The Last Death by Firing Squad: History, Legal Status, and Modern Implementation

The last person executed by firing squad in the United States was Ronnie Lee Gardner, who was put to death at the Utah State Prison on June 18, 2010. While the method was largely phased out in the 20th century in favor of lethal injection, it has seen a legislative resurgence in several states as of 2026 due to ongoing difficulties in procuring execution drugs.

The firing squad remains one of the oldest forms of capital punishment, rooted in military tradition and characterized by its perceived certainty and speed. Although it is often viewed as a relic of the Old West or a standard of authoritarian regimes, the legal landscape in the United States has shifted significantly over the last decade. Understanding the last death by firing squad requires an examination of the specific case of Ronnie Lee Gardner, the technical protocols involved, and the contemporary legal battles that have brought this method back into the American judicial conversation.

The Execution of Ronnie Lee Gardner

Ronnie Lee Gardner’s execution in 2010 was a milestone in American penal history. Gardner had been on death row for 25 years following the 1985 murder of attorney Michael Burdell during a botched escape attempt at a Salt Lake City courthouse. Under Utah law at the time of his sentencing, Gardner was allowed to choose his method of execution. He famously opted for the firing squad over lethal injection, stating, "I lived by the gun, I shot by the gun, and I guess I'll die by the gun."

The Execution Protocol

The procedure for Gardner's execution was clinical and followed a strict protocol designed to ensure both the speed of death and the anonymity of the executioners. Gardner was strapped into a black metal chair with a hood placed over his head. A target was pinned over his heart.

Five marksmen, all of whom were certified law enforcement officers who volunteered for the task, were positioned behind a wall with a small opening. They were armed with .30-caliber rifles. In accordance with historical tradition, one of the rifles was loaded with a "blank" round. This practice is intended to provide "diffused responsibility," allowing each marksman to maintain the psychological possibility that they did not fire the fatal shot.

Medical and Technical Observations

Witnesses and medical reports from the Gardner execution indicated that death was nearly instantaneous. Upon the command to fire, four bullets struck the target area simultaneously. The massive trauma to the heart and central vascular system caused a rapid drop in blood pressure and immediate loss of consciousness. Unlike lethal injection, which has faced criticism for "botched" attempts involving collapsed veins or ineffective sedation, the Gardner execution was completed without visible technical complications.

The Resurgence of the Firing Squad in the 2020s

While Gardner was the last person to die by this method as of early 2026, the firing squad is no longer an isolated historical curiosity. Between 2015 and 2024, several U.S. states moved to reinstate or authorize the firing squad as a primary or secondary method of execution. This shift was largely driven by a global shortage of the drugs used in lethal injection protocols, as pharmaceutical companies—primarily in Europe—began refusing to sell their products for use in capital punishment.

Idaho’s 2023 Legislation

In March 2023, Idaho Governor Brad Little signed a bill (HB 186) that reinstated the firing squad as a backup method if lethal injection drugs are unavailable. This move followed a series of stayed executions where the state could not secure the necessary chemicals. The law necessitated the construction of an execution chamber specifically designed for firearms, highlighting the high logistical costs associated with this transition.

South Carolina and the Judicial Battle

South Carolina passed a law in 2021 making the electric chair the primary method of execution while adding the firing squad as an alternative, specifically to circumvent drug shortages. This led to an intensive legal challenge. In 2024, the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled that both the firing squad and the electric chair were constitutional under state law, clearing the way for the state to proceed with executions using these methods if lethal injection remained unfeasible.

Legal Status of the Firing Squad by State (2026)

As of 2026, the firing squad is authorized in five U.S. states. The conditions under which it can be used vary significantly based on state statutes and the availability of alternative methods.

Technical and Ethical Comparisons

The debate over the firing squad often centers on the definition of "humane" punishment under the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.

Firing Squad vs. Lethal Injection

Proponents of the firing squad, including some death penalty critics, argue that it is more reliable than lethal injection. Lethal injection requires medical expertise to find a vein and administer a precise cocktail of drugs. When these drugs are substituted due to shortages, the results can be unpredictable, sometimes leading to prolonged suffering.

The firing squad, by contrast, relies on mechanical force. The destruction of the heart leads to a total cessation of blood flow to the brain within seconds. However, the method is often criticized for its "barbaric" optics and the potential for significant physical trauma, which some argue violates the dignity of the person being executed.

The "Blank" Round and the Executioners

The technical setup of the firing squad is unique because it involves multiple participants. In most other methods (lethal injection, electrocution), a single person or an automated system triggers the process. The use of five shooters is a redundancy measure. If one shooter misses or has a weapon malfunction, the others ensure the task is completed. The "wax" or "blank" bullet remains a standard part of the protocol in modern Idaho and Utah regulations to mitigate the long-term psychological impact on the officers involved.

Global Context: Firing Squads Outside the U.S.

While the U.S. debate focuses on drug shortages and constitutional law, the firing squad remains a primary method of execution in several other nations.

1. North Korea: Reports from human rights organizations suggest the firing squad (including anti-aircraft machinery in some reported cases) is the standard method for both civil and political executions.
2. Indonesia: This is the exclusive method of execution for all crimes, including drug trafficking. The 2015 execution of the "Bali Nine" ringleaders brought international attention to the country's use of 12-person firing squads.
3. United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia: While beheading is more common in Saudi Arabia, the firing squad is used in the UAE for certain capital offenses.
4. Somalia: The firing squad is frequently used by both the federal government and military courts.

The Future of Firing Squad Executions

As we move through 2026, the likelihood of another death by firing squad in the U.S. has increased. Several inmates in South Carolina and Idaho have exhausted their appeals, and the states have finalized their execution chambers. The delay in the "next" firing squad execution is largely due to ongoing litigation regarding the secrecy of execution protocols and the specific qualifications of the marksmen.

The transition back to this method represents a significant shift in the American penal system's approach to the "machinery of death." It reflects a pragmatic—albeit controversial—response to the pharmaceutical industry’s successful boycott of the death penalty.

FAQ

Is the firing squad considered "Cruel and Unusual"?

The U.S. Supreme Court has never ruled that the firing squad is unconstitutional. In cases like Wilkerson v. Utah (1878), the court specifically upheld the firing squad as a valid method. Modern challenges usually focus on whether the method causes "unnecessary pain" compared to available alternatives.

Why do some inmates choose the firing squad?

In states like Utah, inmates sentenced before certain dates could choose their method. Some choose it as a form of protest, while others, like Ronnie Lee Gardner, cited religious or cultural reasons. More recently, some inmates have requested the firing squad in legal filings because they believe lethal injection is more likely to be botched and cause prolonged agony.

Who are the shooters in a firing squad?

In modern U.S. protocols, the shooters are typically anonymous volunteers from within the state's Department of Corrections or local law enforcement. They undergo specific training and psychological screening before the event.

Does the person feel pain during a firing squad execution?

Medical experts generally agree that the firing squad causes a more rapid loss of consciousness than the electric chair or a botched lethal injection. However, if the marksmen miss the heart, the person could potentially bleed to death while conscious, which is why modern protocols use multiple shooters and a precisely positioned target.

How many people have been executed by firing squad in the U.S. since 1976?

Since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, only three people have been executed by firing squad, all in Utah: Gary Gilmore (1977), John Albert Taylor (1996), and Ronnie Lee Gardner (2010).

Practical Considerations for Legal Observers

For those monitoring the status of capital punishment, it is essential to track state supreme court dockets in Idaho and South Carolina. These states are currently the most likely to carry out the next execution of this type. Observers should also note that the federal government does not currently utilize the firing squad; federal executions are governed by the protocols of the state in which the prisoner was sentenced, but federal lethal injection remains the standard under current Department of Justice guidelines.

If you are researching this for academic or legal purposes, the most authoritative sources for updated protocols are the official websites of the State Departments of Correction for Utah and Idaho, which publish their redacted execution manuals periodically.