Utah man chooses firing squad

[MarketNeutral]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8641280.stm

A convicted murderer in the US state of Utah has chosen to be executed by firing squad.

When given a choice between lethal injection or being shot, Ronnie Lee Gardner told the judge: "I would like the firing squad, please."

Of the 35 US states that have the death penalty, Utah is the only one to give firing squads as an option.

Critics say the method is a relic from the state's Wild West past and should be abolished.

Should the execution go ahead, it is likely to garner a media storm, says the BBC's Madeleine Morris in Washington says.

The judge in Salt Lake City set the execution date for 18 June, but Gardner's lawyer said he would appeal.

Gardner, 49, killed a lawyer in a shootout while trying to escape from a courthouse in 1985.

He would be only the third man to be killed by firing squad since the Supreme Court allowed states to have the death penalty in 1976.

Death row convicts in Utah were for decades allowed to choose their method of execution.

State legislators removed that choice in 2004 and made lethal injection the standard method - but inmates sentenced before then still have a choice.

[wildcard]

Pew pew. I hope one of big cartridge companies sponsors it.

*although I do have torn feelings since he shot and killed a lawyer. He should be spared.

[MarketNeutral]

Pew pew. I hope one of big cartridge companies sponsors it.



http://www.usmilitary.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/us-army-tanks-have-digital-armor-pics.jpg

[Carl]

Killed a lawyer, talk about feelings of ambivalence.............. :-\

[TheNocturnalEgyptian]

If you had to go, why the hell would you want lethal injection? Firing squad is way better.

[nunaem]

He only committed the crime in 1985. Aren't they being a little hasty? ::)

And yes firing squad is definitely less painful.

[MarketNeutral]

If you had to go, why the hell would you want lethal injection? Firing squad is way better.


Plus you get a cigarette and a snazzy hood.

[gunDriller]

Pew pew. I hope one of big cartridge companies sponsors it.

*although I do have torn feelings since he shot and killed a lawyer. He should be spared.


i would say Ronnie Lee has demonstrated social utility.

i wonder how he feels about criminal banksters or traitorous legislators.

[crazychicken]

Pew pew. I hope one of big cartridge companies sponsors it.

*although I do have torn feelings since he shot and killed a lawyer. He should be spared.


Two thumbs up on that one!

CC

[k-os]

He's going to meet his maker just after midnight tonight.

Link (http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65G6F620100617?type=domesticNews)

[Grand Master Melon]

He's going to meet his maker just after midnight tonight.

Link (http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65G6F620100617?type=domesticNews)


I believe he's having second thoughts now too. Loser.

[JDRock]

Pew pew. I hope one of big cartridge companies sponsors it.

*although I do have torn feelings since he shot and killed a lawyer. He should be spared.


smart@ss! i nearly chucked my cheeseburger! :ROFL:

[zap]

Nice, they gave him a choice !

[willie pete]

He's going to meet his maker just after midnight tonight.

Link (http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65G6F620100617?type=domesticNews)


I believe he's having second thoughts now too. Loser.


Yea Really, what a Wuss... :D I saw the sketch of it, strapped into a chair with sandbags all around, Doc puts a round target over your heart, 5 guys behind a wall with a pill-box slit in it, armed with 30-30's, looked to be about 20-25 ft away, and one of them has a blank, reportedly so none of them will really know who has "live" rounds, (Believe me you can TELL, a blank round has virtually NO recoil), the prisoner is hooded and then a small count down, then .....Bang!!!!! Oh and it said afterwards, the execution team would each get a specially minted medal commemmorating the event..... :D

[bonaparte]

did the article linked to change? Nothing in there about a commemorative metal or the prisoners doubts.

[willie pete]

did the article linked to change? Nothing in there about a commemorative metal or the prisoners doubts.


I'd Heard that on the news earlier about the Comm. Medal, here's the story from their WS

http://abcnews.go.com/US/Broadcast/convicted-killer-faces-firing-squad-utah/story?id=10913967&page=3

[Grand Master Melon]

did the article linked to change? Nothing in there about a commemorative metal or the prisoners doubts.


Link to another article (http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/06/17/20100617utah-firing-squad-garnder-hopes-for-reprieve.html)

While the article doesn't say anything specifically about doubts I don't know why he'd file last minute motions otherwise.

[sirgonzo420]

did the article linked to change? Nothing in there about a commemorative metal or the prisoners doubts.


Link to another article (http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/06/17/20100617utah-firing-squad-garnder-hopes-for-reprieve.html)

While the article doesn't say anything specifically about doubts I don't know why he'd file last minute motions otherwise.


Because he had nothing better to do?

[Grand Master Melon]

did the article linked to change? Nothing in there about a commemorative metal or the prisoners doubts.


Link to another article (http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/06/17/20100617utah-firing-squad-garnder-hopes-for-reprieve.html)

While the article doesn't say anything specifically about doubts I don't know why he'd file last minute motions otherwise.


Because he had nothing better to do?



LOL, true enough.

[willie pete]

According to the article, he ate his last meal Tuesday, Steak & Lob, apple pie ala mode and 7-Up ......I probably would've gone for BBQ Baby-Back Ribbs and everything that goes with it... ;D

What would your "last" meal be? (God Forbid)

[Gaillo]

What would your "last" meal be? (God Forbid)


Pufferfish - prepared by Japan's most incompetent chef! ;D

[Johnny Ringo]

What would your "last" meal be? (God Forbid)


Pufferfish - prepared by Japan's most incompetent chef! ;D


Now that's funny.

"Huh? The Supreme Court overturned the death sentence? Nooooooooooooo!!!!"

[Johnny Ringo]

Well, Ronnie Lee Gardner followed in the footsteps of Gary "Let's do it" Gilmore.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/06/17/utah-man-facing-firing-squad-execution-early-friday-moved-observation-cell/

[G2Rad]

He made the right choice IMHO

that might have been the better way for him to die because of

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Heb 19:22

How about liberals be more tolerant of the Bible and Christians and follow the steps of Utah. :boohoo

[G2Rad]

Correction: Liberals eliminated the right for proper way to die even in Utah


Gardner was allowed to choose between the firing squad and lethal injection because he was sentenced to death before Utah eliminated the firing squad as an option in 2004

>:(


The American Civil Liberties Union decried Gardner's execution as an example of what it called the United States' "barbaric, arbitrary and bankrupting practice of capital punishment."

[SLV^GLD]

The article bemoans public outcry. Public outcry is supposedly over the barbarism of the method.

Bullshit.

Execution is barbarous regardless if you are a proponent or not.

People are just used to having the unpleasantries of life hidden from view. Medicated away.
The firing squad is a loud, out in the open way to die involving multiple executioners.

Execution should be an in your face event.