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Florida Rep. Wants Firing Squads & Electrocutions

MIAMI (CBSMiami.com) – Old sparky, Florida's electric chair, was relegated to storage a few years ago after a few botched executions. But, one Florida lawmaker wants to bring back Old Sparky and firing squads to death row.

Rep. Brad Drake, (R-Eucheena), filed a bill this week that would end use of lethal injection and replace it with the convict's choice of electrocution or a firing squad.

Drake said lethal injection just allows a person to die in their sleep; whereas a firing squad or electrocution would make death row inmates think about their punishment.

"I just don't think they should be able to get off that easy," Drake said.

Florida used the electric chair from 1924-2000. Since the state made the switch to lethal injection, a total of 26 people have died by lethal injection.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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