Mississippi House Proposes Firing Squad As Execution Method
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi House wants to allow the state prison system to execute prisoners using a firing squad if officials decide lethal injection is too expensive or unavailable.
The House amended Senate Bill 2237 Friday before passing it 80-39, sending it back to the Senate for more work.
The measure makes secret the names of prison employees at an execution and the pharmacy providing lethal drugs. It also makes secret the names of family members of the prisoner or crime victim.
First Amendment advocates say that the measure unconstitutionally restrains free speech. Supporters say the measure protects those involved in executions from harassment by people who oppose the death penalty.
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