By Newsroom Staff | Published: June 11, 2025
Introduction
In a stunning and deeply polarizing move, Idaho has officially authorized the use of firing squads as a method of execution for individuals convicted of aggravated sexual abuse of minors. The bill, signed into law by Governor Brad Little on Monday, positions Idaho among the most punitive states in America regarding capital punishment.
Supporters call the law a righteous stand for justice and deterrence. Critics, however, warn it opens a dangerous door to constitutional and human rights concerns, placing the United States alongside nations known for harsh execution practices.
What the Law Says
The newly enacted statute allows capital punishment to be imposed for child sexual abuse cases deemed “aggravated” — a category defined to include repeated offenses, victims under age 12, or acts involving injury or restraint. It also authorizes firing squads as an alternative execution method when lethal injection drugs are unavailable — a growing concern due to pharmaceutical boycotts.
Idaho previously authorized the firing squad in 2023 as a backup to lethal injection. This marks the first time the method is tied specifically to a non-homicide crime in modern U.S. history.
“There is no punishment harsh enough for those who rob a child of their innocence,” said Gov. Little. “But we will send a clear message: If you harm a child in Idaho, the state will not hesitate to bring the ultimate penalty.”
Legal and Constitutional Questions
The law immediately triggered warnings from civil liberties groups and constitutional scholars. The U.S. Supreme Court has previously ruled that capital punishment for non-homicide crimes — including rape — violates the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on “cruel and unusual punishment.” The key precedent: Kennedy v. Louisiana (2008), which invalidated a Louisiana law allowing the death penalty for child rape.
Legal experts say Idaho’s move may be intended as a direct challenge to that precedent.
“They are clearly baiting the court to reconsider the Kennedy ruling,” said Deborah Glass, a constitutional law professor at Stanford. “This sets up a massive legal showdown.”
Public Reaction: Applause and Alarm
The legislation has divided the public, with many Idahoans expressing strong support. Victims’ advocates and law enforcement unions praised the law as a necessary deterrent.
“These monsters don’t deserve mercy,” said Carla Jameson, director of Idaho Families for Justice. “This law honors the victims and warns future predators.”
On the other hand, human rights groups and national justice reform coalitions are condemning the move as reactionary and barbaric.
“This is medieval justice, not modern law,” said Anthony Romero, executive director of the ACLU. “We do not protect children by embracing vengeance.”
Religious and Ethical Views
Faith leaders are also split. Evangelical groups largely support the law as biblical justice, while Catholic bishops and progressive denominations oppose it as immoral and un-Christian.
“We cannot combat evil with violence,” said Bishop Rafael Moreno of Boise. “Execution by firing squad crosses an ethical red line.”
Comparison With Other States and Nations
Only a handful of U.S. states retain firing squads as legal methods — Utah, South Carolina, Mississippi, and now Idaho. None have used the method since 2010.
Internationally, firing squads are used in authoritarian regimes like North Korea, Somalia, and Iran. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have condemned the method as archaic and traumatic to both the condemned and executioners.
Federal Implications
Idaho’s new law may face swift federal scrutiny. The Department of Justice has not commented, but legal analysts expect civil rights lawsuits within days. If challenged and upheld, the case could rise to the U.S. Supreme Court by late 2026.
Some members of Congress have already expressed outrage. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) called it “state-sponsored cruelty,” while Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) said “it’s about time we stopped coddling predators.”
Conclusion
With Idaho’s bold step into firing squad executions for child predators, the nation finds itself at a critical crossroads: one between the impulse for moral justice and the limits of constitutional punishment. The coming legal battles will determine not just the future of this law, but the trajectory of capital punishment in the 21st-century United States.