A bill has been filed in the Florida State Senate that would expand the methods by which death row inmates could be executed. Senate Bill 1604, introduced by state Sen. Jonathan Martin, aims to protect Florida’s status as a death penalty state if certain execution methods like electrocution or lethal injection are made unconstitutional by the Supreme Court or the Florida Supreme Court, or if lethal injection drugs become unavailable in the future. Due to a shortage of pentobarbital, the drug used for lethal injections, some states are seeking alternative methods of execution.
In the event that current execution methods are deemed unconstitutional or unavailable, the bill mandates that “all persons sentenced to death for a capital crime shall be executed by a method not deemed unconstitutional.” Senator Martin stated that this legislation is necessary to ensure that the state upholds the law and carries out executions. The bill passed through the Florida Senate’s Committee on Criminal Justice and a companion bill was introduced in the Florida House of Representatives by state Rep. Berny Jaques. Jaques believes that the death penalty is essential for public safety and that this bill will allow Florida to carry out constitutional death sentences without delay.
Although the bill does not specify which alternative execution methods could be used, eight states already authorize the use of lethal gas as a backup to lethal injection. Four states specifically mention nitrogen gas as the deadly agent, while four other states allow death by firing squad. South Carolina permits it as an alternative to electrocution, its default method of execution. In March, death row inmate Brad Sigmon of South Carolina was executed by firing squad, marking the first time in more than 15 years that this method was used in the United States. Lethal injection is the most common execution method, followed by electrocution, according to historical data.
The discussion around alternative execution methods comes in response to the shortage of pentobarbital for lethal injections, which has led some states to seek out different options. The bill introduced in Florida aims to ensure that the state can continue to carry out death sentences if current methods are no longer viable. Supporters of the bill believe that the death penalty is necessary for public safety and that having alternative execution methods in place is crucial to upholding the law. The bill has passed through the Senate’s Committee on Criminal Justice and has a companion bill in the House of Representatives.
Without specifying which alternative methods could be used, the bill would give the Department of Corrections the flexibility to choose a lawful method of execution if current options become unavailable. States like Idaho have already authorized the use of firing squads, while others allow for the use of lethal gas in place of lethal injection. The debate over alternative execution methods continues as states grapple with issues surrounding the availability and legality of current lethal injection drugs. The bill introduced in Florida seeks to address potential challenges in carrying out death sentences in the future.
