Today in History: January 17, Murderer Gary Gilmore executed by firing squad

Today is Saturday, Jan. 17, the 17th day of 2026. There are 348 days left in the year. Today in history: On Jan. 17, 1977, convicted murderer Gary Gilmore, 36, was shot by a firing squad at Utah State Prison in the first U.S. execution in a decade. He was put to death after the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty the previous year. Also on this date: In 1920, prohibition of alcohol began in the United States as the Volstead Act went into effect in support of the 18th Amendment....