Old execution methods are new again

The outgoing administration of President Donald Trump is paving the way for additional methods of executing prisoners who have been sentenced to death in the United States.

The Justice Department is quietly amending its execution protocols, no longer requiring federal death sentences to be carried out by lethal injection and clearing the way to use other methods like firing squads and poison gas.

  alJazeera

It's also quietly executing a rush of people before Trump leaves.

Actually, lethal injection is a horror story. It's not humane, it just spares the killers' and audience's sensitivities. It's expensive, too. Perhaps that's why the DOJ is approving firing squads and poison gas.

Firing squads is a very good idea. It portrays the killers' actions for what they are and forces the audience to confront what's actually happening: state sanctioned murder. And it's cheap.

Gassing, on the other hand, could cause some unwanted comparisons to Nazi methods of getting rid of unwanted people.

This will be a tough choice.

A spokesperson for Biden told the AP earlier this month that the president-elect “opposes the death penalty now and in the future” and would work to end its use.

But he did not say whether executions would be paused immediately once Biden takes office.

[...]

This year, the Justice Department has put to death more people than during the previous half-century, despite waning public support from both Democrats and Republicans for its use.

[...]

Attorney General William Barr restarted federal executions this year after a 17-year hiatus.

[...]

It remains unclear whether the Justice Department will seek to use any methods other than lethal injection for executions in the future.

The rule – which goes into effect on December 24 – comes as the Justice Department has scheduled five executions during the lame-duck period, including three just days before President-elect Joe Biden takes office.

[...]

The official said two executions scheduled in December would be done by lethal injection but did not provide information about three others scheduled in January.

I bet they continue with the lethal injections.

In some states, inmates can choose the method of their execution.

In Florida, for example, an inmate can specifically ask to be put to death by electrocution and in Washington state, inmates can ask to be put to death by hanging.

I'm guessing that last one isn't a popular choice.

In Utah, prisoners sentenced before May 2004 can choose to be put to death by firing squad.

Personally, that would be my choice. Quick. Probably painless. If they aim well.  Although heroin overdose might be a good option.

In 2014, following a botched state execution in Oklahoma, President Barack Obama directed the Justice Department to conduct a broad review of capital punishment and issues surrounding lethal injection drugs.

Barr said in July 2019 the review had been completed, allowing executions to resume and approved a new procedure for lethal injections that replaced the three-drug combination previously used in federal executions with one drug, pentobarbital.

The one-drug protocol is similar to the procedure used in several states, including Georgia, Missouri and Texas.

Choose your state for death penalty crimes carefully.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.