Boise, Idaho: In a groundbreaking and controversial move, Idaho has officially become the only state in the United States to designate firing squads as its preferred method of execution. Governor Brad Little signed the bill into law this week, marking a significant shift in the state’s approach to capital punishment. The decision comes after a series of challenges with lethal injection, including a high-profile botched attempt last year, and follows South Carolina’s recent execution of Brad Sigmon by firing squad just last week.
The new law positions firing squads as Idaho’s primary execution method, with lethal injection retained as a fallback option. This change reflects growing difficulties faced by states in obtaining the drugs required for lethal injections, as pharmaceutical companies increasingly refuse to supply them for executions. Idaho’s move to bullets over needles has reignited national debates over the ethics and practicality of the death penalty in the modern era.
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Idaho currently has nine inmates on death row, though the state has not carried out an execution in over a decade. The last execution in Idaho took place in 2012, when Richard Leavitt was put to death by lethal injection for the 1984 murder of Danette Elg. Since then, logistical and legal hurdles have stalled the state’s capital punishment system. The botched lethal injection attempt in 2024, which left an inmate alive after multiple failed attempts to administer the drugs, prompted lawmakers to seek an alternative.
South Carolina’s execution of Brad Sigmon on March 6, 2025, served as a notable precedent. Sigmon’s death by firing squad—the first of its kind in that state since the method was reintroduced—drew both praise and condemnation. Idaho lawmakers cited the event as evidence that firing squads could offer a quicker, more reliable process than lethal injection, which has faced scrutiny for causing prolonged suffering in some cases.
Governor Little, in a statement accompanying the bill’s signing, emphasized the need for a functional death penalty system. “Justice must be served for the victims and their families,” he said. “This law ensures that we have a viable method to carry out the sentences handed down by our courts.” Critics, however, argue that the shift to firing squads is a step backward, evoking images of a less humane past.
Idaho’s decision makes it an outlier in the U.S., where lethal injection remains the most common execution method despite its challenges. While states like Utah and Oklahoma have firing squads as a backup option, Idaho is the first to prioritize it. With this law now in effect, attention turns to the nine men on Idaho’s death row—and whether the state will soon schedule its first execution in over a decade.
Key Points:
- Idaho’s New Law: Governor Brad Little signed a bill making firing squads the state’s primary method of execution, making Idaho the only U.S. state to adopt this as its preferred approach.
- Shift from Lethal Injection: The decision follows a botched lethal injection attempt in 2024 and comes after South Carolina’s recent firing squad execution of Brad Sigmon on March 6, 2025.
- Death Row Status: Idaho has nine inmates on death row but has not carried out an execution in over a decade, with the last occurring in 2012.
- Backup Option: Lethal injection will remain available as a secondary method if needed.
- Rationale: The move addresses challenges in obtaining lethal injection drugs and aims to ensure a reliable execution process, as stated by Governor Little.
- National Context: Idaho stands out as most states rely on lethal injection despite supply issues, though Utah and Oklahoma list firing squads as a backup.
- Debate: The law has sparked controversy, with supporters citing justice for victims and critics calling it a regression to less humane practices.
