On Friday March 7, 2025 Brad Sigmon was the first death penalty inmate to be executed in the US in 15 years. Sigmon was offered a choice between firing squad, lethal injection, and the electric chair. This action from the government has made many upset.
After being offered the choice, Sigmon chose the firing squad; according to CNN, “ ‘He chose the firing squad knowing that three bullets would shatter his bones and destroy his heart,” King said in a statement. “But that was the only choice he had, after the state’s three executions by lethal injection inflicted prolonged and potentially torturous deaths on men he loved like brothers.’ ”
While in prison Sigmon really turned to God, CNN stated, “He quoted several Bible passages that emphasize forgiveness and the law. ‘Nowhere does God in the New Testament give man the authority to kill another man,’ he said.” Sigmon believed he shouldn’t be killed and instead be sentenced to life in prison.
“In a final statement shared by his lawyer, Sigmon said, ‘I want my closing statement to be one of love and a calling to my fellow Christians to help us end the death penalty.’ ” CNN wrote. Then the execution was held. Afterwards CNN reporter Collins wrote, “A doctor performed an examination for about 90 seconds and Sigmon was declared dead at 6:08 p.m., according to Collins and the South Carolina Department of Corrections.”
There have been many talks about how humane the death penalty is. CBS wrote, “In recent years, some death penalty proponents have started to see the firing squad as a more humane option: If the shooters’ aim is true, death is nearly instant, whereas lethal injections require getting an IV into a vein. Electrocution appears to burn and disfigure. And inmates have been seen to writhe and struggle when the latest method, nitrogen gas, is used to suffocate them as it is pushed through a mask.” Along with turning to God, Sigmon began showing acts of kindness towards other inmates, CBS wrote, “Sigmon shared his final meal with some fellow prisoners on death row and planned to give away the money in his commissary accounts, his supporters said.” Many of his supporters and people who oppose the death penalty believed he should be exempt from the execution due to his acts of kindness, but it didn’t happen.
When asked whether this action violated Sigmon’s rights, MMS teacher Rachael Streitman stated, “So, I think it did not and I’m going to base it off of what the federal judiciary has said; The Supreme Court has stated it is not cruel and unusual punishment and they’ve left it up to the individual states to decide. So while my personal views might vary, (I don’t love idea, especially firing squads) I would not want to be part of the process. I guess I have to respect that state’s decision. According to the federal government, that is acceptable.”
When Streitman was informed that the witnesses were advised to take time off and utilize the psychiatric help provided, she responded, “I think this call into question though, if this process is potentially that traumatic or upsetting is this something we as a nation say is acceptable. Yeah I think so, calls into question, if the process is that traumatic, is that something we want to say is acceptable? I think it is important that they encourage people to take a break but that also doesn’t undo the fact that someone’s life was taken. I know there are tons of Americans that say an eye for an eye if you take someone’s life, we don’t care if your life was taken, it’s one thing to say that and another to witness it happen, or to take the life.”
Streitman also stated, “While the government said the death penalty is an acceptable punishment for some time, as you know the 8th amendment guarantees freedom from cruel and unusual punishment and sometimes the question becomes whether this particular method of execution is cruel or unusual. Ohio uses lethal injections, the drugs that are used for that are in short supply and are not available. A lot of death row inmates haven’t faced execution. For lack of a better word, they need to make sure the cocktail of drugs they used to end someone’s life doesn’t prolong their suffering in any way and it doesn’t cause pain and it’s really hard to know right, you can’t ask a person after you killed them, how was that process for you. I think that this case because the one you’re talking about, the firing squad case, brings up the question, ‘is there any ethical humane way to end someone’s life?’ Ohio also allows the electric chair which seems really horrific to me. When I think about a firing squad, I think about all these things that require the action of another person. To fire the gun, to flip the switch, to inject the medication.”
Another member of the MMS staff Joseph Catullo stated, “In recent years there have been problems with lethal injection; it goes wrong and becomes torturous. Firing a squad is the fastest and most humane way to be executed. An electric chair is definitely the worst.” When questioned about the most and least humane methods to carry out the death penalty, Catullo stated, “I think the electric chair would violate the 8th amendment; it’s extremely painful…. States are starting to realize lethal injection could be a problem also.”
When talking to Chief Compliance Attorney for SHG Law, Veronica Xu, she had this to say about the event: “In my personal opinion the person was sentenced to death because of a crime he committed. This individual violated others rights by killing them, we need to pursue justice, he got what he deserved.”
Along with being an Attorney, she also teaches law to others. When told about the psychiatric help provided to the witnesses and executioners, and how they were advised to stop work for some time Xu stated, “if they think they killed somebody innocent they should have concerns. He deserved to die, so if you follow the order, it ‘s the outcome of the legal procedure, you shouldn’t feel guilty; you were following an order. People go to war and fight, people are trained for these things, if you can’t take that then you need more training. It should be highlighted that the person who was executed is guilty.”
When asked whether the death penalty was fair or not Xu points out, “He took people’s lives away from their family, and was talking about someone guilty. If you have sympathy for this individual what do you have for the victims, it’s about fairness and justice, equality. I think people should keep victims in mind when making a comment or the legal proceedings.” Xu does indeed agree with Catullo and Streitman in the fact that this action did not violate anyone’s rights.
In conclusion, although many are upset at the actions of the South Carolina government, from a legal perspective, this action was justified. Many believe Sigmon got what he deserved, but whether you support the death penalty or not, you can’t take away the fact that he did commit a serious crime. After a serious crime is committed, a serious consequence must follow. Between the contrast of people, supporters and opposers, the government has stated the death penalty isn’t unconstitutional and therefore doesn’t do anything wrong. The family of the people Sigmon hurt, lost someone that day, that’s an indisputable fact. Although Sigmon turned to Christianity and worked to change his life, through a legal perspective, he still must be held accountable for his crimes. After the shot rang out on March 7th 2025, Sigmon was put to rest for eternity, his family, whether they forgave him or not, will forever remember him.
