Firing squad? We’re going backwards!

How perfect! The State of South Carolina chooses the season of Lent to announce that it is now prepared to carry out executions by firing squad. The shootings can begin once the state Supreme Court approves the specifics of the procedure, according to the Greenville News. The state spent $53,000 to renovate its capital punishment facility after a law was passed allowing this procedure. 

Until now, South Carolina’s primary means of execution was the electric chair. But by law, inmates may now choose death by lethal injection or firing squad — provided the methods are available. The firing squad option was added after the state had trouble getting the right drugs for lethal injection.

I thought the story was so fitting for the season. After all, it is during Lent that we recall that incident a couple thousand years ago when our Lord was put to death in a most ugly and gruesome manner. Crucifixion was intended to be the most painful and humiliating death imaginable. And, if it didn’t work fast enough, the Roman guards helped it along. 

We’re told that guards could only leave the site after the victim had died. So, they were known to speed up the process by breaking legs, spearing the victim, banging on him, or even building a fire at the foot of the cross so he’d choke to death in the smoke.

Well, here’s the way things will go this many centuries later, now that we’re so much more civilized, according to recent news reports. 

In South Carolina three members of a firing squad will stand behind a wall and aim their rifles at the condemned person. That person will be strapped to a chair facing the gun barrels, but with a hood placed over their head. A “small aim point will be placed over their heart by a member of the execution team,” according to a Department of Corrections statement. 

All this, just when we thought we were making some progress on reducing capital punishment. The use of the death penalty has dropped sharply in our country over the past 25 years. 

Do I sound upset? You’re receiving this message from a man who actually viewed an execution in Texas, and who has some pretty strong feelings about the death penalty. 

Only Jesus Christ could have uttered back then, and probably still says today, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”



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