In 14 years, no one in Illinois has been executed by the death penalty; however, a new executive order released by President Donald Trump could change that for not only one state but all 50 states.

So, when did Illinois stop using the death penalty?

According to the Illinois Secretary of State (SOS), “Governor Pat Quinn signed the bill into law on March 9, 2011, and the bill went into effect on July 1, 2011.”

What is the current executive order pushing for the death penalty?

The executive order released aims to restore the death penalty in all 50 states.

This can include a person murdering any law enforcement officer or an undocumented individual committing a capital crime while in the country.

Not only is the death penalty being sought out in all states, but it already has also been used in a form that has been unprecedented in a long time.

According to global news outlets, South Carolina executed a man by firing squad, which was a method the U.S. hasn’t utilized in 15 years.

The executive order could challenge many people’s morals and ethics.

Legal Defense Fund (LDF) President and Director-Counsel Janai Nelson describes the order as, “a presentiment of the inhumanity ahead” on the LDF’s website.

The roots of the death penalty started with John Kilduck who was hanged in 1819.

According to the Office of the Illinois Secretary of State, “The first execution in Illinois occurred in 1819, less than one year after statehood, when John Kilduck was hanged for murder.”

This method of hanging lasted from 1819 to 1928

“From 1819 to 1928, the method of execution used in Illinois was hanging.”

The method of hanging stopped after that year, and a new form of executing an individual was used, which was electrocution. 

“From 1928 to 1962, the state used the electric chair.”

However, Illinois promptly stopped executing people from 1962 to 1990.

During the years 1990 to 1999, Illinois only executed 12 prisoners via lethal injection.

Three years after that, Governor Ryan issued a moratorium, a “temporary halt” to the executions due to them needing to be “investigated.”

Professor of History Vincent Gaddis expressed that there is an abundant amount of evidence suggesting the wrongful executions of many people in the country.

“Whether it’s the Sentencing Project…other efforts that have gone on, there’s ample evidence that we execute or we wrongfully execute people in this country.”

Another Professor of History, Nina Ulman, expressed that she disagrees with the use of the death penalty; however, she understands its use in dire circumstances.

“I think it does more harm…I can understand, while I don’t agree, I can understand the call for a death penalty if a family is grieving.”

Computer Science Major Noah Dennis can see the use of the death penalty, but not in a regular occurrence. 

 “I could see its use, but I don’t think it should be used regularly,” said Dennis.

While the executive order hasn’t yet been reinstated in all US states, it could very well be and possibly reshape modern society as many know it.