Should Executions Be Televised?
The Pros and Cons of TV Executions
On December 3, 2026, the execution of Nidal Hasan, a former U.S. Army major, will take place in Fort Hood, Texas. Originally it was to be televised via livestream. Hasan was convicted of 13 counts of murder and was responsible for injuring 32 others in a mass shooting that took place in Fort Hood in 2009.
The execution will be performed by a firing squad. This will be the first time a military execution will occur since 1961, when U.S. Army Private John Arthur Bennett was hanged for the rape and attempted murder of an 11-year-old girl. It is also the first time an execution will take place via firing squad since 1945, when Eddie Slovik was executed for desertion in WWII.
As far as public executions go, the last public execution in the United States was in 1936 with the hanging of Eddie Slovik. This, of course, was before televisions were in every home. Publicly airing Hasan's execution would have been a first for the United States. Only 55 countries worldwide still allow capital punishment, and out of these countries, only Iran and Afghanistan carry out public executions.
The death penalty alone is still controversial in the United States, with only 27 of the 50 states allowing it. Airing an execution on live-stream TV causes even more controversy, as some people are OK with it, but others, such as Archbishop Paul Coakley, stated that this is a "barbaric promotion of a culture of death" that would "only further undermine the moral fabric of our nation."
However, this wouldn't be the first time a killing was seen on TV. Millions of people have seen the killing of George Floyd by police officer Derek Chauvin, not to mention other killings that have aired on television, and the argument is made that airing an execution really isn't much different. In both cases, the end result is death.
In order to air the execution, it needs Presidential approval, and President Trump initially gave his nod to air it, although he has since changed his mind. Proponents of Trump feel airing it would have been a good decision that can benefit the public by allowing for more transparency; opponents argue that his gesture was nothing more than an attention grabber and a way to take people's minds off the Iran war, which has caused him low approval ratings.
While some people see the advantages to airing the execution to the public, others feel it can be quite harmful. Let's take a look at the pros and cons.
The Pros of Televised Execution
It is believed that by airing the execution of Nasan, it would bring about more public awareness of the consequences of such horrific crimes, acting as a deterrent for possible future crimes. It also allows the public to feel like justice is being served.
It can act as a reality check that if you commit a crime and get convicted, that punishment will occur and sometimes, that punishment will be death. Watching an execution can bring this harsh reality to life, as it's one thing to read about it, but another to actually watch it happen.
The Cons of Televised Execution
According to the United Nations, airing an execution would “breach the absolute prohibition of torture.” Mental health experts fear that watching this could cause stress and trauma. There's also the concern that children might accidentally, or even purposely, tune in, which could be very detrimental.
In addition, there's the concern that something could go wrong while being aired on live TV. Just recently, a lethal injection failed to end the life of convicted killer Christa Pike and instead caused her severe pain and temporary paralysis, as well as placing her in critical condition. The long-term effects of her failed execution are currently unknown.
The execution of Hasan is not set in stone. He can seek federal habeas corpus relief, which would likely delay his execution. In addition, other legal challenges could delay the execution as well.
Although the livestream of this execution is no longer going to take place, time will only tell if an execution will be televised in the future.
What are your thoughts? Do you think executions should be televised or kept private?
Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2013/07/28/justice/military-execution-soldier-profile
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/us-execution-firing-squad-fort-hood-9.7375621
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/09/live-stream-execution-fort-hood-shooter
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/christa-pike-botched-execution/
About the Creator
Janis Masyk-Jackson
I published my first article when I was 10 years old and I've been writing ever since. I'm a mom to 4 grown kids and I love traveling, animals, the paranormal and I'm a huge Disney fan.
Enjoyed the story? Support the Creator.
Subscribe for free to receive all their stories in your feed. You could also become a paid subscriber, letting them know you appreciate their work.
Comments
There are no comments for this story
Be the first to respond and start the conversation.