As seems usual to me about Wyoming politics looking at Wyoming from my back yard at it (like Governor Sarah Palin and Russia, Wyoming is about eighty miles west of my back fence in the Nebraska Panhandle), the Scottsbluff (NE) Star-Herald reports in this morning's print edition (it not yet available on-line) that Wyoming's legislature is mulling two bills: one to allow firing squads when lethal injection drugs are not available, and one to abolish the death penalty entirely.
More below the orange puff of burnt gunpowder below.
Next week a committee is to meet to discuss whether to sponsor a bill to abolish the death penalty in Wyoming, in Laramie on Thursday.
Of note, a member of the Joint Judiciary Interim Committee, Representative Stephen Watt (R-Rock Springs, House District 17) says he opposes the death penalty, including firing squads.
Representative Watt was shot five times when a member of the Wyoming Highway Patrol and argues it is cruel and unusual to kill a person by shooting them to death.
Representative Keith Gingery (R-Jackson, House District 23, committee chairman) says he expects lots of discussion over the proposal, but does not expect his committee will co-sponsor the repeal bill.
Wyoming is very deep red: every statewide office is held by a Republican.
It is interesting to note two Republicans on opposite sides of the death penalty issue; it is my experience that conservatives mostly favour the death penalty.