South Carolina has carried out its third firing squad execution of the year, putting an end to the life of Stephen Bryant, a 44-year-old convicted murderer. The gruesome method of execution has sparked intense debate among human rights advocates and lawmakers who see it as "barbaric".
Bryant's brain damage from his mother's alcohol and drug use during pregnancy was a crucial factor in his case, with prosecutors arguing that the defendant's impairments left him unable to endure the tormenting memories of his childhood. However, the state supreme court refused to halt the execution, paving the way for Friday's lethal shooting.
In a starkly contrasting statement, South Carolina's attorneys claimed Bryant was "methodical, cunning, and took pleasure" in his crimes, citing his brutal attacks on two other men as evidence. The character of the defendant and the circumstances of the crimes were deemed to weigh heavily in favor of the harshest punishment by state lawyers.
Bryant's final moments before death saw him gaze at ten witnesses and make brief eye contact with the firing squad executioners, before they unleashed a hail of gunfire that lasted 55 seconds. The brain-damaged defendant was left motionless for over a minute after being shot, with his body undergoing several spasms as he succumbed to death.
The controversy surrounding South Carolina's revival of executions and its reliance on the firing squad has sparked heated debate. Critics point to pentobarbital, used in lethal injection, which can cause prolonged and excruciating deaths, while others question the very need for such a method of execution.
Lawyers representing Bryant argued that their client's brain damage left him unable to access necessary treatment, a factor they claimed was glossed over by prosecutors. The defendant himself had expressed a desire not to suffer through electrocution but rather to be shot in the heart - a request made by several other inmates on death row who have undergone similar experiences.
Following Bryant's execution, South Carolina solidified its position as one of just two states in the US with an established firing squad killing method. The Rev Hillary Taylor of South Carolinians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty condemned the state's reliance on such a brutal practice, asserting that the focus should be on preventing violence rather than inflicting it through executions.
Bryant's death marks the 50th execution in South Carolina since capital punishment was reinstated four decades ago, with the country witnessing its 43rd death sentence so far this year.
Bryant's brain damage from his mother's alcohol and drug use during pregnancy was a crucial factor in his case, with prosecutors arguing that the defendant's impairments left him unable to endure the tormenting memories of his childhood. However, the state supreme court refused to halt the execution, paving the way for Friday's lethal shooting.
In a starkly contrasting statement, South Carolina's attorneys claimed Bryant was "methodical, cunning, and took pleasure" in his crimes, citing his brutal attacks on two other men as evidence. The character of the defendant and the circumstances of the crimes were deemed to weigh heavily in favor of the harshest punishment by state lawyers.
Bryant's final moments before death saw him gaze at ten witnesses and make brief eye contact with the firing squad executioners, before they unleashed a hail of gunfire that lasted 55 seconds. The brain-damaged defendant was left motionless for over a minute after being shot, with his body undergoing several spasms as he succumbed to death.
The controversy surrounding South Carolina's revival of executions and its reliance on the firing squad has sparked heated debate. Critics point to pentobarbital, used in lethal injection, which can cause prolonged and excruciating deaths, while others question the very need for such a method of execution.
Lawyers representing Bryant argued that their client's brain damage left him unable to access necessary treatment, a factor they claimed was glossed over by prosecutors. The defendant himself had expressed a desire not to suffer through electrocution but rather to be shot in the heart - a request made by several other inmates on death row who have undergone similar experiences.
Following Bryant's execution, South Carolina solidified its position as one of just two states in the US with an established firing squad killing method. The Rev Hillary Taylor of South Carolinians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty condemned the state's reliance on such a brutal practice, asserting that the focus should be on preventing violence rather than inflicting it through executions.
Bryant's death marks the 50th execution in South Carolina since capital punishment was reinstated four decades ago, with the country witnessing its 43rd death sentence so far this year.
his brain damage from birth is a whole different story 
prosecutors say he can't handle torture memories but state lawyers say he's cunning & enjoyed hurting others 
the firing squad debate is getting intense 
pentobarbital critics say it's worse than the firing squad 
while others think we should focus on prevention 
bryant wanted to be shot in the heart 
over electrocution anyway, south carolina solidified its spot as a state that doesn't care about humane punishment 
man, i'm just thinkin' about this whole firing squad thing... it's like, we're still tryin' to figure out how to handle people who've done some pretty messed up stuff in life, right? 
and now we've got these super advanced methods of execution that are supposed to be more humane or whatever. but honestly, i think it's all just a bit twisted... like, what's the point of even executin' someone who's already lost their mind due to some messed up circumstances? 
shouldn't we be tryin' to help 'em find peace instead of just killin' 'em off? 
brutal. And the fact that he was just shot in the heart like he wanted it doesn't change anything. It's still death. And what about the lawyers saying he can't access treatment because of his condition? That's some pretty messed up stuff. 
It feels like we're heading down a really dark path here...
. How can we even justify taking someone's life like that? 
. I mean, can't we be doing something more to help people with mental health issues like Stephen Bryant? His brain damage was a major factor in his case, and instead of helping him, they're executing him 
I get it, he committed some serious crimes, but does that mean we have to execute him? I don't think so 
I mean, we could be using that money for actual rehabilitation programs or education instead of... you know, killing people 
.
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what's the point of executing someone who can't even defend themselves? like, isn't that just prolonging their suffering? 
The fact that he had brain damage from his mom's addiction and was basically left with no choice but to commit crimes due to it is just heartbreaking 
. Like, what kind of sick humans come up with this stuff? 
. I mean, it's not like pentobarbital doesn't have its own problems, but at least that way you know when it's over 
. But nope, South Carolina is all about being "hardcore" and executing people in a way that makes them suffer for an eternity 
50 executions
The number of executions per year has decreased from 10 to 3 since 2010 
The US needs to reevaluate its stance on capital punishment. It's time for a change 