Death Row Inmate Chooses Firing Squad Over Lethal Injection

A South Carolina death row inmate, Brad Sigmon, has opted for execution by firing squad, making him only the fourth person in the U.S. to be executed this way since 1976. His decision comes amid concerns over recent lethal injection complications in the state.

Key Facts:

Brad Sigmon, 67, is scheduled for execution on March 7 in South Carolina.
He was convicted of the 2001 baseball bat murders of his ex-girlfriend’s parents.
Sigmon’s lawyers cite concerns over botched lethal injections in recent state executions.
South Carolina’s shield law keeps lethal injection drug sources secret.
The firing squad execution involves three shooters firing at a target over his heart.

The Rest of The Story:

Sigmon’s choice comes after reports of prolonged suffering during recent lethal injections.

Witnesses claimed three inmates executed since September remained alive for over 20 minutes, with one allegedly needing a second dose of pentobarbital before dying.

Sigmon’s attorney argued the electric chair would “burn and cook him alive,” leaving the firing squad as his least painful option.

His final appeal challenges his original legal defense, arguing his trial attorneys lacked experience and failed to present crucial mitigating factors.

If denied, his only hope would be clemency from Governor Henry McMaster, something no South Carolina governor has granted in nearly five decades.

Brad Sigmon, SC 3/7, 67, has elected death by firing squad.

Sigmon, will be strapped to a chair, hooded, w/a target placed over his heart. Three volunteers will fire at him through a small opening about 15 ft away. About 53k was spent for the new death chamber.

Life is sacred! pic.twitter.com/E1Yku30dT6

— Mary Seymour (@Pisces369112876) February 22, 2025

Commentary:

Death by firing squad is rare in modern America, yet Sigmon’s choice sheds light on the serious concerns surrounding lethal injections.

While many assume injections are quick and painless, growing evidence suggests otherwise.

Witness reports and autopsies indicate inmates may remain conscious and suffer for extended periods.

The state’s secrecy around its lethal injection protocol raises even more questions.

If the process were truly humane, why would South Carolina need a shield law to hide drug suppliers?

Pharmaceutical companies refusing to provide execution drugs also plays a role in the growing difficulty of carrying out capital punishment through injections.

The electric chair, once the dominant method of execution, has largely been abandoned due to its gruesome nature.

Inmates choosing firing squads over both injections and electrocution speaks volumes about their fears of suffering.

Firing squads, while brutal, offer a swift and certain death—an ironic yet understandable preference in a system where lethal injection is increasingly unreliable.

Sigmon is no innocent man.

He brutally murdered two people and kidnapped his ex-girlfriend, who barely escaped with her life.

But even the guilty should not be subjected to execution methods that risk unnecessary pain.

If states continue capital punishment, they must ensure it is carried out in a way that is transparent, reliable, and does not create a spectacle of suffering.

The Bottom Line:

Sigmon’s case highlights the challenges states face in carrying out the death penalty amid drug shortages and concerns over botched executions.

His choice of firing squad underscores the lingering doubts about lethal injection as a humane method.

As long as capital punishment remains legal, states must balance justice with ensuring executions are carried out without unnecessary suffering.