You’d think the firing squad was a relic of the Old West or some dusty black-and-white movie. Honestly, most people are shocked to find out it’s not just a historical footnote. It’s actually making a massive comeback.
As of early 2026, the landscape of the American death penalty has shifted in ways that felt impossible a decade ago. We are currently seeing a weird, almost surreal push toward older execution methods because the modern ones—specifically lethal injection—are falling apart.
So, what states have death penalty by firing squad right now?
Right now, five states officially have the firing squad on the books: Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Utah. But here is the kicker: they don’t all use it for the same reasons. Some use it as a backup when they can't get their hands on drugs. Others, like Idaho, have decided to make it the main event.
Idaho’s Big Shift
Idaho is the one to watch this year. In 2025, Governor Brad Little signed a law that basically flipped the script. Starting July 1, 2026, the firing squad becomes Idaho's primary method of execution. That is a huge deal. Before this, they only looked at the firing squad if lethal injection was "unavailable." Now, it's the default.
The South Carolina Spree
South Carolina has been the busiest. They spent years in a legal stalemate because they couldn't buy execution drugs. Pharmaceutical companies didn't want the bad PR. To fix this, South Carolina lawmakers decided to offer a "menu" of choices: the electric chair, lethal injection, or the firing squad.
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It sounds grim, and it is. In 2025 alone, South Carolina carried out three firing squad executions—the most in a single year since the 1970s. Brad Sigmon was the first in March 2025, followed by Mikal Mahdi and Stephen Bryant. Sigmon’s lawyers actually argued the firing squad was less painful than the electric chair, which he feared would "cook him alive."
Utah: The Original Home of the Squad
Utah is the only state that never really let the firing squad go. For a long time, it was the only place in America where this happened. They actually tried to phase it out in 2004, but they kept it for inmates who were already sentenced. Then, in 2015, they brought it back as a backup. If they can’t find the drugs for an injection within 30 days of a death warrant, the rifles come out.
How does a firing squad execution actually work?
It isn't like a movie. There’s no dramatic "Ready, Aim, Fire!" shouted across a courtyard. It’s clinical.
Usually, the inmate is strapped to a chair with a hood over their head. A doctor locates the heart and pins a white cloth target to the chest. The shooters—usually five volunteer law enforcement officers—stand behind a wall with small openings for their rifles.
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To help the shooters deal with the weight of what they’re doing, one rifle is usually loaded with a "blank" or a wax bullet. Since they all fire at once, nobody knows for sure who fired the fatal shot. It’s called "diffused responsibility," and it's meant to prevent the shooters from carrying the psychological burden of being the sole executioner.
Why is this happening in 2026?
Basically, the "humane" illusion of lethal injection is breaking.
For years, states used a three-drug cocktail. Then, manufacturers started refusing to sell those drugs for executions. States tried new, untested drug combinations, which led to high-profile "botched" executions where inmates gasped or struggled for nearly an hour.
Enter the firing squad.
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Proponents, like South Carolina Representative Weston Newton, argue it’s actually more "certain." It’s fast. If you hit the heart, the blood pressure drops to zero instantly, and the brain shuts off in seconds. It’s violent to look at, sure, but some medical experts argue it's more reliable than a chemical cocktail that might not work.
The Legal Mess and What’s Next
It’s not all settled. In Indiana, lawmakers are currently debating Senate Bill 11, which would add the firing squad as a backup method. The Indiana Catholic Conference is fighting it hard, calling it "savage."
Meanwhile, lawsuits are flying in South Carolina. After the 2025 executions, reports surfaced that some of the shots missed the heart, leading to a "lingering" death. This has reignited the debate over whether the method violates the 8th Amendment’s ban on "cruel and unusual punishment."
If you are tracking this, here is what to keep an eye on:
- July 1, 2026: Watch Idaho. This is when their firing-squad-first law officially kicks in.
- The Supreme Court: So far, the highest court has been hesitant to ban specific methods as long as the state has some way to carry out the sentence. But with more states moving back to "bloody" methods, that might change.
- The "Drug Shield" Laws: Many states are passing laws to keep the names of drug suppliers secret. If these laws hold up, the firing squad might become a backup again. If they fail, the rifles are here to stay.
The reality of the death penalty by firing squad in 2026 isn't about tradition. It's about a legal system that is running out of ways to carry out its most extreme punishment.
To stay informed on this evolving issue, you should check the latest litigation updates from the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC) or your specific state's Department of Corrections website, as these protocols change frequently based on court rulings.