TN Firing Squad Bill Passes House Criminal Justice Committee

A bill that would allow Tennessee inmates on death row to choose to be executed by firing squad has passed the House Criminal Justice Committee and is headed to the Finance, Ways, and Means Committee.  Tennessee’s current execution methods include lethal injection and electrocution.  WKRN reports last year the Tennessee Department of Correction noting death by firing squad would be difficult to implement and did not believe such executions would significantly reduce risk of severe pain.  Idaho is another state considering bringing back execution by firing squad.  Only four states currently authorize executions by firing squad; Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Utah.