US death penalty advocate calls for return to firing squads

John Malcolm of the Meese Institute has argued that the United States should return to using firing squads for executions, placing the proposal within the country’s ongoing death-penalty debate.

Malcolm made the case in an interview with Al Jazeera published on 9 September 2026. The supplied report does not detail his broader argument or indicate whether he was speaking in a personal capacity or representing the institute’s official position.

The comments describe a proposed change to an execution method, not a policy decision. There is no indication in the supplied material that firing squads have been reinstated or that any US jurisdiction is actively considering the proposal.

The report also provides no reactions from US officials, legal experts or affected communities, and does not establish broader support for Malcolm’s position.