South Carolina senators resurrect bill to bring back the electric chair, add firing squad

S.C. senators revived a proposal Wednesday to bring back the electric chair for the state’s death row executions, as well as add firing squads as an execution option.

The bill passed the state Senate by a 26-13 vote, split mostly along party lines. It now heads to the S.C. House, where a similar proposal died last year.

Backed by Senate Republicans, the bill is an attempt to address the S.C. Corrections Department’s inability to carry out executions because it does not have the chemicals needed for lethal injections.

Drug companies won’t sell the state the chemicals, fearing legal challenges and bad publicity, said state Sen. Greg Hembree, R-Horry, a supporter of the electrocution proposal.

Currently, the state’s 35 death row inmates can insist on lethal injection, effectively blocking their executions.

Read more: https://www.independentmail.com/story/news/2019/01/31/senators-legislation-wants-electric-chair-firing-squad-south-carolina/2730176002/