Utah Votes To Allow Death By Firing Squad

Politicians in Utah have passed a bill to allow death by firing squad.

The new law would see the state approve the method when there is a shortage of execution drugs, which is currently an issue for US states that enforce the death penalty.

European manufacturers of the drugs used for state executions have been refusing to supply them after heavy criticism from the public who are opposed to capital punishment, and threats of possible legal actions.

The man backing the firing squad bill, Republican Representative Paul Ray, described the method as a more humane form of execution, arguing trained marksmen killed more quickly that death by botched lethal injections.

The bill gave Utah options, he said.

"We would love to get the lethal injection worked out so we can continue with that but if not, now we have a backup plan," he said.

Critics of the bill argue firing squad executions will give Utah a bad reputation internationally.

"I think Utah took a giant step backward," said Ralph Dellapiana, director of Utahns for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, going on to describe firing squads as "a relic of a more barbaric past".

Utah is one of a number of states that is looking for a new way of putting people to death in capital punishment cases after two botched lethal injection sentences in Oklahoma and Arizona.

It is unclear whether Mr Ray's bill will become law. State governor Gary Herbert has not yet said whether he will sign it through.

Utah last carried out an execution by firing squad in 2010, when Ronnie Lee Gardner was shot by five police officers using .30-caliber Winchester rifles.