South Carolina now permits death by firing squad for those sentenced to death, as prompted by a shortage of drugs for lethal injections. While no prisoner has been executed via this method in the state, convicted murderer Brad Sigmon has chosen it over lethal injection for his execution on March 7, 2023. The South Carolina Supreme Court upheld the firing squad law, asserting inmates can choose the least painful option, maintaining it does not violate cruel and unusual punishment clauses. Nationally, firing squads have phased out, with the last execution by this method recorded in 2010 in Utah.
No prisoner in South Carolina has ever been legally executed by a firing squad, despite it being an available option for those on death row.
In 2021, South Carolina passed a law that made death by firing squad a legal option due to drug procurement issues for lethal injection.
The last execution by firing squad in the U.S. occurred in Utah in 2010, though historical data indicates 144 inmates have faced execution by shooting.
Brad Sigmon, set to be executed on March 7, has chosen firing squad due to concerns about lethal injection's pain and reliability.
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