In 2022, a South Carolina judge ruled that this method “constitutes torture,” calling it “cruel” and unconstitutional.
The judge noted that the condemned person could remain conscious for at least 10 seconds after being shot. And could experience severe pain if the initial gunfire does not completely incapacitate the heart. If vital signs remain after 10 minutes, a second round of shots will be administered.
Currently, five states allow firing squads, and Idaho lawmakers are considering making it the primary execution method. The last firing squad execution in the U.S. occurred in Utah in 2010, the only state to use this method in the past 50 years.
