• Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed a bill making the firing squad the state’s preferred method of execution, effective July 2026. This decision reflects challenges with lethal injection and reignites national debates over capital punishment.
• Idaho’s shift follows a failed execution attempt of Thomas Eugene Creech due to collapsed veins, highlighting difficulties in administering lethal injections. Nationwide, states face drug shortages and struggles to recruit medical professionals for executions.
• Proponents argue firing squads offer a quicker, more reliable death compared to lethal injection. The law, supported by the Republican-controlled legislature, keeps lethal injection as a backup but prioritizes the firing squad to reduce litigation and expedite executions.
• The decision has drawn praise from victims’ families, who view it as necessary for justice, but criticism from groups like the ACLU, which calls it barbaric and unconstitutional. Critics also warn of reputational damage to Idaho.
• The Idaho Department of Correction is retrofitting its execution chamber at an estimated cost of $1.2 million, potentially using remote-operated systems. The move raises legal, ethical and reputational questions, placing Idaho at the center of the national capital punishment debate.

In a bold move that has reignited the national debate over capital punishment, Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed a bill into law making Idaho the first state in the nation to designate the firing squad as its preferred method of execution.

The decision, which will take effect in July 2026, marks a significant shift in how the state approaches the death penalty, reflecting both practical challenges and moral convictions. Little’s action comes on the heels of South Carolina’s execution of Brad Sigmon, a 67-year-old convicted murderer, by firing squad—the first such execution in the U.S. in 15 years.

Sigmon, who killed his ex-girlfriend’s parents with a baseball bat in 2001, was pronounced dead just three minutes after three volunteer prison employees fired .308 Winchester bullets aimed at his heart. The swiftness of his death has sparked discussions about the efficacy and humanity of firing squads compared to other execution methods. (Related: Trump says DEATH PENALTY a proper punishment for “antisemitism” in America.)

The Gem State’s decision to prioritize the firing squad stems from growing frustrations with lethal injection, the state’s previous primary method. Last year, Idaho’s attempt to execute Thomas Eugene Creech, a 74-year-old serial killer and one of the nation’s longest-serving death row inmates, failed when medical personnel were unable to establish an intravenous line after multiple attempts. Creech’s veins repeatedly collapsed, highlighting the difficulties states face in carrying out lethal injections.

The challenges with lethal injection are not unique to Idaho. Across the country, states have struggled to obtain the necessary drugs for executions, a problem exacerbated by a 2011 European Union ban on exporting such drugs.

Additionally, recruiting medical professionals willing to administer lethal injections has become increasingly difficult.  These hurdles have led to botched executions and lengthy legal battles, prompting states like Idaho to explore alternative methods.

Firing squad executions present a new set of challenges

Idaho’s new law, supported by over two-thirds of the Republican-controlled legislature, keeps lethal injection as a backup method but elevates the firing squad to the primary option. Proponents argue that firing squads are more reliable and humane, as they result in a quicker death compared to the potential complications of lethal injection.

State Rep. Bruce Skaug (R-District 10), the bill’s sponsor, emphasized that the change is intended to reduce litigation and expedite the execution process. He added that his proposal ensures that justice is served for victims and their families.

The law has drawn both praise and criticism. Supporters, including the families of victims, argue that the death penalty is a necessary tool for justice. On the other hand, opponents including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Idaho have condemned the move as barbaric and unconstitutional.

Rebecca De Leon, a spokesperson for the ACLU, argued that the death penalty, regardless of the method, violates the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. Critics also warn that the use of firing squads could damage Idaho’s reputation, deterring businesses and tourists who view the method as archaic and inhumane.

The practical implementation of firing squad executions presents its own set of challenges. The Idaho Department of Correction is currently exploring options to retrofit its execution chamber at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution, with cost estimates nearing $1.2 million. One proposed solution is a remote-operated firing system, which could reduce the psychological burden on executioners but may also invite legal scrutiny over its accuracy and reliability.

Little defended his decision to sign the bill into law in a statement. “I have long clear my support of capital punishment,” he wrote, adding that his move lines up with his support of “the Idaho Legislature’s actions in setting the policies around methods of execution in the state.”

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Watch this clip that explains how execution by firing squad is conducted in the United States.

This video is from the Tilt channel on Brighteon.com.

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Sources include: 

NYPost.com

IdahoStatesman.com

Independent.co.uk

Brighteon.com