USA - Utah. The Senate Judiciary Committee today gave preliminary approval to the firing squad

The Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee today gave 4-1 preliminary approval to HB 11, a measure that would allow the state to execute prisoners by firing squad if the drugs used for lethal injection are unavailable 30 days before the scheduled execution. The controversial proposal from Republican Rep. Paul Ray was only narrowly approved in the House (see Feb. 13) after additional lawmakers were called in to break a tie vote. The proposal now goes to the full Senate for further consideration. Should senators approve the measure, it will go to the desk of Republican Gov. Gary Herbert. He has not said whether he would sign the bill. Utah has only carried out three executions by firing squad since the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976. Until 2010, prisoners could request death by firing squad, but after the execution of Ronnie Lee Gardner the state has removed that option, citing excessive media attention. Legislation to allow firing squads has been introduced in Wyoming and Arkansas this year, while lawmakers in Oklahoma are considering legislation that would allow the state to use nitrogen gas to execute inmates.