Over 70 retired military officers urge the government to cancel the planned livestream of a firing squad execution.
A group of 72 retired military officers asks the government to stop a planned execution broadcast. These former generals and admirals want to cancel the livestream of an upcoming firing squad event.
Also, the group warns that the video could turn a mass killer into a martyr. They sent an open letter to the President and Congress regarding this issue.
Next, the Pentagon previously announced plans to air the December 3 execution. The target is Nidal Hasan, who murdered 13 soldiers at the Fort Hood base.
However, many lawmakers and religious leaders disagree with this broadcast. They believe showing the event publicly is wrong and harmful to the nation.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that some officials in the current administration now oppose the idea. President Trump previously supported the plan but has not made a final decision yet.
Furthermore, these retired leaders do not oppose the death penalty itself. They specifically object to broadcasting the execution to the general public.
As a result, they argue the show would violate constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment. They believe a solemn punishment should not become a form of entertainment.
Still, the letter states that this broadcast would damage the honor of the United States military. It could also fuel hatred from enemies and endanger American citizens abroad.
Later, the group noted that the shooter killed his fellow soldiers to protect his own extremist views. This attack remains the deadliest non-combat event on any American base.
Finally, several high-ranking former officers signed the document. These include a former head of NASA and a lead investigator of prisoner abuses. They hope their collective voice will stop the broadcast of this execution.