Brad Sigmon Chooses Firing Squad Over Lethal Injection or Electric Chair Amid Concerns Over Effectiveness
Brad Sigmon, a South Carolina inmate convicted of brutally murdering his ex-girlfriend’s parents, is set to be the first person in the United States to be executed by firing squad in 15 years. His execution is scheduled for Friday evening, and will see three volunteers behind a curtain firing rifles at his chest from 15 feet away.
Sigmon, 67, was convicted of the 2001 killings of David and Gladys Larke in Greenville County, where he bludgeoned them with a baseball bat. He also attempted to kill his ex-girlfriend before she managed to escape. Despite being offered the alternative methods of death by electric chair or lethal injection, Sigmon opted for the more violent method of execution due to his concerns over the effectiveness of the other options.
His decision has sparked debates about the ethics of his chosen method, which involves a process where the inmate is strapped to a chair, a target placed on their chest, and a bag placed over their head. The three executioners fire specially designed bullets intended to cause maximum damage upon impact. A medical professional will then confirm the inmate’s death.
This execution marks the first time in the US since 2010 that an inmate will die by firing squad, and only the fourth time since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. Sigmon’s legal team has made several appeals, including requesting more time to investigate the drugs used in lethal injections. However, his final appeal was rejected by the South Carolina Supreme Court, and no governor in the state has granted clemency to an inmate since 1976.
In 2023, South Carolina passed a law that protects the identities of the execution team and forbids the publication of details regarding the procurement of lethal injection drugs. This has sparked criticism from organisations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which argues that the law undermines transparency and accountability in executions.
Sigmon’s execution will take place in a newly constructed firing squad area, which cost the state $54,000. Although most executions in South Carolina are carried out by electrocution, the increasing difficulty in sourcing lethal injection drugs has led to the reintroduction of firing squads.
This method of execution is extremely rare in the United States, with only three people being executed by firing squad since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. Sigmon’s case highlights growing concerns about the transparency of the state’s execution processes and the ethical issues surrounding the death penalty.
