America Is Bringing Back Firing Squads. Here's Why It Matters.
Idaho just became the first state in the country to make the firing squad its primary execution method. Five states now authorize it. The debate over how America executes its condemned is far from over.
For years, many Americans viewed firing squads as a relic of the past. Executions by firing squad had largely disappeared from public attention, replaced by lethal injection as the dominant method of carrying out death sentences. That assumption changed dramatically when South Carolina resumed executions by firing squad last year. Now, another major milestone has arrived.
On Wednesday, Idaho became the first state to make the firing squad its primary execution method. The decision represents one of the most significant changes to execution policy in decades and reflects a broader national shift in how states are approaching capital punishment.
At present, five states authorize firing squads under some circumstances: Idaho, South Carolina, Utah, Oklahoma, and Mississippi. However, each state's law is different. Idaho designates the firing squad as the default method. South Carolina allows condemned inmates to choose it under state law. Utah authorizes it in certain circumstances. Oklahoma and Mississippi retain it as a backup method if other authorized methods are unavailable.
The renewed focus on firing squads has not happened in isolation. Over the past decade, numerous states have struggled to obtain lethal injection drugs because pharmaceutical manufacturers have restricted their use in executions. Litigation over execution protocols has also delayed scheduled executions in multiple states. Lawmakers supporting firing squads argue that the method is reliable, straightforward, and less vulnerable to the legal and logistical obstacles surrounding lethal injection.
Supporters also argue that states have an obligation to carry out lawfully imposed death sentences and that alternative methods are necessary when existing protocols become impractical. Critics respond that firing squads remain unnecessarily violent and raise profound ethical questions. Human rights organizations continue to oppose the death penalty regardless of method, while some legal scholars argue that the renewed use of firing squads will likely invite additional constitutional challenges.
South Carolina became the center of national attention when it resumed executions by firing squad. Brad Sigmon was executed on March 7, 2025, the first firing squad execution in the United States since 2010. Additional executions using the same method followed under South Carolina's revised procedures. The state argued the option provided a workable alternative after prolonged problems securing lethal injection drugs.
Idaho's legislation marks another historic development because it changes the default method itself. Rather than serving only as an emergency backup, the firing squad is now the state's primary means of carrying out capital punishment. State officials have publicly discussed preparing facilities and procedures necessary to implement the law.
Utah has long retained firing squads under limited circumstances and has periodically remained part of the national conversation because of pending death penalty litigation. Oklahoma and Mississippi continue to authorize firing squads only as fallback methods if other authorized procedures cannot be used.
Beyond state governments, the federal government has also updated federal execution protocols to include firing squad as an authorized method under certain circumstances. While no federal firing squad execution is currently scheduled, the policy change demonstrates that discussions surrounding alternative execution methods extend beyond individual states.
The broader debate reaches beyond execution methods alone. Legislatures in several states continue considering changes to capital punishment laws, including proposals involving crimes against children, expanded death penalty eligibility, and additional execution procedures. Many of those proposals face constitutional questions that could ultimately require review by federal courts.
Whether Americans support or oppose capital punishment, the policy landscape is changing. The return of firing squads reflects practical concerns over execution logistics, legal disputes surrounding lethal injection, and renewed legislative interest in alternative methods. For some, the changes represent restoration of a lawful punishment that had become difficult to administer. For others, they raise concerns about the future direction of the American justice system.
One fact, however, is no longer subject to debate. Firing squads are no longer merely historical images found in textbooks. They have returned to modern American capital punishment, and Idaho's July 1 policy change marks another significant chapter in that evolution.
About the Author
Keith Degitz is an independent journalist and founder of Conspiracy Theory Nut (CTN), a digital media platform focused on accountability, public policy, and underreported stories. His reporting and commentary reach audiences across multiple social media platforms.
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