Utah has become the only US. state to authorise the use of firing squads for executions if lethal drugs are not available.

Widespread concerns over the effectiveness of lethal injections prompted lawmakers to pass the legislation.

The new law says a firing squad will only be used if the state cannot lawfully obtain lethal drugs before the date set for the procedure.

Utah is three to four years away from its next scheduled execution.

The last person to be killed by firing squad in the U.S. was Ronnie Lee Gardner in 2010.

(See blog by Fr Joe Borg below)

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