South Carolina Firing Squad Executions in 2025: Controversy, Cases, and Current Debates
In 2025, South Carolina remains at the epicenter of America’s death penalty debate as it continues to employ firing squad executions, a method revived in 2023 and now facing renewed scrutiny. With lethal injection drugs still scarce and legal challenges mounting, the state’s reliance on this archaic practice has sparked nationwide outrage, ethical dilemmas, and landmark court rulings. This article delves into the latest updates, including the lingering shadow of the Brad Keith Sigmon case, and examines how South Carolina’s stance is reshaping capital punishment in the U.S.
2025 Legal Landscape: Why Firing Squads Persist in South Carolina
In May 2023, South Carolina’s SC Execution Law S.200 mandated firing squad as a primary execution method alongside electrocution, citing pharmaceutical shortages. Fast-forward to 2025:
Recent Executions: Three inmates have been executed by firing squad since 2024, including Terry Robinson (January 2025) for a 2002 double homicide.
Legislative Backing: Gov. Henry McMaster reaffirmed support in 2024, calling it a “constitutional duty,” despite bipartisan House Bill H.5432 (2025) seeking to abolish the method.
Federal Scrutiny: The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals is reviewing the method’s constitutionality, with a ruling expected by late 2025.
Brad Keith Sigmon’s Legacy: Catalyst for Change?
Brad Keith Sigmon, whose 2021 execution was delayed due to firing squad protocol challenges, remains a symbol of the state’s contentious policies. Though Sigmon died by lethal injection in 2023 after a last-minute drug acquisition, his case set precedents:
Sigmon v. South Carolina (2023): The SC Supreme Court upheld inmates’ right to choose firing squad over electrocution.
2025 Impact: His case is cited in ongoing lawsuits arguing that firing squads violate the 8th Amendment’s “cruel and unusual” clause.
Inside South Carolina’s Firing Squad Protocol
South Carolina’s 2025 firing squad method follows strict guidelines:
Preparation: Inmates choose last meals and meet clergy.
Firing Squad: Three riflemen (volunteers, anonymized) shoot from 15 feet, aiming at the heart. A fourth uses a blank for deniability.
Medical Oversight: A physician confirms death.
Costs:
53,000perexecution(vs.34,000 for lethal injection in 2023).
Public Reaction & Ethical Debates in 2025
Public Opinion: A 2025 Clemson University poll shows 61% of SC residents oppose firing squads, calling them “barbaric.”
Advocacy Groups: The ACLU and Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty are lobbying for abolition, citing botched executions in Utah (2024).
Global Condemnation: The UN Human Rights Council condemned SC’s method in March 2025, urging the U.S. to align with international norms.
Firing Squads vs. Other States: 2025 Comparison
While South Carolina persists, other states are diverging:
State 2025 Execution Method Status
Utah Firing squad (inactive since 2010) Retained as backup, unused since 2010.
Oklahoma Nitrogen hypoxia Adopted in 2024; used in 2 executions.
Texas Lethal injection 95% of U.S. executions (2024 data).
South Carolina’s outlier status highlights its isolation in the modern death penalty landscape.
The Future of SC Executions: 2025 and Beyond
Pending Cases: Four inmates, including Richard Moore (on death row since 2001), await firing squad dates.
Legislative Push: HB H.5432, backed by 12 GOP lawmakers, could end firing squads if passed in late 2025.
Federal Intervention: The Supreme Court may review the method if the 4th Circuit rules against it.
FAQ: South Carolina Firing Squad Executions in 2025
Q: How many firing squad executions has SC conducted in 2025?
A: Two (Terry Robinson in January, Anthony Green in April).
Q: Can inmates choose lethal injection over firing squad?
A: Only if lethal injection drugs are available—a rarity since 2023.
Q: Is the firing squad more humane than electrocution?
A: Critics argue both are inhumane; proponents claim firing squads cause “near-instant death.”
Final Word: A State at a Crossroads
As South Carolina doubles down on firing squad executions in 2025, it faces mounting legal, ethical, and political pressure to abandon the practice. With the Brad Keith Sigmon case still echoing in courtrooms and 11 inmates on death row, the state’s commitment to this method will either cement its notoriety or catalyze a historic shift in U.S. capital punishment.
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