Why Arizona Is Bringing Back A Controversial Procedure

There's a story I always love to tell. When we think of the Guillotine, we think of 8th century France and their revolution, which usually ended with a public beheading. You'd expect this to have passed on long ago, but the last execution by Guillotine in France was performed the same year Star Wars came out, in 1977.

We tend to think of the current Death Penalty in the same way, especially after many states, including Arizona, banned the practice.

We've had a change of heart apparently.

Why Did Arizona Get Rid of the Death Penalty

As of 2024, 21 states still have the Death Penalty as a legal option. Compared to that, 23 have made the option illegal, and six had the option on pause, but not entirely gone. Arizona was in the third category, pausing the procedure due to Human Rights groups asking for the government to review their methods.

Arizona's last execution was in November 2022, and the state government has been working to ensure their system meets all criteria to continue.

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Why is Arizona Bringing the Death Penalty Back?

While bringing back the Death Penalty can be attributed to many causes, it was just one that forced Arizona's hand. That is the sentencing of Aaron Brian Gunches, who killed Ted Price in cold blood in 2002.

Attorney General Kris Mayes leads the charge, and brought this case to the state Supreme Court, looking for a death warrant. This certainly won't be the last, as the state currently has as many as 25 inmates on Death Row, awaiting their warrants.

[ABC15][Death Penalty Information Center]