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Pentagon seeks Trump approval for first US military execution in 60 years following Fort Hood mass shooting

Andy C

Well-known
The Pentagon is preparing to ask President Donald Trump to authorize the execution of Nidal Hasan, the former Army major convicted of carrying out the 2009 mass shooting at Fort Hood in Texas, a senior Department of Defense official told The Daily Caller News Foundation.

If approved, it would be the first U.S. military execution in more than six decades. Hasan, a former Army psychiatrist, killed 13 people and wounded 32 others in the attack.

Hasan entered Fort Hood’s Soldier Readiness Center armed with a semi-automatic pistol and opened fire on fellow service members preparing for deployment.

During his subsequent trial, Hasan admitted to the shooting and claimed it was necessary to protect the "Islamic Empire" from American forces.

The Pentagon had categorized the massacre as an act of "workplace violence," a decision that drew sharp criticism from lawmakers, victims’ families and national security experts. They argued it obscured the ideological and terrorist motivations behind the attack.

In 2013, a military jury convicted Hasan and sentenced him to death.

 
When I was on Active Duty, the Army had two slots for Executioners. IDK if they were filled or not. No idea what the status is now. However, decisions and responsibilities with regard to executions were handled at a lower level than they are now.

Army Regulation (AR 190-55), current as of 30 October 2023, with Change, dated 2019, "Stipulates the Secretary of the Army designates the method of execution," (para. 1-4a(2)). "The PMG will analyze protocols for methods of execution. All lawful, feasible methods available will be pre-sented to the SECARMY for consideration prior to issuance of the SECARMY’s execution order. The PMG will be responsible to develop a complete mission plan for all approved methods of execution" (para 3-2a)."

Additionally, AR 190-55, para 4-1 specifies, "Only the President of the United States can approve and order the execution of a death sentence, under the Uniform Code of Military Justice Article 71(a), Rules for Courts-Martial (RCM) 1207. The DoDD 1325.04 appoints the Sec-retary of the Army (SECARMY) as the Department of Defense (DoD) executive agent for DoD Level III Corrections. As such, the SECARMY is responsible for providing a facility to carry out executions of military prisoners with approved death sentences."

PMG is the Provost Marshal General, who is a General Officer.
SECARMY is the Secretary of the army.

AR 190-55 U.S. ARMY CORRECTIONS SYSTEM: PROCEDURES FOR MILITARY EXECUTIONS
(2023, including Change dated 2019)



Current methods of execution in the United States include hanging, firing squad, electrocution, gas chamber, and lethal injection. IDK which ones are lawful for the Army to use, and it may depend on the State, or whether the military installation on which such an execution would be carried out is on Federal or State land. IDK if the condemned in this case could ask for beheading, IAW religious beliefs.


For the curious, the old Executioner's Handbook (1959)
 
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