The proposed public military execution of Nidal Hasan continues to provoke controversy around its rationale and implementation. CERL Distinguished Senior Fellow Brenner Fissell, quoted by the Associated Press, notes that while execution by firing squad actually has the potential to be a clean, quick, and humane method, in this instance it was likely chosen as part of the Pentagon’s wider move towards a more “masculine” form of “lethality culture.” Professor Fissell also spoke with the Associated Press and Politico about the legal ramifications of streaming such an event, both for social media companies and for those––such as parents––who could potentially have both motivation and standing to stop it.
Brenner M. Fissell is professor of law (with tenure) at Villanova Law. He is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law. Read his bio here.
The views expressed here are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of any organization or university.