Idaho has become the only U.S. state to designate the firing squad as its default method of execution, a decision that has drawn national attention.
The change followed a botched lethal‑injection attempt on convicted murderer Thomas Eugene Creech in February 2024, in which multiple intravenous lines were required and the execution ultimately abandoned.
Lawmakers adopted the firing squad as the primary execution method effective July 1, citing reliability concerns with drug protocols.
The state has issued comprehensive procedures outlining every step of the firing‑squad process, from volunteer selection to the handling of a second volley if necessary.
Each execution will involve six volunteer law‑enforcement officers: three shooters, two alternates, and one team leader who loads the rifles and directs the operation.
Volunteer officers must hold at least three years of Peace Officer Standards and Training certification, have no firearm or excessive‑force disciplinary records, and cannot be related by blood or marriage to the inmate or victim’s family.
Before qualifying, volunteers must demonstrate repeated accuracy by hitting a heart‑sized target during firearms testing.
Quarterly live‑fire training is required throughout the year, shifting to weekly sessions and full rehearsals once an execution warrant is issued.
The executions will take place inside the Idaho Maximum Security Institution, where a $1.2 million conversion of the chamber included $900,000 for construction and $314,000 for architectural design.
Five .308‑caliber rifles were purchased for over $24,000, selected for reduced recoil and reliability in demanding conditions.
On the day before execution, the inmate receives a mild sedative, followed by a second dose several hours prior to the event; the inmate is then secured in a custom chair and monitored by medical equipment.
During the execution, the prison director reads the death warrant and offers the inmate a final statement; the inmate may also request an eye mask.
Three shooters stand approximately ten yards behind a protective wall, firing simultaneously through a narrow opening aimed at the heart; medical staff monitor the heart for up to two minutes.
If the inmate remains alive, a second volley may be authorized before a county coroner pronounces death.
Eight inmates currently occupy Idaho’s death row, seven men and one woman, all convicted of murder.
Advocates argue the firing squad provides a dependable alternative to lethal injection, citing past failures with drug protocols.
Opponents raise ethical concerns, questioning whether changing the method addresses broader issues of capital punishment and criticizing the cost of the new system.
The debate over Idaho’s execution policy continues, reflecting deeper national divisions on the death penalty.
