1. United States
2. Okla.
3. Letter

The use of firing squads for executions raises significant ethical concerns regarding unnecessary cruelty and potential for suffering. The autopsy findings from Mikal Mahdi's execution indicate that the shooters missed his heart, leading to a prolonged death marked by conscious pain and anguish. Such outcomes undermine the purported justification that this method provides a swift and humane death. Regardless of the specific method employed, the death penalty itself is an irreversible and severe punishment that risks executing innocent individuals due to flaws in the justice system. Moreover, its application has been demonstrated to be discriminatory, disproportionately impacting marginalized communities. Given the inherent risks of error, discrimination, and inhumane suffering, as well as the availability of alternative severe punishments like life imprisonment, there is a compelling case to abolish capital punishment entirely. At the very least, the clear evidence of Mahdi's botched execution necessitates an immediate moratorium on firing squad executions to prevent any further instances of unconstitutional cruel and unusual punishment.