‘Lead Cocktail’: Florida State Rep. Proposes Bringing Back Firing Squad for Executions
- Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:20pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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A Florida state representative filed a bill Tuesday that would eliminate lethal injections as a means of execution and bring back firing squads.

Florida State Rep. Brad Drake (R) proposed bringing back the firing squad as a method of execution. (Photo credit: Florida House of Representatives)
State Rep. Brad Drake said the bill is a response to the debate over the effectiveness of certain drugs used in lethal injections, according to the Northwest Florida Daily News. Florida currently offers lethal injections and the electric chair to execute death row inmates.
“So, I say let’s end the debate,” Drake, a Republican, said in a release Tuesday. “We still have Old Sparky. And if that doesn’t suit the criminal, then we will provide them a .45 caliber lead cocktail instead.”
In the bill, the electric chair would replace lethal injections as the standard method of execution, though inmates could opt for the firing squad instead.
Controversy over lethal injections erupted in Florida last month when the state executed Manuel Valle amid a legal battle. Valle’s lawyers argued that a new lethal drug cocktail would cause him pain and therefore constitute cruel and unusual punishment.
According to the Florida Current, Drake decided to propose the bill after hearing a constituent in a Waffle House say of the Valle case: “You know, they ought to just put them in the electric chair or line them up in front of a firing squad.”
“There shouldn’t be anything controversial about a .45-caliber bullet. If it were up to me we would just throw them off the Sunshine Skyway bridge and be done with it,” Drake said.
The last inmate executed by firing squad in the U.S. happened in Utah in 2010. The state eliminated the firing squad option in 2004, but the law was not retroactive, meaning inmates sentenced to death prior to the law could still choose the method. Oklahoma is the only state with an active firing squad option.
Howard Simon, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, slammed Drake’s proposed legislation and said it be an embarrassment to Florida if adopted.
“Just when you thought that public policy in Florida couldn’t get worse, along comes a state rep who develops proposed legislation from what he overhears at the Waffle House,” Simon told the Associated Press. “Given all that former members of the Florida Supreme Court and the American Bar Association have said about Florida’s broken death penalty system, including the nation’s highest number of exonerations, this would be embarrassing — if our legislature were capable of embarrassment.”
But Drake said he’s tired of the “sensitivity movement for criminals.”
“I think if you ask a hundred people, not even talking to criminals, how would you like to die, if you were drowned, if you were shot, and if you say you were put to sleep, 90% of the people would say I want to be put to sleep,” Drake told the wire service. “Let’s put our pants back on the right way.”
As The Blaze reported earlier today, Keith Olbermann blasted Drake on his Current TV show Wednesday, calling him an “a**hole“ during his ”Worst Person in the World” segment. The obscenity aired uncensored.
Responding to Drake’s “throw them off the Sunshine Skyway bridge” comment, Olbermann replied, “You first, a**hole!”
MSNBC suspended Time’s Mark Halperin after he called President Barack Obama a “dick” on live TV.
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Comments (126)
scout n ambush
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:36pmThe same people who don’t like this idea are the same ones who want a form of socialisim or communisim here and they have no problem with the simple truth that is what happens on a massive scale in communist countries think mao ,stalin and hitler polpot and che ,kim jong ill, castro and chavez.
Report Post »YepImaConservative
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 11:04pmBut Drake said he’s tired of the “sensitivity movement for criminals.”
And I agree.
Report Post »dragonazz
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 11:17pmOlbermann would be the first one to ok the murder of Beck ,Savage, Hannity,Limbaugh and so on. He would kill all who beat him in the ratings!
Report Post »CottonMPG
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 11:32pmI don’t care too much about how they kill criminals as long as they get a fair trial. I think it ought to be less public so we won’t have all the bleeding hearts obstructing it. Lethal injection,hanging, firing squad or electrocution are all acceptable.
Report Post »OhioRifleman
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 11:53pmI support firing squad execution. A competent shooter can get the person in the ‘instant shutoff’ zone from ten yards – a triangle defined as iris to iris to center of upper lip. A hit there blows through to the brainstem, and once that is hit it wipes out the brain’s control of the body. The target is clinically dead before his body hits the ground. Nothing slow or painful about it, for all those wussniks that seem to think we should coddle criminals.
@ JZS
There is such a thing as being too humane. When you harbor criminals like serial murders and mass murders without executing them, you condition the rest of society to believe that this conduct is, while considered unacceptable, has no effective consequence. This understanding in society bleeds down into lesser offenses, such as single murders, rape, torture, kidnapping, etc. The view that there is no recourse to these actions (or worse, permanent residence with 3 meals a day, no taxes, and an exercise routine) begets these kinds of crimes in larger quantities. It becomes a chain reaction that creates the widespread degeneracy we now suffer.
I’ll wager if you made Murder a mandatory execution offense, you’d see a sj1tload less murders over time. And you’d have less criminals tying up the justice system, to boot.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 10:00amJust another moronic politician saying outrageous stuff to get attention and feed the angry mob. Really is great to see how they are all working on important things like the economy.
Report Post »KenInIL
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 12:42pmAccording to world opinion starving people to death is okay. They do it every day in Somalia and North Korea. It is better to burn food for fuel than feed the hungry.
Report Post »OneofMany
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 1:25pmYeah, what about China’s execution patrol… they drive around in nice, clean looking vans and do MOBILE EXECUTIONS!! Yeah idiot, communism is great! and they don‘t need DUE PROCESS because they don’t have a CONSTITUTION!!! You get someone angry at you in a higher position than you and guess who shows up at your house…. The MOBIL EXECUTION TEAM in their EFFICIENT van.
Report Post »chazman
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 2:41pm… give the condemned a choice:
Lethal injection
Hanging
Firing Squad
Electric Chair
Guillotine (sp?)
Keel Hauling (ha)
Etc, etc, etc …
Report Post »tifosa
Posted on October 15, 2011 at 9:47amAlways interesting to stop in and see what the Christian Conservatives/religious right have to say. Interesting 3page read.
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:34pmI’m not about the death penalty being a form of revenge. It is only a method by which we rid ourselves of individuals which do choose to violate the human rights of others and the right to life in particular. We should kill them by the most effective and humane way possible. I would much rather see the reinstitution of corporal punishment for crimes. If we would offer criminals the option to either live in jail for a year (on the taxpayer dime) vs. taking 10 lashings now and 10 more in 6 months, we would have a lot fewer repeat offenders of the ones who choose lashing and the cost to the taxpayer would be far lower due to the fact that we would not have to provide for their medical, dental, vision, food, shelter, and sanitation for that entire year other than maybe after care for their lashings which would be minimal by comparison.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 9:30pmDeath row inmates should be used as Gator bait!!!!
Report Post »bhosux
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:23pmWhile they’re waiting for the firing squad. The should hang upside down on a meat hook for 16 hours a day. They then can clean up any of their mess and then sleep in a 4‘ x 4’ x 4′ box. Love and peace!
Report Post »the hawk
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:30pmI’m good with the bullet theroy ! But would prefur a strong narcotic myself ! just say’in……
Report Post »ACLUHater
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:35pmSnake pit works for me.
Report Post »Zorro6821
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 7:21amThat is just so creative, why not hang people from trees….Are we going forward or Backward!. How about this Rep just focus on the economy and forget about this Grandstanding. How we execute people is really not on top of my priority list. Dead is Dead and how you get there is just theatre.
Report Post »garglen
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:22pmAmazing to see we have to worry how these people are executed-they didn’t give a good flip how they killed someone. They should get the same treatment they gave the person or persons they caused the loss of life to. I still have problems with people worrying if it causes pain to the convict or not.
Report Post »yancie
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 9:16pmAmen, do unto others as they do unto you. Let the family of the victim take a vote on how the murdering , molesting rapist should be taken out. Give the victims a choice.
Report Post »kellied
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 12:35amOur law breakers just got a new state of the art workout center, the“ news” said that the workers at the prision could use it too!!! I guess we need to build a bigger prision to create jobs for Obama, and just keep all these law breakers a nice coazy place to live forever and ever , until they die. Oh yeah, and Keith Gooberman is a Joke!!!!
Report Post »BMroxy
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:21pmLeave it to me to grow up in the Only State that still has the option of a firing squad. Sure wish Oklahoma would have tried Timothy Vcveigh and that he would have “went out” with an extra bullet for the book he wrote. I don’t see anything wrong with a firing squad option personally.
Report Post »diablosho
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:29pmNor do I! In fact, I think the victim’s family should have the option of pulling the trigger.
Report Post »Exrepublisheep
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:21pmNo. A burst right below the American Flag the phonies wear would be fine though.
Report Post »BobtheMoron
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:20pmWe should shorten the time from sentencing to room temperature from almost never to 3 years maximum. This would empty the prisoners of high cost prisoners and give the victim’s family so closure. In addition we should sell tickets to recoup some of the costs of feeding and housing the vermin.
Report Post »South Philly Boy
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:17pmOh Boy, I can just here the fireworks
Report Post »WhatYouSay2008
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:16pmProposed legislation from what he heard at the Waffle House… How dare he!! How could he think the uneducated, ignorant masses could possibly know or even remotely understand what they want to see from the officals they elected. Obviously, the fabulously educated officials always know better than the ridiculously stupid constituents who elected them, right? That is Howard Simon’s story, and he’s sticking to it.
Report Post »garglen
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:14pmI find it interesting that people go to such lengths to save the life of a murderer and worry about them feeling pain-what about the person or persons they committed the crime against. Those same people fighting for the rights of the convicted have no problem with abortions and the harm they cause-also a form of murder. These are some pretty screwed up in the head people.
Report Post »KingDork
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:20pmExactly, we put more effort in the feelings of some messed up psychopath that done hideous crime than we put effort in the feelings of the victim’s families. Then again the left are completely insane… I mean we got one trolling this article fanatically
Report Post »TheFonz
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:01pmThe state could make money because I know people would pay for the chance to be on a firing squad. I have some WWII-era rifles that uses cheap surplus ammo – I’d be glad to donate my services. Heck, lets bring back public hangings outside the town courthouses.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:16pmInteresting choice for the condemned:
(Judge: “Which shall it be, hot lead or ride the lightning…”
Report Post »(Murderer: “ULP…”
Exrepublisheep
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:17pmI don’t care HOW they execute, it’s WHO they execute. People are being freed from death row because of D.N.A. all the time.
Report Post »Cat
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 9:24pmHave a friend who worked in Brazil for Ford Motor Company as the executive for Ford’s insurance company.
He told an interesting story about the city of Sao Paulo while having lunch one day at the Trans America Hotel.
While eating a Cuban and salad he watched through the window as a column of 10 men were marched to an open area, shot to death and the bodies dropped into a truck and haled off.
His business partner was Brazilian and he noted that there was a series of bank robberies and they had a few suspects.
The bank robberies stopped the next day.
Report Post »countryfirst
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:00pmI don’t care how it gets done, but the people in favor of capital punishment should be able to view it. Just like the old public hangings. They may have a different view after seeing it happen. I agree with capital punishment and it should never be 20 years on death row , but I know I would feel sympathy for anyone about to die.
Report Post »SHOWMESTATEGUY
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:14pmThe victims of crime have no say do they? The libs want to protect the criminal. No thought of the victims of the crime. The victims are not just the person who died at the hands of the criminal. The victims are also the loved ones left behind.
But the dem lib thought is to screw the victims of crime, let’s cuddle the person who murdered. Something is not right here.
Report Post »Talmid of Yeshua
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:47pmHell yeah, a man after my own heart. Someone who actually has a pair of balls.
Now we just have to try and convict these Occupy commies of sedition and/or treason, depending on their actions, and they can be the first to go.
Report Post »R0bespierre
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:36pmYes, your fascist military state sounds much better than liberal democracy with a social safety net.
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:45pmGod gave us Social Justice, Mosaic Law. If this happens, then this happens. When in the community a someone kills another person, the community authorizes death, not life imprisonment with 3 meals a day and an excercise routine and a legal defense team.
Pagans have convinced that sinners have rights. Housing threatening people provides security. Eliminating threatening people, killing them, provides an awful end result to those considering serious offenses. Crime will be reduced, and then we will spend less money on housing criminals, we’ll bury them in the ground.
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:10pmYou’re an imbecile for using Gods name in vain with no basis of truth.
Report Post »BowHuntingTexas
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:38pmThe Chinese have executions down pat – 1 bullet to the back of the head. Kind of messy but very effective.
Oh, and bill the criminal’s family for the cost of the bullet.
Report Post »Skrewedretiree
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:48pmNot necessary. They do that in China, I’m told. Here in the US there are plenty of us who would donate the ammo.
Report Post »R0bespierre
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:37pmYeah, let’s not copy the Chinese economic model, let’s copy the Chinese execution model. Because, you know, that’s not psychotic.
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:36pmIt’s a great way to send them off,go out with a bang.
Report Post »Skrewedretiree
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:47pmYes, but there is another way. Remember “The Fly”? A version of an industrial stamping mill would do. One “wham!”, and it’s done. The perp would never feel a thing or know anything happened. Just like swatting a fly….
Report Post »But, I have no problem with the firing squad, so long as the squad is competent. We could not do it by subpoena of the population at random, as it has been done in other states in the past. Hell, look at what happens in elections and juries!
poverty.sucks
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:57pmHey FKhead, I’ve got a better idea, throw your butt in prison and see how you feel about rapist and killers and ******* given paradise where they continue to live their ways.
Report Post »chasbronson
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:34pmKeith Olbermann should be the first thrown off the bridge.I too am sick of the sensitivity movement for criminals. “They may feel pain while being put to death”.How pathetic They should feel ahell of a lot of pain when put to death.What about the rights of their victims and what they suffered.They should inject them with turpentine first,then finish them off, In memory of their victims.
Report Post »ares338
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:33pmI like his idea. Democrats would probably excite the victims family.
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:09pmGodhead – are you the self appointed moral police on this site? What authority are you speaking from? Would you prefer we give convicted murders a feather bed, 3 gourmet meals, internet service, etc.? People are angry at all the PC which now includes giving convicted murders undeserved rights. We have a right to express our outrage at the insanity that is happening in America. Please go to Huffpo and spew your idiot remarks. Your name is an insult to our Creator. Even Jesus backed armies against their enemies and made sure they won by killing the enemy. He hates evil and it will be defeated in the end.
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:38pmHey FKHead, who gives you the moral authority to tell others how they should live their lives?
Report Post »SBR308
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:33pmRep Drake I would like to be the first to volunter to be the offical pusher.
Report Post »eat-more-bacon-USA
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:32pmThis is a great idea.
Report Post »Islesfordian
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:32pmThere is a 100% lethal and painless method of killing: suffication by Nitrogen poisoning. But the condemned in a gas chamber and fill it with pure nitrogen. The pain of suffocation comes because the waste CO2 can’t be expelled. With a nitrogen rich environment the condemned can exhale untill all CO2 is expelled. He will breath like normal feeling nothing until the oxygen in his blood runs out and his brain shuts off.
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:22pmg hed
Report Post »The book containing the answers to all of your questions is but a key stroke away. Explore it.
http://www.bible.com/
Ron_WA
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:30pmI’m personally opposed to the death penalty (only God can grant life & only He should be able to decide to take it in cold blood).
[Life in solitary is the ultimate earthly social punishment].
But, I defer to the will of the People & as such the firing squad is just as valid a way to go as is hanging, decapitation or lethal injection.
Report Post »Sorocialism
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:41pmIf the Bible is the written will of God, then killing seems to be okay…here is a reference link for ya.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_verses_in_the_Bible_advocate_killing_non_believers
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:50pmMosaic Law authorizes the taking of life. That is the origin of Social Justice. God is creator of all.
Report Post »Sy Kosys
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:00pmAwwwww
Nobody paying attention to you douchehead?
xox
Report Post »godhead
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:22pmPoverty schmuck . . . social justice?
I’m begging you, your right to religion and freedom to exercise religion and read all of the passages of the Bible as you want to read them and as your church wants to preach them . . . are going to come under the ropes in the next year. If it lasts that long it will be the next year. I beg you, look for the words ‘social justice’ or ‘economic justice’ on your church Web site. If you find it, run as fast as you can. Social justice and economic justice, they are code words. Now, am I advising people to leave their church?
Report Post »SovereignSoul
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:34pmExodus 20 – 13 Thou shalt not kill.
Note the period at the end. No rationalizations and no qualifiers.
Report Post »That is straight from my Bible. The KJV that RangerP says is the only true Bible.
SovereignSoul
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:41pmHere’s some back up just in case we misunderstood God the first time.
Deuteronomy 5:17: Thou shalt not kill.
Matthew 5:21: Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment.
Romans 13:9: For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:47pmHey FKhead, when and where did social order begin? Go ahead and avoid the question and come up with the only answer you can come up with, name calling. Go Ahead FKhead.
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:52pmThou shall not kill, because, death will then become you.
Report Post »Sy Kosys
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 9:10pmgee doosh-head….where ever did all your fithy tripe comments go?
awwwww somebody needs a hug xox
Report Post »Margaritaville
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 10:00pm@sovereignsoul
the KJV is only a translation, and much really is lost in the translation. The Hebrew word translated as kill in Exodus 20 is really murder. Clearly the Bible supports state sponsored executions and war, just not random selfish personal killing such as abortion, drive by’s etc.
http://www.amightywind.com/prophecy/10commandments.htm
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 11:10pmquite a few here dont understand the Bible
it states thou shalt not murder not “ kill”
also there are different standards between the old and the new testament ……….the old testament was directed towards the Israelites of that current day, the new testament is for the current world population
if your going to post scripture sorosocialism, it would behoove you to know what your talking about
Report Post »SovereignSoul
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 2:35amSo, if that part of my Bible is wrong, how much of the rest of it is wrong as well?
Report Post »SovereignSoul
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 2:51amHere are some other “words of God.”
Mathew 5:21
KJV
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
of the judgment:
Bible in Basic English
You have knowledge that it was said in old times, You may not put to death; and, Whoever puts to death will be in danger of being judged:
Douay-Rheims Bible
You have heard that it was said to them of old: Thou shalt not kill. And whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment.
Darby Bible Translation
Ye have heard that it was said to the ancients, Thou shalt not kill; but whosoever shall kill shall be subject to the judgment.
English Revised Version
Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
Young’s Literal Translation
Report Post »‘Ye heard that it was said to the ancients: Thou shalt not kill, and whoever may kill shall be in danger of the judgment;
hi
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:29pmBoth Olbermann and Drake are unprofessional.
Report Post »teamarcheson
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:32pmThis is an excellent idea and could be used to raise some money for education. Florida could auction off firing squad positions and the money raised could be used to support education. There are many Americans across the country who would love to take part in firing squad executions.
Report Post »ohnomrbill
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:28pmthis should give a hard on to the masses here on this web site.
Report Post »Sorocialism
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:43pmNice to know that you are thinking of our reproductive health…
Report Post »ohnomrbill
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 9:30pmno problem, what ever gets you there
Report Post »unsalvageable.org
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 7:27pmWe need more representatives like Mr. Drake!!!
Report Post »Rajabear1
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 8:22pmWhy? Did he kill someone? Did he slaughter a group of unsuspecting innocent people? Did he commit a premeditated heinous crime on a defenseless child? Hey, godhead, your an idiot and shut the heck up. I’ve had a long hard day and unfortunately, I am in no mood to coddle another absolutely brain dead, lack of any commonsense, moronic lib.
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