On Friday, August 18, 2023, Brad Sigmon was executed by firing squad in South Carolina, marking a controversial moment in the ongoing debate over capital punishment in the state. His attorney, Gerald “Bo” King, delivered Sigmon’s poignant final statement shortly before his death, expressing profound reflections on justice and morality.

Final Words: A Call Against the Death Penalty

In his closing remarks, Sigmon urged his fellow Christians to join him in opposing the death penalty. “An eye for an eye was used as justification to the jury for seeking the death penalty,” he wrote. Sigmon acknowledged his past ignorance regarding the implications of such a stance, stressing the distinction between the Old and New Testament teachings on life and death, stating, “Nowhere does God in the New Testament give man the authority to kill another man.”

The Execution: A Harrowing Experience

Witnessed by journalists and officials, Sigmon’s execution was described as “horrifying and violent” by King, who noted that Sigmon chose the firing squad after witnessing the painful effects of previous lethal injections. “He chose the firing squad knowing that three bullets would shatter his bones and destroy his heart,” King stated.

Accompanying the emotional weight of the execution was a troubling lack of a warning before the shots were fired. Jeffrey Collins, a journalist who attended the execution, conveyed the shock experienced by witnesses as Sigmon’s body reacted to the rapid gunfire.

Legislative Background and Current Trends

In 2021, South Carolina lawmakers initiated a return to executions following a ten-year hiatus due to lethal injection drug shortages. This led to legislation mandating that death row inmates select between the electric chair, a firing squad, or lethal injection (if available) for their execution method.

King expressed concern over the lack of transparency regarding the lethal injection drugs, emphasizing that inmates like Sigmon deserved guarantees of the drug’s integrity. Furthermore, Sigmon’s legal representation made unsuccessful attempts to argue that his mental health issues should have precluded his execution.

Advocacy Against Capital Punishment

Rev. Hillary Taylor, representing the organization South Carolinians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (SCADP), voiced her dismay over Sigmon’s execution, stating that it extinguished the prospect of redemption. Taylor asserted, “As Brad’s spiritual advisor, I can personally attest to the fact that he is a different man today than the person he was more than 20 years ago.” She framed the real question of capital punishment as not whether Sigmon deserved to die, but whether society deserved to kill.

State of Capital Punishment in South Carolina

South Carolina has resumed a high frequency of executions, with four individuals put to death since September 2022. This has raised significant concerns among advocacy groups and citizens alike regarding the implications of such actions on societal safety and morality.

Currently, state records show that there are 28 inmates on death row in South Carolina. Despite the controversies surrounding capital punishment, some lawmakers are pushing to expand the criteria for death penalty eligibility, with recent proposals including severe measures against those seeking abortion care.