FEATURED POST

The expected cost of drugs for Utah’s execution jumped from $7K to $200K. Here’s why the state says it’s worth it.

Published
Image
Prison officials believe it would have cost more to fight Taberon Honie in court over their initial plan to use an untested three-drug cocktail than pay for the pentobarbital they now plan to buy. Utah prison officials are expecting to spend $200,000 for the lethal injection drug they now plan to use to execute Taberon Honie, after changing course when the death row inmate’s attorney raised questions about the state’s original plan to use an untested three-drug cocktail.

'This bill will give us options': Mississippi on the verge of allowing execution by firing squad

Published
Mississippi is considering the use of firing squads as an option for capital punishment as House Bill 638 makes its way to Republican Gov. Phil Bryant, the Hattiesburg American reports.

The bill, "To Revise The Methods By Which The Death Penalty May Be Carried Out; And For Related Purposes," also includes lethal injection, nitrogen gas, and electrocution as means of execution to be considered before firing squads, in a line of succession if one is ruled unconstitutional.

The Senate adopted the bill on Tuesday and it is now in the process of being passed along to the governor. When it was first introduced, the bill had listed "firing squad" as the 3rd option, but was later removed by a Senate committee. The Mississippi House reinstated it.

Execution by firing squad is a form of capital punishment often used by the military at war. Its use in the military involves the detainee or prisoner standing or sitting in front of a wall, as military personnel line up and aim to shoot the individual in the heart.

Chairman of the House Judiciary B Committee, Andy Gipson said of the bill, "I have a constituent whose daughter was raped and killed 25 years ago and the person is still awaiting execution. If we want to have the death penalty, this bill will give us options."

In an earlier debate on the bill, Gipson told Rep. Chris Bell (D), who is also a Baptist minister, "I'm a big believer in mercy and grace. Unfortunately, the death penalty is necessary for those who commit atrocious crimes."

According to the report, Gov. Phil Bryant and Attorney General Jim Hood have expressed their approval of the bill.

Mississippi last executed a death row inmate in 2012. There are 47 remaining inmates on death row.

Source: rawstory.com, Erin Corbett, March 29, 2017

⚑ | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com.

Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE!
Location: Mississippi, USA
Related content:

Most Viewed (Last 7 Days)

Alabama | The last execution

Published
Image
One day Alabama will conduct its final execution. The witnesses present won’t know that, of course. If capital punishment disappears, it will be by law or ruling that comes after these men and women gather in the small, tomb-like room at Atmore Correctional Facility.
Read more

China executes three for mass stabbing in Kunming

Published
Image
China executed three people on Tuesday for a mass stabbing in Kunming that killed 31 people last year, the country's top court said, with authorities blaming the attack on separatists from mainly Muslim Xinjiang.  Iskandar Ehet, Turgun Tohtunyaz and Hasayn Muhammad were put to death for "leading a terrorist organisation and intentional homicide", the Supreme People's Court said in a microblog post. 
Read more

Malaysia | Six former students sentenced to death in fatal bullying case

Published
Image
The six former students of Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) had their initial 18-year prison sentences overturned, and were sentenced to death for the murder of navy cadet Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain seven years ago. PUTRAJAYA: Six former students of Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) were sentenced to death by a Malaysian court on Wednesday (Jul 24) for the murder of navy cadet Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain seven years ago.
Read more

Georgia death row inmate says prosecutor hid plea deal wit key witness, tainting trial

Published
Image
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Attorneys for a Georgia inmate sent to death row 25 years ago are accusing a prosecutor of hiding a deal that they contend casts doubt on the credibility of a crucial trial witness. Warren King was sentenced to death in September 1998 after an Appling County jury convicted him of murdering Karen Crosby, a convenience store clerk who was fatally shot during an armed robbery in southeast Georgia.
Read more

NPR Investigation Reveals Supplier of Texas Execution Drugs Has Multiple DEA Violations; provided TDCJ with pentobarbital for more than 20 executions

Published
Image
A July 10, 2024, National Public Radio (NPR) investigation has revealed that Rite Away, a small chain of pharmacies located around San Antonio and Austin, Texas, compounded and provided pentobarbital for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) between 2019 and late 2023 to carry out lethal injection executions. 
Read more