Not Livestreaming Execution Is The Right Decision

This week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan would be made public and livestreamed on December 3rd at the same Army base where the horrific act took place.

On November 5th, 2009, Hasan entered the Fort Hood Soldier Readiness Center and cowardly opened fire on unarmed service members. 13 people were murdered, and 32 others were injured. It was a horrific act of terrorism that will never be forgotten.

What makes the act even more disturbing is that Hasan was a Major in the United States Army. He was a Trojan horse terrorist serving in the armed forces and in August 2013, he was found guilty and sentenced to death. Here we are, 13 years after his conviction and Hasan will soon pay the ultimate price for his barbaric crimes.

When I first heard Secretary Hegseth’s announcement about the execution being live streamed, I had mixed emotions. If anyone deserves the death penalty, it’s this savage terrorist. But livestreaming the execution for the entire world to witness? I initially felt that was a bit much.

My first thought was remembering all of the disturbing videos terrorists have posted of Americans being murdered. They went viral, scarred our minds with graphic images and enraged Americans. To this day, I wish I never saw them. My memories of Charlie Kirk’s public assassination also surfaced. Then I thought, we are better than this. This is America.

"My first thought was remembering all of the disturbing videos terrorists have posted of Americans being murdered."

The last public execution in America was in the 1930s. Regardless of the severity of the crime, I don’t think a public execution is right for America.

We all have every right to demand answers about the Fort Hood attack, examine the failures leading up to it, and insist that those responsible be held accountable. Those questions deserve serious reporting and open debate.

But accountability does not require turning a human into a livestreamed spectacle. Meaningful and candid reporting can serve the public better than an unfiltered broadcast that rewards seeing someone violently killed in real time. We should remember the victims, support their families, learn the lessons of the attack, and insist on transparency from those responsible for public safety.

Responsible journalism is not about how quickly it can put graphic images in front of the world. Responsible journalism is about helping people understand the truth, while respecting the people whose lives have been shattered.

Fortunately, President Trump announced that the execution will in fact, not be live streamed. The execution is still scheduled to happen on December 3rd and families of the victims will have the opportunity to witness it, if they choose. That is how we do things in America.

Chris Thompson is published weekly on howiecarrshow.com and livefreepressnh.com