The proposal to reinstate the use of firing squads to carry out executions in Utah barely passed a crucial vote on Friday in the state Legislature. The Republican-controlled House narrowly approved the measure, which now heads for an uncertain fate in the state Senate, also controlled by the Republicans. At this time, Senate leaders are not indicating whether they will support the measure, and Gov. Gary Herbert will not say if he will sign it.

Rep. Paul Ray, sponsor of the measure, has argued that death by trained marksmen would be more humane than the drawn out deaths that have occurred recently in botched executions by lethal injections. His bill calls for use of a firing squad as a backup method, to be used if lethal injection drugs cannot be obtained 30 days prior to an execution, or if lethal injection is declared to be unconstitutional.

Lethal injections are under review by the U.S. Supreme Court. There has been a shortage of execution drugs recently, as pharmaceutical companies are refusing to provide drugs for that purpose. Last month the high court blocked three executions in Oklahoma while it reviewed the three-drug mixture the state uses for executions. Gruesome instances of prolonged, painful deaths have been widely reported in Oklahoma, Arizona and Ohio.

In 2004 lawmakers voted to stop allowing prisoners to choose execution by firing squad. Some inmates who were sentenced before that time were given the option to still use that method, which was last used in 2010 when Ronnie Lee Gardner’s execution was carried out by five police officers using Winchester rifles.

Opponents argue that using firing squads would tarnish Utah’s image with visions of crude Wild West justice. Rep. Brian King (D) voted against the measure, calling gunshot executions “barbaric.” Laws in Oklahoma also allow for firing squads in the situation where electrocution and lethal injection are ruled unconstitutional.