What's happened
Stephen Bryant was executed by firing squad in South Carolina after admitting to killing three people in 2004. The execution, scheduled for 6 p.m., involved volunteer prison staff with live ammunition. Bryant's clemency request remains pending, with no governor clemency since 1976. This marks South Carolina's 50th execution since restarting the death penalty.
What's behind the headline?
The revival of firing squad executions in South Carolina reflects ongoing debates over humane methods of capital punishment. The method's violent history contrasts with some lawmakers' claims of its efficiency. The state's reluctance to grant clemency, despite Bryant's troubled background, underscores the political and legal resistance to changing the death penalty landscape. This execution highlights the persistent controversy over execution methods and the broader issues of mental health and justice reform in the US.
What the papers say
The Independent reports that Bryant's execution involved volunteer staff armed with live ammunition, with no clemency granted since 1976. AP News emphasizes the historical context of firing squads and their recent revival in the US, noting South Carolina's restart of executions in 2024 after a 13-year hiatus. Both sources detail Bryant's crimes, mental health issues, and the procedural aspects of his execution, illustrating the ongoing debate over the morality and efficacy of capital punishment methods in the US.
How we got here
Bryant's crimes occurred in 2004, involving the murder of three men over five days in rural Sumter County. His actions included shooting victims and taunting messages written in blood. The state paused executions for 13 years due to drug supply issues, resuming in September 2024 with four lethal injections and two firing squad executions. Bryant's mental health struggles and childhood abuse history are noted in his legal defense.
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South Carolina is a state in the Southeastern United States and the easternmost of the Deep South. It is bordered to the north by North Carolina, to the southeast by the Atlantic Ocean, and to the southwest by Georgia across the Savannah River.