Idaho has officially made execution by firing squad the state’s primary method of carrying out capital punishment, marking a significant shift in its death penalty procedures.
The change took effect on July 1 after legislation signed by Governor Brad Little in 2025 came into force, replacing lethal injection as the default execution method under specified circumstances.
New Law Prioritizes Firing Squad Over Lethal Injection
Under the revised law, the Idaho Department of Correction must use a firing squad whenever the agency’s director determines that the method is available for an execution.
If a firing squad cannot be used, state officials will instead proceed with lethal injection as the alternative means of carrying out the death sentence.
The legislation was approved earlier this year before its implementation date in July 2026.
U.S. Army Reportedly Preparing for Possible Military Executions
Separately, reports indicate that the U.S. Army has begun planning for the possible resumption of military executions, a practice that has not occurred in decades.
According to ABC News, military officials circulated an internal operational document known as “Decisive Justice,” outlining procedures that could be followed if executions of military personnel are authorized.
The reported plan relates to individuals convicted under military law of serious offenses, including murder and rape.
Internal Plan Sets Timeline for Potential Implementation
The report states that several military units have received instructions to prepare for possible implementation within 150 days should presidential authorization be granted.
The proposed procedures reportedly involve a prison facility in Terre Haute, Indiana, which has previously been used for federal civilian executions.
No announcement has been made indicating that any military executions have been approved or scheduled.
Military Executions Have Been Absent for More Than Six Decades
If carried out, any future military execution would be the first in more than 60 years.
The last known execution under the U.S. military justice system occurred in 1961, when Army Private John Bennett was executed after being convicted of the rape and attempted murder of an 11-year-old girl in Austria.
The developments in Idaho and within the military justice system highlight renewed attention to capital punishment procedures in different parts of the United States.
