Nidal Hasan public execution raises questions with the public
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- For the first time in almost 90 years, a public U.S. execution could take place this December, and it'll be livestreamed.
Former U.S. Major Nidal Hasan opened fire against military officers in 2009, killing 13 soldiers and wounding 32 others. One of the victims, Justin DeCrow, was a Plymouth native.
Hasan shot military officials in support of the Taliban and openly said he did it prevent them from going to Afghanistan.
President Trump has approved Hasan to be executed by a firing squad on Dec. 3, marking the first military firing squad execution since World War II. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the execution could be livestreamed, “Because people need to understand that there’s serious consequences for these types of things.”
The recent announcement has sparked a wide variety of responses online, with people in support and opposition to a public execution.
ABC57 News spoke with Stacie Merken, Indiana University Department Chair of Criminal Justice on its implications.
Merken says there's more at play than we think, with political undertones at play.
"I do believe there's some underlying tone there, of 'Look how quick and easy this can be done. Look at the method that we're using that's not used by many states. Look at the issues that are going on with these botched executions that we've seen several cases go up through the U.S. Supreme Court regarding lethal injection,'" Merken says.
In light of Christa Pike's botched lethal injection, Merken believes the federal government is making a clear point, showing that executions can be done easily.
She also addresses the legality behind a public execution, saying "We're in uncharted territory with the live streaming element of it. There is a U.S. law that does prohibit the recording or broadcasting of executions in the federal prison system, but military regulations have not applied that same prohibition to military executions, and that's what we're looking at."
Looking ahead, Merken says there could be pushback from the public, especially with those who say this execution goes against the 8th Amendment.
Trish Cooper, the deputy director for Death Penalty Action, an advocacy group working to abolish the death penalty, comments on the recent announcement calling it "Absolutely appalling."
"We can have transparency and accountability with executions without making it a public spectacle," she says.
"It is just absolutely horrific to turn an execution or watching somebody die into entertainment for people."
Cooper adds that livestreaming this execution could also turn Hasan into a martyr.
"He's an extremist, but I do know that it's an honor to be killed for what you believe, and so we are giving him a worldwide audience for that," she says.
Cooper states that no extra attention should be given to Hasan, out of respect for the families of the victims.