections employees, one with a blank who are 20 - 25 feet away, South Carolina is three shooters, no blanks, and they are employees of the department of corrections. They are 15 feet away. ---
**Author:** ![themapleleaf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/themapleleaf/32/14349_2.png) [@themapleleaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themapleleaf)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2025, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-execution-by-firing-squad/1015273/10 "2025-03-08T01:32:12Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Between that, injection and electric chair, I’d choose the bullets too. Same here. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2025, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-execution-by-firing-squad/1015273/11 "2025-03-08T01:39:04Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Between that, injection and electric chair, I’d choose the bullets too. You certainly would after watching this documentary: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/N2Hc7hUYivU/hqdefault.jpg "Mr. Death - The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr TRAILER") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2Hc7hUYivU) > [@wguy123](#): > > While I am against legal execution (I don’t think it deters any sort of crime), if you are going to do it, firing squad seems to be the most reliable if done correctly. I would rather be crushed by a sperm whale falling from high altitude but they are highly improbable and often accompanied by a sardonic bowl of petunias. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2025, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-execution-by-firing-squad/1015273/12 "2025-03-08T01:44:01Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > I would rather be crushed by a sperm whale… [![](https://img.ifunny.co/images/dd356979d8e503317b526b567ade430c3af3ca54ec74443742f53ec62bafb2c8_1.jpg) ](https://img.ifunny.co/images/dd356979d8e503317b526b567ade430c3af3ca54ec74443742f53ec62bafb2c8_1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2025, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-execution-by-firing-squad/1015273/13 "2025-03-08T02:09:56Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > They are 15 feet away that’s awfully close … pink spray and all that ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2025, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-execution-by-firing-squad/1015273/14 "2025-03-08T02:22:52Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > that’s awfully close … > > pink spray and all that Like being at a Gallagher show as imagined by Tobe Hooper. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2025, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-execution-by-firing-squad/1015273/15 "2025-03-08T02:49:58Z")
They are behind thick plexiglass with slots. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2025, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-execution-by-firing-squad/1015273/16 "2025-03-08T03:38:56Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > if you are going to do it, firing squad seems to be the most reliable if done correctly. I should think they would all be reliable, _if done correctly_. So I took this to mean that it is the easiest not to mess up. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2025, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-execution-by-firing-squad/1015273/17 "2025-03-08T04:00:55Z")
I’ve read and watched Green Mile too many times. TRUE! I’m still hoping someone comes in with better info on the “one person has a blank” story. I think that is 100% bull. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2025, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-execution-by-firing-squad/1015273/18 "2025-03-08T06:09:02Z")
As I said, Utah has five guns and one has a blank. SC has three loaded guns. It’s simple enough to Google. > **[Utah's firing squad: How does it work?](https://apnews.com/general-news-58559881d0f743009cfeb52196702382)** > > SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah Gov. Gary Herbert has given his stamp of approval to a law that brings back the firing squad in the only state that has used it in the past 40 years. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2025, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-execution-by-firing-squad/1015273/19 "2025-03-08T06:52:13Z")
What a fucking barbaric society. ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2025, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-execution-by-firing-squad/1015273/20 "2025-03-08T09:47:54Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > With only three shooters there seems to be a chance that not enough will hit the heart directly. I wouldn’t sweat the heart thing one bit. .308 to the chest at close range will do the deed just fine even when the heart wasn’t hit. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-execution-by-firing-squad/1015273.md?page=2)