President Donald Trump has reinstated firing squads as an option for the death penalty.
As announced by the Justice Department on Friday (April 24), the restoration of "lawful capital sentences" has been implemented to expand protocol in utilizing the firing squad.
The DOJ seeks to "expedite death penalty cases" to punish "the most barbaric crimes" and bring justice and comfort to surviving loved ones of those murdered by individuals on death row. Currently, five states allow death by firing squad: Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Utah.
“The prior administration failed in its duty to protect the American people by refusing to pursue and carry out the ultimate punishment against the most dangerous criminals, including terrorists, child murderers, and cop killers," stated Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. "Under President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Justice is once again enforcing the law and standing with victims."
Steps taken to enact the firing squad have been deemed a reversal of efforts made by the Biden Justice Department, which the Trump Administration claims took "extraordinary steps to weaken, delay, and dismantle the death penalty." Among regulations was the denial of death penalty sentencing and lethal injection being deemed unethical because of the potential risk of "unnecessary pain and suffering."
The Biden-Garland moratorium has begun the process of being rescinded while the DOJ continues pursuing death sentences against 44 defendants. Other steps being sought are the prohibiting of capital inmates from submitting petitions for clemency, and the reduction of time between conviction and execution.
