Utah to use Model 94s for firing squad execution

Joel · Post by **Joel** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 4:11 pm

"In Utah, the weapon of choice for firing squads is the .30-caliber rifle, which uses powerful .30-30 cartridges designed to take down big game such as black bear, deer and moose."

http://abcnews.go.com/US/Broadcast/conv ... 967&page=1

The Mechanics of the Firing Squad for Ronnie Lee Gardner
Convicted Killer Ronnie Lee Gardner Will Be Shot By Firing Squad at Midnight

106 comments By RAY SANCHEZ
June 17, 2010
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Sometime after midnight Friday, Ronnie Lee Gardner is to be strapped into a chair in the execution chamber at the state prison in Draper, Utah. A black hood is to be slipped over the bald head of the 49-year-old convicted killer, if he wishes. A small circular target will be pinned over his heart.

A reporter in Utah describes the impact of seeing a firing squad execution.
It has been 14 years since rifles were last fired in a state execution. Barring a last-minute reprieve, Gardner will be only the third person to die before a firing squad in Utah – or anywhere else in the nation – since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.

The simple mechanics of an old fashioned execution by firing squad are cold blooded, efficient and have just a hint of consideration for the person living his last moments.

Gardner's final procession toward execution began this week. He was moved at 9 p.m. Wednesday from his 6-by-12-foot cell on Death Row to a deathwatch cell near the execution chamber. Prison guards monitor him round-the-clock.

Gardner ate his final meal Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and elected to fast before his execution. His last meal included steak, lobster, 7-Up, appie pie and vanilla ice cream at a cost of $35 to the state, corrections officials said. He did not request a cigarette.

Utah corrections department guidelines said the meal was prepared on site by prison personnel. "Alcohol will not be served or used in the cooking of the meal," the guidelines state.

Still, the condemned are indulged to a point.

"If they asked for escargot to be flown in from Paris, we would have said no," said Gary DeLand, who ran Utah's prison system from 1985 to 1992 and crafted the state's 200-page manual for carrying out executions. "One final meal was a hamburger and fries from a particular fast food place."

Utah last used the firing squad in 1996 to execute John Albert Taylor, who was convicted of the 1989 rape and strangulation of an 11-year-old girl. He ordered pizzas "with everything" for his last meal, according to press accounts.

The final cigarette is mythical – in Draper, at least. DeLand said he oversaw two executions by lethal injection and neither inmate requested a smoke. "We were a non-smoking institution when I was there," DeLand said.

DeLand was supposed to supervise Gardner's execution in the 1990s, but it was halted by court order.

In Utah, the weapon of choice for firing squads is the .30-caliber rifle, which uses powerful .30-30 cartridges designed to take down big game such as black bear, deer and moose.

"Word was put out that we needed five rifles," said DeLand. "We selected a firing squad and provided them a good deal of ammunition. They went out and practiced, making sure they could shoot on proper cadence, making sure they could keep all the shots inside a pattern that would be easily covered with a quarter."

A court order prolonged Gardner's life until now. After the customary last meeting with visitors and a minister, Gardner will be manacled and escorted to the execution chamber. His head, arms, legs and torso will be strapped to a winged, black metal chair that was last used for Taylor's execution. The chair sits on a raised platform that is like a small stage. A tray beneath the chair collects the blood that runs from the prisoner's body. Sandbags stacked behind the chair are meant to stop stray bullets.

"The death chair, painted a deep midnight blue to neutralize the color of blood into an indistinguishable glistening hue, was made of steel and mesh," the late reporter Hal Schindler wrote in The Salt Lake Tribune. "Velcro strips secured the condemned's ankles, wrists, arms and body. It was a far cry from the piece of ordinary office furniture used when the notorious Gary Mark Gilmore faced a firing squad in 1977."

It was Gilmore's poorly planned and sloppy execution that prompted DeLand to craft a manual with protocols for firing squad executions. At Gilmore's execution, a camera had been smuggled into the death chamber and photos snapped. Alcohol also was smuggled into Gilmore's cell the night before. Photos surfaced of Gilmore sipping whisky from miniature bottles. The circular patch that was pinned over Gilmore's heart was attached backwards, making it hard for the firing squad to take aim on the vital organ.

"A friend on the Gilmore firing squad said it was one of the most poorly organized events he had ever been to," DeLand said. "The whole situation with Gary Gilmore was a mess."

In observation rooms surrounding the death chamber, about two dozen witnesses will view the execution, including relatives of the victims, state representatives, the news media and five people selected by Gardner. He was convicted of capital murder 25 years ago for the 1985 fatal courthouse shooting of attorney Michael Burdell during an escape attempt.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 4:24 pm

Five CorLokt 150s through the heart are a very humane way to go

Otto · Post by **Otto** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 4:46 pm

I guess that's why they use five rifles: because the .30-30 is so underpowered and ineffective.

Apparently the procedure is conducted at a distance of 25 feet- an iffy range for the .30-30.

Lastmohecken · Post by **Lastmohecken** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 5:08 pm

It's those lousy core locks, now if they would just use Winchester silver tips.

CarlsenHighway · Post by **CarlsenHighway** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 5:17 pm

I sort of find this unlikely - why would they use .30/30's? Do they still have them lying around from the last time they did it?
Why wouldnt they use what they get issued with now, AR's or something.

Otto · Post by **Otto** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 5:30 pm

CarlsenHighway wrote:I sort of find this unlikely - why would they use .30/30's? Do they still have them lying around from the last time they did it?
Why wouldnt they use what they get issued with now, AR's or something.

Well, according to Wikipedia, Gary Gilmore was executed in 1977 "with .30-30 caliber rifles and off-the-shelf Winchester 150 grain (9.7 g) SilverTip ammunition." Does anyone have a source detailing the current or most recent procedure?

Joel · Post by **Joel** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 5:40 pm

PAGE 3

One of the Five Gunmen Will Fire a Blank
Once Gardner is strapped into the death chair, the prison warden will open the curtains to the observations rooms. Gardner will be asked for any last words.

The five anonymous riflemen, all state law enforcement officers, will stand behind a brick wall with a gunport. They will aim at the target on Gardner's heart from about 25 feet away. Four of the five rifles will be loaded with live rounds. The weapon with the blank round is unknown.

"It's a very easy shot," DeLand said. "It's not like you need to be much of a marksman. If you couldn't hit that target from that distance, you have no business owning a gun."

Execution by firing squads date back as far as firearms themselves, but they are rare in the United States. Utah is one of the last states with the practice – using firing squads in 40 of its 49 executions in the last 160 years.

In 2004, Utah lawmakers made lethal injection available in death penalty cases but inmates condemned before then were given the choice of a firing squad. In April, a judge asked Gardner for his preference. "I would like the firing squad, please," he politely replied.

Execution by firing squad, long associated with military tribunals, has been criticized by human rights groups as archaic and barbaric. In fact, the guillotine and the electric chair were introduced because they were seen as more humane than facing a firing squad.

"Firing squad conjures certain graphic images in people's minds that are especially disturbing," said Laura Moye, director of Amnesty International's death penalty abolition campaign. "At the end of the day, we think there is no humane way to kill a human being... You're condemning a person to death. You're keeping them on death row and telling them, at one point we're going to take you into a chamber, strap you down and kill you."

Modern firing squad executions in the U.S. have gone smoothly, but it was not unusual in the past for several rounds to strike the prisoner without killing him. In such cases, a final shot was fired at close range to put the inmate out of his misery.

"No man who has ever lived on this earth could survive four rounds from a .30-30 rifle to the chest," DeLand said. "You can almost almost shut your eyes and hit him from that distance."

Otto · Post by **Otto** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 6:03 pm

Yeah, but the article is an interview of the guy who used to supervise executions over fifteen years ago. Alot could have changed since then, not to mention the fact that reporters can screw up alot of things.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 6:27 pm

I would think it would be more 'humane' to use rounds aimed at the head, though once someone has done something bad enough (especially in these times) that they get the death penalty, perhaps they don't deserve picture-perfect 'humaneness'. Regardless, even the four heart shots simultaneously may be no worse than the electric chair.

Lethal injection could be the most 'humane' but it is almost frighteningly TOO sterile and clinical. At least if executions are a bit 'gross', the public may object if they began to be done for frivolous/political reasons.

If I opposed the 'death penalty' it wouldn't be so much as for 'humane' reasons, as it would be for the fact that the state can potentially abuse it and eliminate the opposition in the process. Of course technology is so advanced, and the news media is so lazy, that they could imprison and drug tens of thousands of people before the rest of public might turn off the sports and entertainment long enough to wonder where their neighbor disappeared to.

Joel · Post by **Joel** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 6:41 pm

Convicted Utah killer set to die by firing squad
James Nelson
SALT LAKE CITY
Thu Jun 17, 2010 6:43pm EDT
(Reuters) - A Utah man convicted of two murders was scheduled to die by firing squad early Friday morning, becoming only the third man put to death by that means in the United States since 1976.

U.S.

Ronnie Lee Gardner, who chose the firing squad as his method of execution before it was banned by Utah, is expected to die a few minutes after midnight for killing a lawyer during a bloody 1985 escape attempt.

Gardner's last hope rests with an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court after Utah Governor Gary Herbert on Thursday denied his request for a temporary stay of execution.

"Upon careful review, there is nothing in the materials provided this morning that has not already been considered and decided by the Board of Pardons and Parole or numerous courts," Herbert said in a written statement released through his office.

"Mr. Gardner has had a full and fair opportunity to have his case considered by numerous tribunals," the governor said.

If his petition to the Supreme Court is also denied, Gardner, 49, will be strapped to a black metal chair and hooded, a target over his chest, and asked for his last words before he is shot to death by a five-man firing squad using .30 caliber rifles.

Four of the rifles will be loaded with live bullets and one will carry a blank round, allowing members of the firing squad to retain some doubt over whether or not they fired a fatal round into Gardner's chest.

Like all U.S. states where the death penalty is in use, Utah now uses lethal injection as its primary means of putting a condemned man to death. Only Oklahoma still offers the firing squad as an alternative.

"I find it barbaric," Bishop John C. Wester of The Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City said in an interview.

"If you're going to do the death penalty, lethal injection would be the more humane way," Wester said, adding in reference to the firing squad: "It emblazons in our consciousness the violence that guns wreck on our lives," said Wester.

Gardner was sentenced to death for the murder of attorney Michael Burrell, whom he shot to death while trying to escape from a courthouse. Gardner had been in court to face a murder charge for the shooting death of bartender Mervyn Otterstrom and was ultimately convicted in that case as well.

Otterstrom's son, Jason, will attend the execution, along with other family members.

"Jason and I will be there," Mervyn Otterstrom's cousin, Craig Watson, told Reuters. "This going to be tough for (Jason Otterstrom). It's going to be tough for everybody."

(Writing by Dan Whitcomb; editing by Todd Eastham)

Malamute · Post by **Malamute** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 8:22 pm

I saw a picture once of the rifles they use. They are model 64's. I believe they are kept just for that reason, tho I'm not sure how long they've had them, or what agency procured them originally. They may be prison guard rifles from years past. I do seem to recall they have been in the system for a fairly long time, making them pre-64's, and possibly pre-war guns.

Post by **Hobie** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 9:00 pm

I won't post it here but there are photos on the internet of PRC executions. They place the muzzle against the back of the skull where it joins the spine and two other "officers" hold the arms of the condemned so that they can't move at the last moment. A quick death is important in the harvesting of organs for sale...

Otto · Post by **Otto** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 9:07 pm

Hobie wrote:I won't post it here but there are photos on the internet of PRC executions. They place the muzzle against the back of the skull where it joins the spine and two other "officers" hold the arms of the condemned so that they can't move at the last moment. A quick death is important in the harvesting of organs for sale...

The thing that struck me about those photos is the fact that the victims are still in civilian clothes, as though they were just grabbed off the street at random. I recall one specific before-and-after of a young woman in a purple parka.

Also rather bizarre that the holders appeared to be wearing white cotton gloves.

20cows · Post by **20cows** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 9:33 pm

Is the blank so you can hope you had it after the fact and think you might not have done the killing? (Like recoil won't tell you who had the blank).

adirondakjack · Post by **adirondakjack** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 10:27 pm

Solzenyetzn (sp?) wrote of "administrative sanction" in the USSR, where three guards would walk the guy toward a door leading to a room. One guard held each arm, the third, a supervisor, followed a step behind. As they got within a few steps of the large, wooden door, the supervisor quietly raised his pistol and fired into the base of the condemned man's skull at point blank range. This was to eliminate the "final drama", catching the prisoner offguard.....

in any event, four .30 cal. rifle rounds to the chest and he don't feel a thing. By the time the pain could possibly register, BP has dropped to zero and he's unconscious. Anybody who has been hurt bad will tell you it takes a bit to "register"......

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 1:12 am

IMHO the blank is so other people can't say for sure you were one of the one who killed him. The shooters themselves would have to know.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 7:28 am

adirondakjack wrote:in any event, four .30 cal. rifle rounds to the chest and he don't feel a thing. By the time the pain could possibly register, BP has dropped to zero and he's unconscious. Anybody who has been hurt bad will tell you it takes a bit to "register"......

I guess that makes sense. I would think the worst part of death row would be the 'anticipation' part anyway; the end event, however blood-and-gutsy, may be gruesome, but would in a sense be a relief.

20cows · Post by **20cows** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 7:37 am

A college buddy once suggested the most "humane" form of excecution would be to drop a 2 ton weight on their head.

Messy, but they would never feel a thing.

Real messy, though...

jlchucker · Post by **jlchucker** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 7:56 am

Lastmohecken wrote:It's those lousy core locks, now if they would just use Winchester silver tips.

Naw, Lastmocheken, the guy wasn't that tough. Winchester Powerpoints would have been good enough. My own choice would have been to load those 94's with handloads using the Lyman 311041.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 9:59 am

Do one shot at a time...starting with the two knees, two shoulders, and a finisher

Joel · Post by **Joel** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 11:20 am

Well, he's gone. I would guess it s the first time a man has been killed with a levergun in a long time. One of the news articles from this morn, showed the chair the executed was sitting in, four bullet holes.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 1:04 pm

Joel wrote:Well, he's gone. I would guess it s the first time a man has been killed with a levergun in a long time. One of the news articles from this morn, showed the chair the executed was sitting in, four bullet holes.

What a waste of a perfectly good chair.

mikld · Post by **mikld** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 1:14 pm

My ideas may seem archaic or cruel but I think the punishment should fit the crime. If a person kills another by strangulation, that person should be put to death by strangulation. If a person tortures and kills another why should that person be let off with a quick and painless death? Like I said, just my skewed ideas...

vancelw · Post by **vancelw** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 3:56 pm

mikld wrote:My ideas may seem archaic or cruel but I think the punishment should fit the crime. If a person kills another by strangulation, that person should be put to death by strangulation. If a person tortures and kills another why should that person be let off with a quick and painless death? Like I said, just my skewed ideas...

I absolutely agree with that. I'm also not opposed to letting the family of the victim carry out the punishment. If you are a bleeding heart liberal, let the feller go. But something tells me there aren't as many bleeding hearts when one of your own family members is hurt.

I think a person that rapes to death a 11 year old girl should be very pleased to be shot, no matter how sloppy, because it's a lot more humane than what he did.

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 4:14 pm

Good thing that God does not judge us with what we deserve. Just saying.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 4:20 pm

rjohns94 wrote:Good thing that God does not judge us with what we deserve. Just saying.

Aye Mike. Excellent point. But, moving the appointment up is not necessarily a "bad" thing either... manner of setting the appointment is of individual taste.

Otto · Post by **Otto** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 4:40 pm

vancelw wrote:
mikld wrote:My ideas may seem archaic or cruel but I think the punishment should fit the crime. If a person kills another by strangulation, that person should be put to death by strangulation. If a person tortures and kills another why should that person be let off with a quick and painless death? Like I said, just my skewed ideas...
I absolutely agree with that. I'm also not opposed to letting the family of the victim carry out the punishment. If you are a bleeding heart liberal, let the feller go. But something tells me there aren't as many bleeding hearts when one of your own family members is hurt.

I think a person that rapes to death a 11 year old girl should be very pleased to be shot, no matter how sloppy, because it's a lot more humane than what he did.

Forum rules prevent me from describing what my punishment for this guy would be. Suffice it to say that it involves molded rubber and no petroleum jelly.

Joel · Post by **Joel** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 4:44 pm

Otto wrote:
vancelw wrote:
mikld wrote:My ideas may seem archaic or cruel but I think the punishment should fit the crime. If a person kills another by strangulation, that person should be put to death by strangulation. If a person tortures and kills another why should that person be let off with a quick and painless death? Like I said, just my skewed ideas...
I absolutely agree with that. I'm also not opposed to letting the family of the victim carry out the punishment. If you are a bleeding heart liberal, let the feller go. But something tells me there aren't as many bleeding hearts when one of your own family members is hurt.

I think a person that rapes to death a 11 year old girl should be very pleased to be shot, no matter how sloppy, because it's a lot more humane than what he did.
Forum rules prevent me from describing what my punishment for this guy would be. Suffice it to say that it involves molded rubber and no petroleum jelly.

*addendum to list of people not to screw with* Otto

Otto · Post by **Otto** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 4:49 pm

Joel wrote:
Otto wrote: Forum rules prevent me from describing what my punishment for this guy would be. Suffice it to say that it involves molded rubber and no petroleum jelly.

*addendum to list of people not to screw with* Otto

Nah, we're cool. I just don't like child molesters.

Or murderers.

vancelw · Post by **vancelw** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 5:14 pm

Otto wrote:
vancelw wrote:
mikld wrote:My ideas may seem archaic or cruel but I think the punishment should fit the crime. If a person kills another by strangulation, that person should be put to death by strangulation. If a person tortures and kills another why should that person be let off with a quick and painless death? Like I said, just my skewed ideas...
I absolutely agree with that. I'm also not opposed to letting the family of the victim carry out the punishment. If you are a bleeding heart liberal, let the feller go. But something tells me there aren't as many bleeding hearts when one of your own family members is hurt.

I think a person that rapes to death a 11 year old girl should be very pleased to be shot, no matter how sloppy, because it's a lot more humane than what he did.
Forum rules prevent me from describing what my punishment for this guy would be. Suffice it to say that it involves molded rubber and no petroleum jelly.

And a motorized device that never gets tired

'nuff said.

Out of context it would be cruel and unusual punishment, but when you consider the crime...

pharmseller · Post by **pharmseller** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 8:10 pm

BlaineG wrote:
Joel wrote:Well, he's gone. I would guess it s the first time a man has been killed with a levergun in a long time. One of the news articles from this morn, showed the chair the executed was sitting in, four bullet holes.
What a waste of a perfectly good chair.

Not if they use it for the next guy.

P

willygene · Post by **willygene** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 9:30 pm

he got what he deserved it just took to long for them to do it, and i liked Blain's idea of the shot placement.

Hankster · Post by **Hankster** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 1:24 am

Well Well.... lookey what the Main Stream Media said about our Favorite round......

"In Utah, the weapon of choice for firing squads is the .30-caliber rifle, which uses powerful .30-30 cartridges designed to take down big game such as black bear, deer and moose."

And old Rodney said "we never get no respect"!!!

Well, they could have added a few more critters... but that's a pretty big range between Deer, and MOOSE!! LOL!!

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 8:04 am

willygene wrote:he got what he deserved it just took to long for them to do it, and i liked Blain's idea of the shot placement.

+1

Cruise · Post by **Cruise** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 9:54 am

Great application for Trapper models!

Barcelona Rick · Post by **Barcelona Rick** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 12:54 pm

I believe I read that Gary Gilmore was executed with 30-30 Marlins......also recall a story that the firing squad could keep the rifle they used.....probably an old sea story....

rick

Charles · Post by **Charles** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 3:55 pm

Some years back, I watched a TV program called "A Single Pistol Shot" which detailed how the Russians executed in Lubianka (sp) prison in Moscow. The prisoners are walked to a room, tied to a set of steel bars that looked like a jail cell wall. Another similiar wall is moved (on rails) behind him, pining the poor goof between the two. A guard places a single round from a Makarov into the back of the head. The guy, doesn't know it is coming and just thinks he is walking down a hall way in the prison.

I remember the Gilmore execution and saw some footage of the rifles. They were Winchester leverguns for sure and for certain. Four 30-30 rounds in the heart at 25 feet seems plenty effective to me. I doubt if the fellow felt jack!

After a legal execution, the body is release to the family. I don't think the family would take well to getting the body with half a head...hence the heart shot. Clean up wold be much easier with a heart shot as well.

Shooter973 · Post by **Shooter973** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 5:42 pm

They should use the other death row prisoners to clean up the mess and to haul away the body....a real learning moment!!!

At least Utah has the cahones to do it this way...rifle fire the sure thing...

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Sun Jun 20, 2010 11:15 am

Shooter973 wrote:They should use the other death row prisoners to clean up the mess and to haul away the body....a real learning moment!!!
At least Utah has the cahones to do it this way...rifle fire the sure thing...

Shooter973,
I agree but with a twist. I think other non death row criminals who might be turned away from recidivism should be the ones to witness and clean up the remains from an execution. If they were to see first hand what awaits them should they continue their criminal careers they might reconsider.

Joe

jd45 · Post by **jd45** » Sun Jun 20, 2010 1:45 pm

I say four between the eyes woulda been even better. Oh, and under NO circumstances should a convicted murderer be let go. Someones heart can bleed for him til the cows come home.....he stilll gets punished for what he did. jd45

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Sun Jun 20, 2010 4:47 pm

jd45 wrote:I say four between the eyes woulda been even better. Oh, and under NO circumstances should a convicted murderer be let go. Someones heart can bleed for him til the cows come home.....he stilll gets punished for what he did. jd45

Even when DNA vindicates him/excludes him from the pool of possible assailants?

Even after doing a complete sentence, having "repaid his debt to society"?

Murderers/potential murderers deserve death at the hands of their would-be victims or those defending them at the point of contact. Anything else is ex-post-facto justice and is subject to error, confusion, misrepresentation and outright railroading. Honestly, would YOU trust your life to the memories of "eye witnesseses" and the current "judicial system"?

jd45 · Post by **jd45** » Sun Jun 20, 2010 5:17 pm

That's a very good point you brought up, Old Ironsights, & one I'm sorry to say I overlooked. I assumed, and wrongly that there was no possibility for him to be the wrong guy. And disregarded that the system is corrupt. I stand corrected. jd45

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Sun Jun 20, 2010 7:00 pm

In this case, there was no possibility he was the wrong guy, and justice was properly served. Albeit in a very untimely manner.

How many accused have been cleared due to DNA testing and the like in recent history? Lots.

Lawyer Daggit · Post by **Lawyer Daggit** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 1:47 am

Five CorLokt 150s through the heart are a very humane way to go - Blaine G

I gather one of the rifles was loaded with blanks - but 4 would and did do the job well.

Seemed very humane as a way to go- I have not worked out KE figures for a simulaneous impact of 4 30-30's, but its a significant payload for any hard to behold.

the telegraphist · Post by **the telegraphist** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 2:33 am

Hobie, just to enlarge on your observation of PRC executions, believe the next of kin of the perp put to death is also required to pay for the cartridge.