Fort Hood Shooter's Firing Squad Execution May Influence Future Methods of Execution in the US

<p>The planned execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, the Fort Hood mass shooter, by firing squad could lead to increased use of this method across the United States, according to Deborah Denno, a professor at Fordham Law and an expert on capital punishment. Denno stated that if the execution is conducted smoothly, it may encourage other states to adopt firing squads as a method of execution.</p><p>Hasan was sentenced to death in 2013 for a mass shooting at Fort Hood in 2009 that resulted in 13 deaths and 32 injuries. The Trump administration announced that his execution is scheduled for December 3, and the Pentagon confirmed plans to livestream the execution.</p><p>Denno noted that the firing squad is perceived as a more certain and quicker method of execution, and she argues that it may be less inhumane compared to lethal injections. She explained that individuals with shooting expertise are more readily available than those qualified to administer other execution methods.</p><p>The last military execution in the U.S. occurred on April 13, 1961, when Pvt. John A. Bennett was hanged at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Denno has previously stated that firing squads have historically been effective and humane, with few complications.</p><p>In recent years, states like Idaho, Utah, and South Carolina have considered firing squads due to challenges with lethal injection drugs. A recent incident in Tennessee raised questions about the viability of lethal injections after an inmate survived two doses of the drug pentobarbital.</p><p>Denno highlighted that firing squad executions have had fewer controversies compared to other methods, citing only two notable incidents in 1877 and 1951. However, she mentioned concerns regarding a recent execution in South Carolina where the intended target area was missed, leading to a prolonged death process.</p><p>Denno emphasized the importance of monitoring the upcoming execution of Hasan on December 3, given the implications it may have for future executions in the U.S.</p>