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The United States is preparing to carry out its first execution by firing squad in 15 years. Brad Sigmon, an inmate from South Carolina, is set to be executed next Friday, March 7, after choosing this method, which has not been used in the country since 2010.
Sigmon, convicted of the 2001 murder of his ex-girlfriend's parents, dismissed the other execution methods available in South Carolina: lethal injection and the electric chair, claiming that both involve extreme suffering.
The firing squad has been an uncommon method in the history of executions in the United States. Since 1976, only three people have been executed in this manner, all in Utah, with the most recent occurring in 2010. Currently, only five states allow this method under certain circumstances: Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Utah.
The execution of Sigmon will take place in the death chamber of South Carolina. He will be tied to a chair, a hood will be placed over his head, and a target will be marked on his chest at heart level. Three volunteer shooters will fire at him from a distance of approximately 15 feet through a small opening.
Sixty-seven-year-old Sigmon chose the firing squad out of fear of suffering a prolonged death by lethal injection. His attorney, Gerald "Bo" King, explained that his client distrusts the state's lethal injection protocol, particularly after three inmates in South Carolina were executed with difficulties in the past six months.
One of the main reasons for concern was the execution of Marion Bowman on January 31. A recent autopsy revealed that he was administered two doses of the drug pentobarbital, while the usual protocol in other states and by the federal government is a single dose. The same happened with Richard Moore, who was executed on November 1, suggesting that the procedures in South Carolina do not adhere to national standards.
State authorities have kept details about the supply and application of the drug secret, which led Sigmon to choose an alternative that he considers more predictable.
A brutal crime and a final appeal
Sigmon was convicted for the murder of his ex-girlfriend's parents in Greenville County in 2001. According to prosecutors, he beat them to death with a baseball bat in their rooms. He then attempted to kidnap his ex-girlfriend at gunpoint, but she managed to escape. In his confession, Sigmon admitted, "If I couldn't have her, I wasn't going to let anyone else have her."
Her lawyers have filed a final appeal with the South Carolina Supreme Court, arguing that her trial was flawed and that her defense at the time did not adequately present evidence regarding her mental health and difficult childhood. They have also requested clemency from Governor Henry McMaster, but have yet to receive a response.
The use of firing squads in the history of the United States has been a topic of controversy. For centuries, it was employed in military punishments and in the Old West. More recently, it has been seen as an alternative to lethal injection, due to the increasing difficulty states face in obtaining the necessary drugs.
Some experts, such as Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, have noted that death by shooting can be quicker and less painful than other methods. However, human rights groups argue that it remains a violent and brutal method that recalls past times.
If Sigmon's execution takes place as planned, it will be the first by firing squad in the United States in 15 years, reopening the debate on the death penalty and the methods used in the country.
Frequently asked questions about execution by firing squad in the United States and the death penalty
Why did Brad Sigmon choose firing squad as the method of execution?
Brad Sigmon chose the firing squad because he fears that lethal injection may involve extreme suffering. He distrusts the lethal injection protocol in South Carolina, where difficulties have been reported in recent executions.
What are the permitted methods of execution in South Carolina?
In South Carolina, the permitted execution methods are lethal injection, the electric chair, and the firing squad. The firing squad has been chosen by Sigmon due to his concern about the extreme suffering that lethal injection could cause.
What controversies surround the use of the firing squad in the United States?
The use of a firing squad is controversial because, while some consider it faster and less painful, it is viewed as a violent and brutal method that harks back to bygone times. Human rights groups criticize its use for these reasons.
How many states in the U.S. allow firing squad as a method of execution?
Currently, five states in the United States allow firing squads under certain circumstances: Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Utah.
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