Utah firing squad executes convicted killer
June 18th, 2010 . by TexasFredUtah firing squad executes convicted killer
DRAPER, Utah (AP) - A death row inmate who had used a gun to fatally shoot two men suffered the same fate Friday morning as he was executed by a team of marksmen - the first time Utah used the firing squad to carry out a death sentence in 14 years.
A barrage of bullets tore into Ronnie Lee Gardner’s chest where a target was pinned over his heart. Two minutes later an ashen Gardner, blood pooling in his dark blue jumpsuit, was pronounced dead at 12:17 a.m.
He was the third man to die by firing squad since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment in 1976.
Unlike Gary Gilmore, who famously uttered the last words “Let’s do it” on Jan. 17, 1977, Gardner could muster few words before a black hood was fastened over his head. Asked if he had anything to say during the two minutes afforded him, Gardner said simply, “I do not, no.”
Full Story Here:
Utah firing squad executes convicted killer
For almost 25 years the families of his victims had to wait for justice. Justice long over due!
The five executioners, certified police officers who volunteered for the task and remain anonymous, stood about 25 feet away, behind a wall cut with a gunport, and were armed with matching .30-caliber Winchester rifles. One was loaded with a blank so no one knows who fired the fatal shot. Sandbags stacked behind Gardner’s chair kept the bullets from ricocheting around the cinderblock room.
25 feet? And they used rifles? That’s only 8.33 yards. I would think a pistol would be sufficient at that range. Maybe load up some Colt 1911 .45acp pistols and make a competition out of it. The officer that fires the tightest shot to the target gets to keep the pistol. 
“I don’t agree with what he done or what they done but I’m relieved he’s free,” said Gardner’s brother, Randy Gardner, after the execution. “He’s had a rough life. He’s been incarcerated and in chains his whole damn life, now he’s free. I’m happy he’s free, just sad the way he went.”
Yeah, he’s free. He’s free to burn in HELL like the murdering scum he is!
He has been incarcerated for his whole damned life, but at least he HAD a life. What did he take away from his victims? Only everything they had. Only everything they could ever hope to have or hope to be. Don’t cry about the rough life your murdering brother had. Mourn for his victims.
Those that cry over the rough lives that led some to become criminals just make me sick. I know, personally KNOW people that had rough lives, were abused, physically, mentally, sexually and some that suffered all manners of abuse. They didn’t turn out to be murderers.
The execution process was set in motion in March when the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a request from Gardner’s attorney to review the case. On April 23, state court Judge Robin Reese signed a warrant ordering the state to carry out the death sentence.
At that hearing, Gardner politely declared, “I would like the firing squad, please.”
Well, I guess that reinforces the idea of being careful of what you ask for. He got it! 
Historians say the method stems from 19th Century doctrine of the state’s predominant religion. Early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believed in the concept of “blood atonement” - that only through spilling one’s own blood could a condemned person adequately atone for their crimes and be redeemed in the next life. The church no longer preaches such teachings and offers no opinion on the use of the firing squad.
That 1st sentence had me starting to like the Mormon church a bit. The last sentence, not so much now.
The American Civil Liberties Union decried Gardner’s execution as an example of what it called the United States’”barbaric, arbitrary and bankrupting practice of capital punishment.” And religious leaders called for an end to the death penalty at an interfaith vigil in Salt Lake City on Thursday evening.
“Murdering the murderer doesn’t create justice or settle any score,” said Rev. Tom Goldsmith of the First Unitarian Church.
There is a huge difference between murder and killing via execution.
Matthew 22:20-22 (King James Version)
20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
21 They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.
22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
And here the argument ends for the bleeding heart libbers that think a MURDERER should be spared the death penalty and declared redeemed and rehabilitated after some undetermined number of years. His execution is NOT a murder, it is an execution, a paying back of sorts. He took a life, in some cases, many lives, and now he pays with a life. His.
If you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime…
No sympathy from me for the scuzball!!!
It should have been a public event, so other scum and potential killers can see what they are in for.
Having no problem with it m’self. Dirt nap for dirt bag.
The Unitarian Church is nothing more than a social club for moonbats. Their opinion really means nothing to those who believe in Bible based theology.
My only problem with this is the state of Utah giving him what he requested. I’d of given him lethal injection myself, only to deny the bottom feeder his request! I too think the last thing one can do for the families’ and loved ones of a brutal murder victim is to give them the closure of knowing that no one else will ever suffer at the hands of the murdering scumbag who killed their loved ones. God bless the families who suffered unthinkable loss at the hands of this murdering scum and may he burn in Hell.
@HAM — The LAW says the cretin gets a choice… He MADE that choice… You’d break the law to impose a different method of execution that would most certainly get the case reviewed and the verdict over turned??
Seriously??
“I would think a pistol would be sufficient at that range. Maybe load up some Colt 1911 .45acp pistols and make a competition out of it. The officer that fires the tightest shot to the target gets to keep the pistol”…ROTFLMAO…I love it!!!
And also, for those religious folks who think capitital punishment is unchristian:
Romans 13:3-5 (KJV) For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid ; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
The Apostle Paul wasn’t talking about life imprisonment. He was talking about ending the life of the evil doer with the sword, the most lethal personal weapon of the time.
I am all for using open choke 12 gauge shotguns using bird shot at 25 yards.
I would like to see every inch of his skin be penetrated by lead pellets. The pattern spread should be a-ok, and lethal.
If he lives, then you turn him around and do it again at 20 yards.
Since when is 4 bullets a barrage? That is how many bullets hit this dirtbag.
I understand that nearly every cop in Utah volunteered to be on this squad. I wonder if they used a lottery to choose the squad or a merit system?
It is too bad that it took 25 years. If it took less time the cost to the taxpayer would be a lot less.
My only objection is the bag over the head.
“Blood atonement” works for me. The ACLU was founded by a Communist, is still a Communist front organization and should be made irrelevant. Justice was served, though a bit late.
Took to damned long, but better late than never. Screw the ACLU!
I would have given him the firing squad…except I would have armed everyone with Tasers…of course one would have been blank with no electrical charge…but the others would light his ass up. Spray him down with some water so the connections would be good. Give him a little ( OK…a lot ) more pain before he died. Now that is JUSTICE ! !
My objection to all these capital punishment verdicts is why it takes so long…they should hang ‘em or shoot ‘em the day the jury says, “Guilty!” Yeah, I hear all these sob stories that there might be a slight chance the killer may be innocent…but has it ever happened? They’re all guilty in the end and meanwhile you and I had to support their sorry arses!
Norm
That’s a lot cheaper and much more immediately certain than lethal injection or electric chair. In Patrol I used to call that the “$1.98 Solution”, which is what a nice custom .308 round used to cost.
BZ
2 appeals. 2 years. Wanna be fair and all that, just in case. Any more than that….’cruel and unusual’….to the families of the victims. Although, personally, I think immediate execution would be more prudent.
“Murdering the murderer doesn’t create justice or settle any score,” said Rev. Tom Goldsmith of the First Unitarian Church.
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Maybe not, but the murdering bastard won’t ever do it again. And that’s why capital punishment is a deterrent to crime. when we execute one of these bastards there is no chance of some sob-sister parole board letting them out to do it again in future.
Live by the sword…..
You knew the libs would be up in arms about the “cruel and unusual” punishment of this scumbag. But this man showed no compassion during his life and in his death he deserved none either!
He had the choice and he made it. The person he murdered didn’t have a choice.