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Story of the gun that brought back capital punishment.
Gary Mark Gilmore: A Dark Tale of Famous Firearms, Historical Significance, and the Death Penalty
Introduction
In the annals of American criminal history, the name Gary Mark Gilmore stands as a chilling reminder of a gruesome murder case that sparked national debate on capital punishment. The case not only gained attention due to its heinous nature but also due to the historic firearm involved and the consequential impact on the death penalty discourse in the United States.
Famous Firearms: A Historical Perspective
Famous firearms have often played a significant role in shaping both history and public consciousness. They become iconic symbols, forever linked to pivotal moments and notorious figures. In the case of Gary Mark Gilmore, the infamous .22 caliber pistol, a relatively common weapon, became a macabre relic in the story of a man’s descent into darkness.
Gilmore’s Crimes: A Brutal Act
Gary Mark Gilmore’s criminal story began with the cold-blooded murders of Max Jensen and Bennie Bushnell in Utah during the summer of 1976. The motive behind these murders was not robbery, but rather a manifestation of Gilmore’s internal demons. His actions were driven by a lethal mixture of anger, resentment, and a desire for notoriety.
The Murder Case That Captivated a Nation
The Gilmore case captured the public’s attention not just because of the heinousness of the crimes, but also due to Gilmore’s adamant refusal to appeal his death sentence. His desire to die led to a legal and moral quagmire that would ultimately set the stage for a landmark moment in the history of the death penalty in America.
Capital Punishment Debate Reignited
Gilmore’s steadfast insistence on facing the firing squad reignited the debate surrounding the death penalty. While capital punishment had been a topic of discussion for decades, Gilmore’s case brought it to the forefront of the nation’s consciousness. Supporters of the death penalty saw Gilmore’s sentence as a just consequence for his heinous acts, while opponents viewed it as a prime example of the moral and ethical dilemmas surrounding state-sanctioned killing.
A Morbidly Historic Execution
On January 17, 1977, Gilmore faced the firing squad in Utah. His execution marked the end of his life and the beginning of a new chapter in the capital punishment debate. Gilmore’s choice to abandon his legal appeals and embrace death head-on left an indelible mark on the country’s perspective on the death penalty.
Legacy and Impact
Gary Mark Gilmore’s name has become synonymous with both brutality and a fervent rejection of the justice system. His case inspired books, movies, and discussions that would echo through the years. The firearm involved, the murder weapon, as evidence that ended his life has become a historical artifact, serving as a grim reminder of a man’s descent into violence and society’s response.
Conclusion
The story of the Gilmore Gun is one of infamy, marked by a brutal crime, an iconic firearm, and a controversial stance on the death penalty. His case shed light on the complexities of the justice system and the moral dilemmas surrounding capital punishment. While his story is a dark chapter in American history, it remains a cautionary tale and a reminder of the powerful intersections between crime, firearms, justice, and public opinion.
A few days prior to Gilmore’s murders he had burglarized Swans market in Spanish Fork, Utah stealing eleven handguns. 
He used the same pistol for both murders. Shown below with the Provo, Utah police department evidence tag still attached. The firearm is a Browning Challenger II .22 long rifle.
Gilmore denied his guilt at the beginning of his interrogation but soon admitted his culpability. There had been no executions in America since 1966. On June 1972 – Furman v. Georgia Supreme Court effectively voids 40 death penalty statutes and suspends the death penalty.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furman_v._Georgia
This bizarre case only lasted six months while including an attempted suicide pack with his girl friend while incarcerated in Utah State prison, a hunger strike, and denial for appeals. His wish to die repeatedly made world news. After rescheduling his execution he finally got his wish choosing the firing squad over hanging.
This period of no executions combined with the federal moratorium resulted in ten years of no death penalty in America. Only two weeks prior to Gilmore’s execution capital punishment had been reinstituted but still required the test case to complete the process. The Gary Mark Gilmore execution is the case that completed the process.
This tragedy has an inimitable place in American history for multiple reasons. Gilmore refused all appeals for the murders he committed insisting on the death penalty which he received by firing squad, his choice over hanging, within six months of his trial making him the test case to bring back the death penalty the only time it had been halted nation wide in American history.
Norman Mailers book about this case titled “The Executioners Song” won the 1980 Pulitzer Prize in fiction. A 1982 movie by same title starred Tommy Lee Jones winning his first Emmy award. The movie also starred Eli Wallach, Pat Corley, Christine Lahti, and Rosanna Arquette, and was directed by Lawrence Schiller.
After the case and execution the court returned the the murder weapon to Gordon Swan, the store owner Gilmore had burglarized.
Which in most rational peoples opinion seems fair and logical, but has seldom happened throughout our history.
The store owner hid the pistol away for 25 years before asking a local gun dealer and long time friend to sell the gun for him. The gun dealer, Dennis Stilson later purchased the pistol from the original owner. After some research the pistol was placed on a popular internet gun auction receiving a bid for $500,000.00 but did not meet the reserve or asking price. A few months later the gun was first shown at a Las Vegas gun show. Making top story on TV news and front page of the Las Vegas Review newspaper.
Later the pistol was again listed on an internet auction reaching $780,000.00 but was still insufficient to reach the asking price.
Stilson had numerous personal and professional ties with Gilmore’s family and others involved with the Gilmore’s case. He wrote a book titled “The Gilmore Gun and I” More interviews and information led to another book titled “The Gilmore Gun – Echo of murder.” Shown on the next page.
Articles depicting the Gilmore account covered the world in such magazines as Time, New times, Criminal Mind, Playboy, Rolling Stone, People and many more. Also numerous sundry and documentaries were produced. There were also the books and movies solidifying both the unique and bizarre aspects of this memorable case.
The case that reinstated capital punishment in America should be remembered. It is a shame that this historically rare and important story is not part of our general educational history books and makes a statement of our lack of the pursuit of truth. The fact remains no other gun has been involved in any case that legally affected so many at such a legitimate level affecting laws that we still live by today. Committing the most horrendous crime resulting in the most severe punishment. Other guns have certainly been used to murder more prominent historical or recognized victims but that is a bit of a different niche, this pistol reflects more of the legal or law affecting and social-political ramifications making it a very rare firearm indeed.
There is only one Gilmore Gun.
Contact – gilmoregun@gmail.com