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"Let her go" (Gary Gilmore, Utah)
The Firing Squad at Work
The use of the firing squad dates back to when firearms were invented. Typically it is used
by the Military for executing deserters, cowards etcetera. But in some countries (USA, China for example)
it is used as a method of executing murderers, drug dealers etcetera.
The firing squad is usually made up of six to eight persons, plus one official in charge.
The victim is either tied to a stake, chair or just made to stand against a wall. Traditionally the
prisoner is asked if he wishes a blindfold, presumably to spare him the
sight of the rifles being made ready (although he could probably hear the preparations).
In military executions the commands to make ready and fire are usually audible, but in civilian cases
they are sometimes signalled by hand gestures. On the completion of the
sentance, the official in charge usually administers a shot to the head of the victim
to ensure a quick death, it has been known for victims to survive the
intial volley. A target is placed over the victims heart as an indication for the squad, but
even so, sometimes the riflemen miss, probably due to nerves. It is
traditional also to place a blank bullet in one rifle, in such a manner as the
riflemen do not know who's rifle has the blank and can take hope that they
had the blank bullet. It is hard to believe that a trained soldier or marksman
cannot tell the difference in operation between a blank and a live bullet.