For the first time since 2010, capital punishment by firing squad is set to resume in the United States, as South Carolina inmate Brad Sigmon, 67, chooses this method of execution over the alternatives of electric chair and lethal injection. Sigmon was sentenced to death for the violent murders of David and Gladys Larke, the parents of his ex-girlfriend, which took place two decades ago. His scheduled execution is between February 7 and March 7, reflecting the state's return to executing condemned prisoners after more than 13 years of inactivity.
Under South Carolina law, the electric chair is the default method of execution. It allows condemned men like Sigmon to choose between execution by firing squad or lethal injection. Sigmon’s decision to opt for firing squad has raised eyebrows, especially following his defense attorney Gerald King's assertion last week condemning the choices available to inmates as "an impossible choice". King elaborated, stating, "It’s either the archaic electric chair, which would burn him alive, or equally monstrous alternatives." This stark description emphasizes the severe moral and ethical questions surrounding the methods of capital punishment.
Since the three previous inmates executed since September chose lethal injection, Sigmon's choice is markedly different, illustrating the desperation some inmates feel when faced with the methods available for execution. King explained to reporters, "Brad Sigmon chose death by firing squad as the lesser of two evils, as grim as it may seem." This choice marks only the fourth firing squad execution since the United States reinstated the death penalty, with the last occurrence recorded back in 2010, highlighting its rarity.
The time leading up to Sigmon's execution has placed renewed scrutiny on capital punishment practices across the nation. 2023 saw only five executions, three being lethal injections and one conducted by nitrogen hypoxia, which faced criticism and has been described by U.N. experts as torture. Louisiana is also set to resume executions shortly, using this same nitrogen hypoxia method after over 15 years of pause. The term "torture" has been recurring throughout discussions of these new methods, provoking public outcry.
King said, "The current processes create immeasurable suffering, not just for those executed but also for their families and those tasked with carrying out these sentences." His words conjure images of agonizing deaths, which echo the sentiments surrounding the electric chair. Sigmon's case encapsulates the complicated intersection of legal obligations to fulfill capital sentences and the ethical dilemmas these methods evoke.
The backdrop to Sigmon's horrific crimes makes this case even more chilling. Over twenty years ago, he brutally murdered David and Gladys Larke with baseball bats, later attempting to kidnap their daughter. The heinous act placed him on the state's death row, where he has spent two decades awaiting his fate. Should Sigmon not arrive at the firing squad execution, his other final recourse lies with the South Carolina Governor, who has the authority to commutate sentences to life without parole. Historically, such actions are rare; no governor has granted such clemency since the death penalty reintroduced post-1976.
South Carolina’s legal system continues to face repercussions as the state enacts such extreme measures. With 23 states having abolished the death penalty outright and many others enacting moratoriums, the pressure remains on lawmakers to reconsider the efficacy and morality surrounding capital punishment.
The anticipated execution of Sigmon opens up old wounds among citizens both for and against capital punishment. Advocacy groups defending the rights of inmates vehemently object to the possibility of firing squads returning as legitimate methods of state-sanctioned death, painting it as regressive and barbaric.
Supporters of the death penalty argue it serves as the ultimate punishment for heinous crimes, often claiming it as necessary for justice. Yet the ethical struggle continues to resonate as many states are weighing alternatives or founding new methods, such as nitrogen hypoxia, against the backdrop of potential human rights violations.
While discussions on the constitutionality and morality of using firing squads and other methods persist, Sigmon's choice may signify how the debate surrounding capital punishment continues to evolve or stall. The eyes of the nation will undoubtedly be on South Carolina, as both advocates and opponents brace for the fallout from this stark choice between methods rife with moral peril.