The Fort Hood Shooter

Let’s talk Nidal Hasan, the Fort Hood shooter.

I would like to start by saying that his crime being classified as workplace violence is ludicrous. It was by his own admission an act in defense of Taliban soldiers that might be killed by the men and women of this country, that were his fellow soldiers. It was an act of terrorism, plain and simple. The only reason I can fathom for this not to be called terrorism is to limit the benefits of those affected by his actions.

Why was a trial held? Why did he not just plead guilty? He admitted his crime at the beginning of the trial. Many thought he would use the trial to make a case for the Jihad he decided to support by killing and maiming his fellow soldiers. In fact, he offered no defense at all. He cross-examined only one witness that I'm aware of, and then asked only one question.

Now in the sentencing phase, his tactics have not changed. He offers no defense and sits quietly listening to the people whom he wounded and the families of those he killed. He still has a couple of opportunities to speak, but at this point I do not think he will use those opportunities. His only goal can be martyrdom. He hopes for the death penalty so that he can be a hero to the cause he betrayed his fellow soldiers for.

I am not against the death penalty for those cases where there can be no doubt of guilt. If there was ever a case that screamed for the death penalty, this is it. I believe the punishment should fit the crime, but this is a unique case. As a country we have the chance to send a strong message to those who would follow in this man’s footsteps.

His crime is horrendous; his punishment should be the same. He wishes for death, for martyrdom, a hero to his cause. By sentencing him to death, we give him what he wants. So, I hope he is sentenced to a life of hard labor at all costs. When not performing labor, he should be kept in solitary. If he decides to hold a hunger strike, tube feed him; the goal should be to keep this terrorist alive as long as we possibly can. To Hasan this would be the ultimate punishment; exactly what he deserves.

Once a year we get a network to take those he injured, or the families of those he killed to visit him in his new life and produce a documentary on how would be martyrs are treated for their actions. Air the special a couple of times a year so that the images stay fresh in the minds of those who would harm us.

As a country we should wish him a long, lonely, painful life. His only visitors should be his victims, a constant reminder of his failure to break the spirit of “We the people.”

Those who would harm “We the people” deserve the ultimate punishment, but in a case like Hasan’s that means life, not death.