COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has signed into law a bill that forces death row inmates for now to choose between the electric chair or a newly
South Carolina had been one of the most prolific states of its size in putting inmates to death. But a lack of lethal injection drugs brought executions to a halt.
South Carolina death row inmates to choose between firing squad or electric chair for now Nelson Oliveira
South Carolina’s death row inmates will have to choose between two controversial execution methods the electric chair or a firing squad until the state is able to buy lethal injection drugs, Gov. Henry McMaster confirmed Monday.
The state legislature approved a bill this month to create a firing squad and offer that as an alternative to the electric chair, which will be the default execution method unless lethal injection drugs become available again. McMaster signed the bill into law over the weekend.
Firing squad or electric chair? New SC law makes inmates decide
By Jeffrey Collins
COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has signed into law a bill that forces death row inmates for now to choose between the electric chair or a newly formed firing squad in hopes the state can restart executions after an involuntary 10-year pause.
South Carolina had been one of the most prolific states of its size in putting inmates to death. But a lack of lethal injection drugs brought executions to a halt.
McMaster signed the bill Friday with no ceremony or fanfare, according to the state Legislature s website. It s the first bill the governor decided to deal with after nearly 50 hit his desk Thursday.
The Palmetto State’s Republican governor signed off on legislation to resume executions despite a lack of lethal injection drugs by forcing death row inmates to choose between electrocution and a newly developed firing squad.
South Carolina’s electric chair is seen in Columbia in 2019. (Kinard Lisbon/South Carolina Department of Corrections via AP, File)
COLUMBIA, S.C. (CN) Aiming to end a decade-long pause in executions, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster signed a bill Friday that requires death row inmates to choose between the electric chair and a firing squad if lethal injection is not an available option.
Those sentenced to death in South Carolina were previously given the choice between lethal injection and the electric chair located in the death chamber of the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia.