Idaho governor signs firing squad execution bill into law

Idaho Gov. Brad Little has signed into law a bill allowing firing squads to execute death row inmates when lethal injection drugs are unavailable. The move makes Idaho the fifth U.S. state to authorize the execution method. The new law will give the Department of Correction up to five days after a death warrant is issued to determine if lethal injection is available. If not, the execution must be done by firing squad. The Death Penalty Information Center says Idaho joins Mississippi, Oklahoma, Utah and South Carolina as the states allowing firing squads. South Carolina’s law is on hold because of a legal challenge.