US Justice Department rushing to expand execution methods like firing squads
The Trump administration has approved a new rule for the execution of prisoners condemned to death, allowing the US government to kill convicted inmates by additional methods, including electrocution, firing squad and other means.
The new rule, which had been proposed by the US Department of Justice, was published in the Federal Register daily journal on Friday and goes into effect in 30 days, coinciding with the end of US President Donald Trump's tenure.
The approved amendment changed the "Manner of Federal Executions" rule, giving federal prosecutors a wider variety of options for execution in order to avoid delays due to a shortage of poison used for execution by means of lethal injection of prisoners facing capital punishment.
The amendment came as the Justice Department aimed to expedite a slew of scheduled executions in the final days of the Trump administration following a long hiatus in executions.
Trump has spoken often about capital punishment and his belief that executions serve as an effective deterrent and an appropriate punishment for some crimes.
The Justice Department has scheduled 5 executions during the lame-duck period, including 3 just days before Biden takes office.
Attorney General William Barr restarted federal executions this year after a 17-year hiatus. This year, the Justice Department has put to death more people than during the previous half-century, despite waning public support from both Democrats and Republicans for its use.
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