Florida Republicans Propose Bill for Firing Squad, Lethal Gas Executions

Florida lawmakers are advancing legislation to expand execution methods for death row inmates, allowing options such as firing squads and nitrogen gas. Senate Bill 1604, introduced by Sen. Jonathan Martin, seeks to ensure the state can uphold death sentences despite potential shortages of lethal injection drugs like pentobarbital. The bill passed its first committee and has a companion bill in the House introduced by Rep. Berny Jacques. This legislative push follows a recent resumption of executions in Florida after a three-year hiatus, with nine executions carried out since 2023. The proposed measures highlight the state's commitment to maintaining its death penalty status amid ongoing challenges with execution methods deemed unconstitutional or impractical. Critics and advocates alike are closely monitoring these developments as they could reshape the landscape of capital punishment in Florida.