Florida lawmaker wants firing squads for executions

[Hazcat]

This story from the Florida Current http://www.thefloridacurrent.com/article.cfm?id=24940585 might have it all: a tough-talkin' Southern legislator, a cop-killer, and the final touch: A chat in the local Waffle House that leads to a call to reinstate firing squads (something Utah still does, I think).

A bill filed Tuesday by Rep. Brad Drake, R-Eucheeanna, would allow for executions by firing squad. HB 325 would eliminate Florida's standard method of execution, lethal injection, and allow for executions only by electrocution or firing squad.

He said he filed the bill after overhearing a conversation in his district this past month while U.S. Supreme Court deliberated over the fate of Manuel Valle, convicted in the 1978 murder of a Coral Gables police officer. Valle's lawyers filed numerous appeals, the last few of which centered around the use of a drug used in lethal injections.

In a Waffle House in DeFuniak Springs, Drake said he heard a constituent say, "'You know, they ought to just put them in the electric chair or line them up in front of a firing squad.'" After a conversation with the person, Drake, 36, said he decided to file the bill.

"There shouldn't be anything controversial about a .45-caliber bullet. If it were up to me we would just throw them off the Sunshine Skyway bridge and be done with it," Drake said.

-- Marc Caputo, Miami Herald

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/content/florida-lawmaker-wants-firing-squads-executions

[twyacht]

.45?  Hi-Point Carbine's?....

I think there are too many candy a**'s in Florida politics to take this seriously, however, they need to follow firing squad tradition.

Rifles, with a true rifle caliber. Cigarette, Last words, Blindfold/hood. 5 shooters, 4 had bullets, 1 had a blank.

Hey Just like Utah...used to very recently...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqQIELVB9F4&feature=related

[jnevis]

A firing squad doesn't have to use a rifle, although most pistol hits don't kill out right.
Besides Beretta CX4, HK UMP45, and a few M-4 variants are 45 carbines 

[Big Frank]

I'd rather die on my feet than strapped to a chair, and I think I would do without the blindfold if it was optional.

[tombogan03884]

Much cheaper to shoot them than it is to inject or zap them.
Be a good start on budget cutting.   

[Sponsor]

[Hazcat]

Lever action in .45 Colt.

[jnevis]

 45-70?

[tombogan03884]

You people forget, it's not YOUR money, Mosin Nagant, or a Tokarev to the back of the head, weapons and ammo are cheap 

[Hazcat]

Hell, I bet the department still has a bunch of 30-30s around somewhere.

[crusader rabbit]

But what if the citizens want firing squads for Florida lawmakers?  Somehow, that seems to make more sense.