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Why the US is bringing back firing squads

October 12, 2026

The US military plans to livestream the firing squad execution of Nidal Hasan, who killed 13 soldiers at Fort Hood in 2009, marking the Army's first use of this method since 1945. This decision follows the botched lethal injection execution of Christa Pike, who survived the procedure and recovered in hospital before returning to prison. Due to difficulties obtaining lethal injection drugs and concerns about botched executions—51 out of 1,683 total executions in recent decades—several states are reauthorizing older execution methods including firing squads, electric chairs, and gas chambers.

Who is affected

  • Nidal Hasan (former military psychiatrist scheduled for execution)
  • The 13 unarmed US soldiers killed at Fort Hood in 2009
  • Christa Pike (woman who survived a botched lethal injection execution)
  • Pike's classmate (murder victim)
  • Death row inmates in states authorizing alternative execution methods
  • Medical professionals (doctors and nurses) whose associations ban participation in executions
  • Execution staff with inadequate training
  • The general public (who will witness the livestreamed execution)

What action is being taken

  • US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is arranging to livestream Nidal Hasan's execution by firing squad
  • Several states are authorizing and introducing alternative execution methods including firing squads, electric chairs, and gas chambers
  • Medical associations are maintaining bans preventing their members from participating in executions
  • The Death Penalty Information Center is tracking and documenting botched executions

Why it matters

  • This matters because it represents a significant shift in US execution practices amid a crisis of legitimacy for lethal injection, the country's primary execution method for four decades. The return to older execution methods and the unprecedented decision to livestream a military execution reflects growing practical challenges (difficulty obtaining drugs, frequent botched procedures) and renewed federal support for capital punishment. Medical experts warn that all execution methods can cause severe pain, particularly when mistakes occur, yet the lack of medical professional participation and inadequate staff training increases the likelihood of botched executions. The case highlights the ongoing tension between the state's desire to carry out death sentences and the practical, ethical, and humanitarian concerns surrounding how executions are conducted.

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC