A controversial method of execution was preserved not due to its supposed humane qualities, but because prisoners—with no other options—were forced to fill in a blank in legal documents. The decision reflects a grim historical context where inmates had no meaningful choice in the matter. The practice’s continuation raises questions about the ethics behind its retention. Critics argue the process lacks transparency and accountability in its origins.
The firing squad was not chosen on evidence that it produces a death free of cruelty. It was written in by prisoners who had to fill in a blank with nothing else left to write.
