How a botched execution and proposed livestream of a firing squad fit in to the US’ death penalty history

In the United States, the death penalty remains a controversial issue, with the country standing out among nations for its use. Notably, Christa Pike, a Tennessee murderer, experienced a botched lethal injection, while Nidal Hasan, a US Army major, faces a proposed execution by firing squad. This puts America's approach to capital punishment in stark contrast to the majority of the world's democracies.

Australia led the way in abolishing capital punishment, becoming the first British Empire jurisdiction to do so in 1922. Western Australia followed suit in 1984, making it the last state to end the practice. In comparison, Britain abolished the death penalty in 1965, and Canada did so in 1976.

Today, 27 US states retain the death penalty, with most executions conducted under state authority. Federal executions, such as Hasan's, require presidential approval. Despite growing opposition to the death penalty, including from President Trump and religious and secular lobbyists, the method persists. The United States stands alone as the only Western nation that executes prisoners.

Historically, American exceptionalism has been tied to democracy, liberty, and individual rights. However, the death penalty contradicts this ideal, with civil rights activists using evidence of racial bias to argue its unconstitutionality. The Supreme Court agreed in 1972, halting executions until updated state statutes in 1976.

Since then, the United States has executed 1,516 people, with lethal injection becoming the most common method. However, the botched execution of Christa Pike has highlighted the method's fallibility. Despite this, it remains the preferred choice due to its perceived cleanliness and lack of pain. Yet, no evidence supports the claim that public executions deter violent crime.