Is it unusual in the US to make a firing squad execution a public event?

[Anonymous]

Army caught off guard by Hegseth’s order to make firing squad execution public CNN Politics https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/10/politics/pentagon-scramble-hegseth-public-execution

[Screenwriter]

Hasn't been done in decades and appears to be cruel and unusual. I don't get the point. Punishment of any kind does not deter crime and the crime this man is guilty of indicates he was mentally unstable to have done what he did.

[FreyaRed]

What comes after public executions, witch burnings?

[Laws-Of-Existence]

And they wasted decades keeping the terrorist on life support... meanwhile convicted pedophiles are allowed to flee to israel. As long as they have proof of being jewish. ㅤ

[OlderAndWiser]

The last public execution is the US occurred in 1936.

I disagree with the decision to make this a public event.

[OlderAndWiser]

Thanks for MHO!

[OneViewpoint]

I suggest that if Hegseth wants public executions like any good Fascist lapdog we start with him to run a pilot program. Smooth out the process so the audience gets their money's worth. Ratings matter.

[Miristheiss]

I haven't looked it up but I don't think there have bben public executions in 160 years or so.

[slatyb]

It's never happened before in the US. This is just another step toward fascism.

[shish_kebab]

This is what I find unusual:

• ​The Toll: Hasan killed 13 people (12 service members, including a pregnant soldier, and one Department of the Army civilian employee) and wounded more than 30 others.

I find it unusual that bleeding hearts would even care about such a monster.

[Asker]

Clearly, this guy is mentally ill! Be careful about who you call a "monster". That's a matter of perspective. Holding a public execution that can be seen worldwide is on an entirely different level. If US soldiers were being executed in a country at war, Americans would be outraged.

[shish_kebab]

Why are you anonymous? What are you afraid of?

[Curmudgeon]

@shish_kebab Oh, they will. At a certain point, Ockham's Razor has to kick in and the simplest explanation - treason - is the only one that makes sense.

[Curmudgeon]

www.facebook.com/.../

[Curmudgeon]

www.facebook.com/.../

[Curmudgeon]

www.facebook.com/.../

[shish_kebab]

@Curmudgeon

That's so true about Charlie Kirk. They sure loved watching him die on camera.

[Staximus]

Executions were always public until the 20th century

[Asker]

But, there is no TV or internet

[Staximus]

But the whole town came out to watch

[Asker]

This time the whole town is the whole world!

[Curmudgeon]

Yes, it is unusual.

However, i think the Red Chinese have it right - harvest his organs.

[Asker]

I don't think I would be interested in the organs of someone who is clearly mentally ill!

[Curmudgeon]

Well, as long as it's not his brain. Kidneys, livers, pancreases ought to not matter?

[exitseven]

The US is often the leader in innovative ideas.

[Asker]

There is nothing innovative or original about public executions! Clearly, this guy is mentally ill! When a civilization starts executing mentally ill people, it starts to lose its claim to being humane and fair!

[Anonymous]

More humane than hanging, electric chair or lethal injection. Im surprised its not done like how cattle are put down.

[Asker]

Executing clearly mentally ill people is not a good look for a civilization!