US Adding Firing Squads To Capital Punishment
The Justice Department is officially moving to include firing squads as an authorized method for federal executions. This change comes as the current administration looks to ramp up capital punishment and speed up pending cases.
Officials announced on Friday that the DOJ is reauthorizing several protocols, including the use of pentobarbital, which had previously been removed over concerns about pain and suffering. The new rules will allow the federal government to use firing squads or any other method permitted by the state where the prisoner was sentenced.
This move is part of a broader push to resume federal executions after they were paused under the previous administration. While only a few people currently remain on federal death row, the administration has already authorized seeking the death penalty for dozens of new defendants.
The update is expected to draw major pushback from advocates who argue against the death penalty, but the Justice Department is moving forward to ensure they have the means to carry out these sentences without the delays caused by drug shortages or legal hurdles.
