In fact, many people are confused about it, but the death penalty has not been abolished in the U.S. and clearly exists by law.

However, the era when it was executed nationwide has passed, and currently, about 27 out of the 50 states, as well as the federal government, legally allow the death penalty.

Looking at the numbers, one might think, "Isn't it still over half?" but there are quite a few states that have not executed anyone in decades, and the number of states that have abolished the death penalty continues to grow. So overall, the number of people sentenced to death has decreased, and the actual number of executions has significantly declined compared to the past.

The most commonly used method of execution reported in the news is lethal injection. This method involves administering drugs in several stages to induce deep sleep before stopping the breathing and heart. However, as pharmaceutical companies increasingly refuse to sell drugs used for executions, obtaining these drugs has become more difficult.

In addition to lethal injection, there are still states that legally allow the electric chair. This method involves passing a strong electric current through the inmate's body to cause death. While it used to be a symbol of capital punishment in the U.S., it is now mostly not a standard method and remains as a "choice" or an exceptional method.

Recently, what shocked people the most was the revival of the firing squad. On March 7, 2025, an inmate in South Carolina chose to be executed by firing squad, resulting in the first execution by this method in the U.S. in about 15 years.

The firing squad involves multiple executioners firing simultaneously at the heart of the inmate from a certain distance. This scene, reminiscent of a Western movie, actually occurred in 2025. As soon as this news broke, human rights controversies reignited. Honestly, I was a bit stunned to see that firing squads have reappeared in the U.S. in this day and age.

Another newly introduced method is the nitrogen gas method. This involves inhaling nitrogen to block oxygen in the body, and some claim that "it causes less pain." However, there is still much debate about what actually happens during the process and whether the pain is truly less. Above all, there is ongoing fundamental criticism about whether it is acceptable for a human to be a test subject. Nitrogen is something sold in bags for snacks...

Moreover, methods like gas chambers and hanging, which were used in the past, have almost disappeared and remain as stories from history books. They are methods that you can only see in photographs at museums.

Looking at it this way, the death penalty in the U.S. is neither completely gone nor actively enforced. The atmosphere continues to change depending on the political leanings of each state. While lethal injection is the standard, there are other methods, making it a somewhat awkward transitional state.

Thus, the death penalty continues to clash between those who believe that "horrific crimes require an appropriate punishment" and those who argue that "the state taking a life can never be justified for any reason." I believe this debate will continue for some time.