Gilmoregun.com

The Gilmore Gun
Echo of Murder
By
Dennis R. Stilson
Book release this summer

The true account of a man's personal connections and experiences with one of America's highest profile cases. The case that reinstated Capital Punishment after 10 years with no executions in all of America should be remembered. The fact that this historically rare and important case is not part of our general educational history books makes a statement of our lack of truth.
Twenty five years after Gilmore's execution by firing squad the murder weapon reappears in the hands of our author who is now a bailbondsman, FFL firearm dealer, bounty hunter, and pawnbroker. This rare perspective describes his extraordinary link with Gilmore's family and the legendary weapon used in both murders. The Gilmore Gun is the only firearm to be involved in any case that affected so many at such a legally important level.
A brief account of the Gary Gilmore case reminds us of the historic story that now continues with the depiction of the murder weapon and the personal trials involving this extraordinary gun. Gun shows, auctions, and government confrontations makes a one of a kind chronicle.
Along with court testimony, interviews, and a history of capital punishment this candid account of death, politics, morals and hope will demand your attention.

Born: 4-Dec-1940
Died: 17-Jan-1977
Location of death: Utah State Prison, Salt Lake City, UT
Cause of death: Execution by firing squad
Remains: Various body parts donated to science. Remains then cremated and scattered from a plane over Spanish Fork, Springville, and Provo, Utah

Gary Gilmore was perhaps the only death-row inmate to ever appear in person before the Utah Supreme Court," Ford said. "He stood there and told them, 'Don't you have the guts to carry out the sentence? I'm willing to accept it.' "When U.S. District Judge Willis Ritter stayed the execution on Jan. 16, 1977, then-Utah Attorney General Robert Hansen and his chief deputy, Earl Dorius, chartered a plane and flew to Denver for a special hearing before a 10th U.S. Circuit Court panel very early in the morning.

January 17, 1977

Gary Mark Gilmore, the convicted murderer, was executed today by firing squad in the Utah state prison in Salt LakeCity.
This is the first execution to have been carried out in the United States for almost 10 years. Gilmore, 36, was sentenced to death for the murder in 1976 of a motel clerk in Provo, Utah. An appeals court in Denver overturned a restraining order on the execution in the early hours of this morning. In his closing words, one of the judges emphasized that Mr. Gilmore should take responsibility for insisting that his own execution go ahead. "Among other people who have rights, Mr. Gilmore has his own. If an error is being made and the execution goes forward, he brought that on himself," said Judge Lewis.

Within an hour of the ruling Gary Gilmore was dead. The execution took place in a converted prison cannery in front of around 20 witnesses at 0806 local time. After the legal order had been read, Gilmore's last words were: "Let's do it."

A hood was placed over his head, a target attached to his t-shirt, and the five-man firing squad took aim and shot from behind a screen. So that none of his executioners could be sure they had fired a mortal round, one of the rifles was loaded with a blank.

Laverne Damico, Gilmore's uncle and witness at the scene, said his nephew "died like he wanted to die, with dignity. He got his wish." Gilmore's body was taken to the University of Utah Medical Center where his organs will be used for medical research.

Top Left Gilmore's Uncle Vern Damico. Right Larry Schiller interviewed Gilmore for book & movie.

Bottom Left Attorney's Ronald Stanger & Robert Moody.