1. United States
2. Ariz.
3. Letter

I urge you to oppose SCR 1049 when it comes before the Senate Public Safety Committee on Wednesday. This resolution would amend Arizona's Constitution to mandate firing squad executions for prisoners who kill law enforcement officers and offer firing squads as an option for other death row inmates. The measure creates serious problems that Arizona cannot afford. The human cost to corrections staff is substantial and documented. When similar legislation was considered last year, a former corrections officer testified that taking a life "never goes away." SCR 1049 requires a minimum of three volunteer shooters for each execution, with one blank round distributed among them. This design attempts to provide psychological cover, but the reality is that multiple state employees would knowingly participate in killing another person. That psychological burden stays with them permanently. Arizona already struggles with prison staff retention. Adding execution by firing squad to job responsibilities will make recruitment and retention even more difficult. Corrections officers face challenging conditions, and asking them to volunteer as executioners adds a dimension that many will refuse. The state will either struggle to find volunteers or face the prospect of executions delayed indefinitely because staff won't participate. The mandatory provision for prisoners who killed law enforcement officers is particularly troubling. Section C removes judicial discretion and forces the state to use this method regardless of circumstances. This inflexibility serves no legitimate penological purpose and simply ensures that Arizona will need a permanent pool of state employees willing to shoot restrained prisoners. SCR 1049 echoes last year's failed legislation for good reason. The problems identified then remain unresolved now. Forcing this question onto the ballot through a constitutional amendment doesn't address the fundamental issues of implementation, staff welfare, or the lasting trauma inflicted on those required to carry out these executions. I ask that you vote no on SCR 1049 in committee and prevent this flawed proposal from advancing further.