Way to go Utah! Set an example for the rest of the United States.
For too long the "Industry" state has been either ignored or even dismissed out of hand and treated with disdain. That shall no longer be the case. Utah is demonstrating how industrious it can be in the pursuit of the democratic ideal where all can participate and reap the benefits.
In its decision to utilize the firing squad as a means of execution, should the approved drug/s/ for lethal injection not be available, Utah is bringing the opportunity to actively participate in capital punishment to the masses.
Lethal injection, hanging, electrocution, cyanide gas are all forms of capital punishment in which only one person is allowed to play the part of executioner. It only takes 1 person to depress the plunger, flip the switch, or drop the trap door. With the firing squad, multiple people are allowed to take part in the killing of one of their fellows. For far too long, being allowed to practice the ultimate power of the state has been restricted to a privileged few. In many cases the position of state executioner does not even rotate. Rather, just one person is allowed to engage in this activity for years. This is certainly contrary to the ideals of the United States where all are encouraged to engage in the pursuit of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in the exercise of their God given rights. Surely it is anathema in a country where, theoretically, anyone can achieve anything, we restrict the right of the average citizen to practice the tradition of capital punishment. Allowing them only to engage vicariously as a member of the state. With the revitalization of the firing squad in Utah more citizens will be allowed to actively participate. Surely this is a much more egalitarian method.
For those of you who may not be familiar with the process of execution b y firing squad, here's how it works. For execution by this method, the inmate is typically bound to a chair with leather straps across his waist and head, in front of an oval-shaped canvas wall. The chair is surrounded by sandbags to absorb the inmate's blood. A black hood is pulled over the inmate's head. A doctor locates the inmate's heart with a stethoscope and pins a circular white cloth target over it. Standing in an enclosure 20 feet away, five shooters are armed with .30 caliber rifles loaded with single rounds. One of the shooters is given blank rounds. Each of the shooters aims his rifle through a slot in the canvas and fires at the inmate. The prisoner dies as a result of blood loss caused by rupture of the heart or a large blood vessel, or tearing of the lungs. The person shot loses consciousness when shock causes a fall in the supply of blood to the brain. If the shooters miss the heart, by accident or intention, the prisoner bleeds to death slowly. The gunmen are chosen from a pool of volunteer officers, with priority given to those from the area where the crime happened. There are always more volunteers than spots on the squad. The shooters' identities are kept anonymous, and one of their rifles is loaded with a blank round so nobody knows which officer killed the inmate.
I will grant you there are some limitations to this method. The shooters are chosen only from a pool of law enforcement officers. Why should they have any more access to participation than any other citizen? Furthermore, preference is given to individuals based on location. If the condemned has committed a crime against the state then the entire state should have equal opportunity to participate in disposing of them. Also, one weapon is loaded with a blank round. This seems absurd. The theory is this practice allows the trigger man a reasonable doubt as to having actually killed the prisoner. The shooters are volunteers, These are people who want to see the prisoner die. In all the other forms of capital punishment there is no doubt who has executed the guilty party. The executioner is allowed full responsibility and credit. Why should firing squad shooters be deprived of this? And why only accept volunteers? Have a lottery system that includes all the citizens of the state. This offers everyone a chance practice the privileges of citizenship.
Now, in the spirit of full disclosure, let it be known that Utah should not get all the credit for having a firing squad option. Idaho also provides this choice.
It is a good thing to see the justice system apparently making itself more accessible to every citizen. Progress is being made. By allowing citizens to participate in state sanctioned blood letting, in this case literally, perhaps people will become more engaged in the democratic process. They may even be moved to exercise their ability to voice their opinion at the ballot box. But, I don't want to get ahead of myself. One step at a time.
In closing, You Go, Utah. No doubt, America commends you.
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