South Carolina is set to carry out its first firing squad execution on March 7, marking the state’s first use of the method and the nation’s first in 15 years. However, firearms experts are raising concerns about the safety of witnesses and executioners in the confined indoor space designated for the execution.
The execution of Brad Sigmon, sentenced to death in 2002 for brutally killing his ex-girlfriend’s parents with a baseball bat, is scheduled to take place at Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia. Photos released by the South Carolina Department of Corrections reveal that Sigmon will be strapped to a metal chair in a small brick-walled chamber… the same location where more than 40 executions have been carried out via electric chair or lethal injection since 1985.
According to the state’s firing squad protocol, at approximately 6 p.m. on Friday, Sigmon will have a hood placed over his head, and a target will be marked over his heart. Three prison employees will then fire at him from about 15 feet away.
Critics are questioning whether an indoor execution with firearms poses a risk to both those carrying out the execution and witnesses. Unlike traditional firing squads, which are typically conducted in open or controlled environments, South Carolina’s method places the shooters in a small, enclosed room. Experts fear that ricocheting bullets or improper execution procedures could endanger those present.
The decision to use a firing squad comes as states struggle with lethal injection drug shortages, prompting some to revive older execution methods. While supporters argue that the firing squad is quick and more humane, opponents call it barbaric and outdated.
With the eyes of the nation watching, South Carolina’s execution plan is drawing both legal and ethical scrutiny. Will this execution go as planned, or will concerns about safety and human rights fuel further controversy?
