Fort Hood survivor supports gunman's execution by firing squad but questions livestream
Alonzo Lunsford tells the BBC the punishment befits the crime but he has some doubts whether the public should be able to watch it.
The U.S. Department of War has announced its intention to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan, the Fort Hood shooter, by firing squad on December 3rd. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth revealed this plan on Thursday, marking the first public execution in the U.S. in 90 years and the first military execution since 1961. If the livestream proceeds, Hasan will be the first person executed in the U.S. since 1937.
Initially, Hasan was scheduled to be executed by lethal injection, but Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell revealed that Hegseth had recommended a firing squad execution, which President Donald Trump had approved. The method of execution is seen by Hegseth as a "no brainer" and as it should be. The streaming platform details have not been disclosed, as many platforms have policies banning graphic violence.
However, some platforms like X and YouTube have more lenient policies, provided the content is in the public interest. The U.S. Army has previously livestreamed esports on Twitch, but halted the practice in 2020 due to concerns over recruitment links. The Trump administration is known for its use of various streaming platforms, with the 24/7 YouTube livestream "Trump TV" launched after journalists were banned from the White House.
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