Idaho Makes Firing Squad Its Primary Execution Method, Stoking National Debate on the Death Penalty

Idaho becomes the first state to make the firing squad the primary method of execution, retrofitting a death chamber and relying on three volunteer marksmen to carry out eight executions, with a July 1 start deadline and about $1 million spent (including $24,000 for rifles). The move mirrors a wider U.S. trend away from lethal injection due to botched injections and supply issues, but it also raises concerns about pain, the possibility of misfires, and questions about how the process is conducted and who the shooters are. Past cases in Utah and South Carolina have shown that firing squad executions can fail or cause prolonged suffering, prompting ongoing debate about the method’s humanity and intent.