The decision comes amid a shortage of drugs needed for the lethal injection
South Carolina lawmakers have voted to allow firing squads to be legally introduced as a method of capital punishment in the US state
The state’s Republican Governor, Henry McMaster, previously said that he will approve the piece of legislation “as soon as it gets to [his] desk.”
After the bill passed its second reading, McCaster said: “We are one step closer to providing victims’ families and loved ones with the justice and closure they are owed by law. I will sign this legislation as soon as it gets to my desk.”
South Carolina will become the fourth US state that allows execution by firing squad. Other states that enable this form of capital punishment include Utah, Oklahoma Mississippi, however all three states use the lethal injection as the primary method, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
The Governor of South Carolina, Henry McMaster, confirmed today on social media that he signed the piece of legislation, which enables execution by firing squad, into law.
He said: “This weekend, I signed legislation into law that will allow the state to carry out a death sentence.
“The families and loved ones of victims are owed closure and justice by law. Now, we can provide it.”
This weekend, I signed legislation into law that will allow the state to carry out a death sentence.
The families and loved ones of victims are owed closure and justice by law. Now, we can provide it.
— Gov. Henry McMaster (@henrymcmaster) May 17, 2021
The reason behind the state’s decision stemmed from a shortage of the three drugs needed to administer the lethal injection and the effect this would have on the state’s ability to carry out capital punishment in South Carolina.
Several drug companies made the decision to stop selling the drugs needed for the lethal injection to the US states following the ongoing widespread criticism associated with the death penalty.
Justin Bamberg, a member of the Democratic Party and a State representative, urged fellow politicians to reject the bill which would enable execution by firing squad for inmates on death row.
He said: “If you push the green button at the end of the day and vote to pass this bill out of this body, you may as well be throwing the switch yourself.”
Speaking on MSNBC, Bamberg said: “There’s no humane way to kill a human being. I don’t view the firing squad any better than the electric chair, lethal injection or otherwise.”
South Carolina has not carried out a state execution in the past decade.
