Which U.S. States Still Use Firing Squad?

Curious which U.S. states still use the firing squad? Only Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah authorize this execution method today. Our article maps these states, explains their laws, and shows why drug shortages revived the practice. You will learn how the squad compares to lethal injection and stay updated on capital punishment trends.

Utah’s Firing Squad Executions

Utah is one of the few states in the U.S. that still uses the firing squad for capital punishment. The state allows this method when lethal injection drugs are hard to get or when the prisoner chooses it.

The most recent Utah firing squad execution happened in 2010, when Ronnie Lee Gardner was put to death by five shooters. Lawmakers later made the firing squad a backup method again in 2015, and in 2021 it became a primary option if drugs are not available.

Utah’s law says a firing squad is a lawful way to carry out a death sentence when other methods fail.

Below is a small table showing known Utah executions by firing squad in modern times:

Utah’s rules for the firing squad are clear. The team uses five trained marksmen who shoot from a set distance. The prisoner is strapped to a chair, and a target is placed over the heart.

Why Utah Keeps the Firing Squad

Some people in Utah believe the firing squad is quicker and more reliable than lethal injection. They say it avoids the pain caused by bad IV drugs. Others argue it is too bloody and old-fashioned.

Here are a few key points about the state’s approach:

• Utah used firing squad before 2004, then stopped for a while.
• In 2015, the state brought it back as a backup method.
• In 2021, governors signed a bill making it a main method if no drugs.

For readers asking What states still use the firing squad?, the answer includes Utah, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Oklahoma under certain laws. Utah stands out because it has actually carried out such executions in recent decades.

South Carolina’s 2021 Law on Firing Squad Executions

In 2021, South Carolina passed a new law that changed how the state handles executions. The law says if the state cannot get drugs for lethal injection, it can use the firing squad as a backup method. This made South Carolina one of the few states that still allow shooters to carry out a death sentence.

The law also gave inmates a choice between the electric chair and the firing squad when lethal injection is not available. Lawmakers acted because drug companies blocked the drugs needed for injections. This step put South Carolina back in the news about capital punishment.

South Carolina’s 2021 law makes the firing squad a legal backup when injection drugs are missing.

States That Allow the Firing Squad Today

Right now, only a small group of states have the firing squad on the books. South Carolina joined this list with its 2021 rule. The others include Utah, Mississippi, and Oklahoma. Each state has different rules about when the squad can be used.

Here is a simple table that shows the states and their laws:

If you live in South Carolina, the 2021 law means the state is ready to use a three-person team with rifles if needed. The law shows a clear shift back to older methods because of drug shortages.

Mississippi’s Statutory Option

Mississippi is one of the states that keeps the firing squad as a legal execution method. The state added this option in 2022 as a backup when lethal injection cannot be used. This means Mississippi does not pick the squad first, but the law clearly allows it.

If a court blocks lethal injection or the state cannot buy the drugs, Mississippi can turn to the firing squad. The rule shows that the state wants to keep executions moving when common methods fail. Lawmakers wrote this statutory option into the books so officials know what to do.

How the Mississippi Law Works

The law sets a simple order of methods. Lethal injection stays first. If that fails, the state may use the electric chair or the firing squad. The warden chooses trained staff for the squad. The table below shows where Mississippi stands next to other states with similar laws.

The Mississippi rule is clear for officials. It tells them what to do if the main drug method is gone.

Mississippi law says the firing squad is a valid backup when lethal injection is not possible.

This keeps the process from stopping during legal fights. Here are the basic points of the state’s statutory option:

• Lethal injection remains the primary method.
• Firing squad is used only if injection is invalid or unavailable.
• Execution team must follow strict safety and distance rules.

For readers asking what states still use the firing squad, Mississippi is a clear example of a state with a statutory backup. The law gives a direct answer and helps the state avoid delays.

Oklahoma’s Backup Method

Oklahoma carries out executions mainly by lethal injection. The state needs a plan for times when that method cannot be used. This plan is called the backup method.

In 2021, Oklahoma passed a law that added the firing squad as one of these backup options. If courts block lethal injection or the drugs are missing, the state may turn to other ways. The firing squad is on the list with a few other choices.

Oklahoma law lets the state use a firing squad when lethal injection is not an option.

How the Firing Squad Fits In

The backup method does not mean Oklahoma uses the firing squad often. It is a last choice. The law gives a clear order of options for the state to follow.

Each option has rules. The firing squad needs a team of trained marksmen and a clear setup. This helps the state meet the law if the main method fails. Oklahoma is one of the few states that still keep this old method as a backup.

For people tracking what states still use the firing squad, Oklahoma is a key example. The state does not use it as a first pick, but the law keeps it ready. This makes Oklahoma part of the small group of states with this backup.

Idaho’s Recent Adoption of the Firing Squad

Idaho is one of the few states that still allow the firing squad for executions. In 2023, the state passed a new law that lets officials use this method when lethal injection drugs are not available. This makes Idaho the most recent state to bring back the firing squad as a backup option.

The law shows that Idaho wants a clear plan for capital punishment. Lawmakers said the change helps them carry out death sentences without waiting for hard-to-find drugs. This step puts Idaho on the list of states that still use the firing squad in the United States.

Why Idaho Chose This Method

Idaho had trouble getting the drugs needed for lethal injections. Many drug makers refuse to sell them for executions. So the state looked for a method that uses basic tools and trained staff.

Idaho’s law says the firing squad is a valid backup when drugs are unavailable.

The firing squad in Idaho will be made of five trained officers. They use rifles to end the life of a person sentenced to death. Some say this method is quicker and less painful than a failed injection.

Below is a simple table of states that have firing squad laws on the books:

Idaho’s rule sets clear steps for the squad. The officers must be volunteers and they shoot from a set distance. The state pays for training and equipment to keep the process safe and fast.

Here are the main points of Idaho’s firing squad plan:

• Used only when lethal injection drugs are missing.
• Five volunteer officers with rifles.
• A doctor checks the result right after.

This approach gives Idaho a sure way to follow court orders. It also adds to the small group of states that still use the firing squad today.

Court Rulings on Firing Squads

The U.S. Supreme Court first addressed the firing squad in Wilkerson v. Utah (1878), upholding the method as constitutional under the Eighth Amendment. This early decision established a precedent that lower courts have cited for over a century when evaluating challenges to execution by firing squad.

Modern state laws reinstating the firing squad have faced limited judicial opposition. Federal judges have consistently deferred to legislative judgments in South Carolina, Idaho, and Utah, rejecting claims that the method is inherently cruel. The Supreme Court has declined to review these rulings, leaving state courts as the primary arbiters of firing squad legality.

References

1. Death Penalty Information Center
2. Supreme Court of the United States
3. NPR