[tdow]

In states where the firing squad is still a legal form of capital punishment, what kind of rifles do they use?

--tdow

[Phantom Warrior]

I read once in a Popular Science that it was lever-action .30-30 rifles. That was a few years back, so take it with a grain of salt...

[cratz2]

States? I though Utah was the only one that still used the firing squad. :confused:

[Shooter973]

I do believe that Utah was the last state to use firing squads but even we have changes over to lethal injection unless other wise requested. Yes the rifles used were Win 30-30's :scrutiny:

[Mike Irwin]

AFAIK, Utah and Idaho still have the firing squad, both have lethal injection as an alternate, while Utah allows the condemned to choose the method.

The last firing squad execution in Utah was in 1996, when John Albert Taylor was executed.

[GinSlinger]

Uhh, boy, it's been a while....

I seem to remember that in the Executioner's Song the firing line brought their personal weapons that were then loaded by a jailer so that no-one knew who had the blank. Am I wrong? And if not, when did Utah standerdize their weapon choice? Also, growing up in KS I can tell you that both hanging and firing squads can still be used there, just not by the state, which begs a different question: Does the military use standard issue rilfes/ammo if they resort to a firing squad?

GinSlinger

[Matt G]

I've always found it a little funny that there was one rifle loaded with a blank. Presumably, you would use experienced riflemen for such duty. Anyone with even a little experience in firing a rifle will notice the different feel in both the recoil and sound when firing a blank vs. firing a real load. Further, I would imagine that even an inexperienced shooter would notice the difference in noise, blast, and smoke.

But it may let some F.S. shooter sleep a little better at night, so I guess it's worth it.

Someone please help me figure out why I have for some reason always assumed that it would be old Springfields? Other than the obvious reason that it couldn't be a semi-auto, if one wished to keep up the sham that each man could have been firing the blank?

[Landfeldmesser]

I think the blank was more for their safety and anonymity than their well being. Any of them could have been the one firing the blank, and more than likely, only he would know. That way any of them could be the innocent member in the taking of the condemned mans life. They could all claim they fired the blank, thus keepimg the executioner secret. Not that it ever came up.

[Mike Irwin]

Pictures I've seen of US details executing German spies and infiltraitors after the Battle of the Bulge show them using Garands.

[ShaiVong]

I wonder if somebody got executed on April 1st, if they would load all the guns with blanks? :evil:

[Sir Galahad]

The real question is: What brand of cigarette does the condemned man get? Imagine if the last smoke was a Carlton---talk about drawing a blank!:evil:

[Snowdog]

I wonder if somebody got executed on April 1st, if they would load all the guns with blanks?

Well technically, I guess a coronary will kill just the same.

[RustyHammer]

The real question is: What brand of cigarette does the condemned man get? Imagine if the last smoke was a Carlton---talk about drawing a blank!

Might cause cancer! :neener:

[Dr.Rob]

The use of the blank is ceremonial, rather like the executioner administering the leathal injection remaining behind a wall. We aren't supposed to see the hangman anymore. (even the machine that delivers the dose allows "anonymity") As I recall from the Gilmore case, "experienced" riflemen were NOT used, prison guards and cops were polled and a lottery was held.

I was also under the impression that 1903 springfields were used, as blanks and ammo were easy to find.

As far as knowing who fired the blank? If you've ever fired a shot in 'anger'-- at a deer or otherwise you know its NOT like shooting at the bench, you often don't feel the recoil, or even "hear" the shot, now imagine there are 5 other men around you with high powered rifles and you've been up all morning contemplating taking a man's life..

It's a good thing they give someone a blank.

[GinSlinger]

Dr Rob said:
(even the machine that delivers the dose allows "anonymity")

Thats right, I just remember seeing a show about the lethal injection process here in TX. There is a panel whith two buttons and two key slots. The executioner and the warden each put in a key and then simaltaniously push their respective buttons. The machine recognises which button makes contact first and the immediately forgets. Same thing as the blank I guess.

BTW, it seems that the military is moving away from field court marshals. Does that mean that the military will no longer execute with the firing squad?

GinSlinger

[craigz]

Do they swab the convict's arm with alcohol before administering the lethal injection?