JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – Jacksonville residents are reacting after the Pentagon announced plans to make the execution of a former Army major who killed 13 people at Fort Hood open to the public.<\/p>\n
Nidal Hasan was convicted of killing 13 people and injuring 32 others in the 2009 shooting at the Texas military base.<\/p>\n
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday, \u201cWe\u2019ll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it\u2019s public.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Pentagon confirmed those plans Thursday but has not said how the public would be able to watch.<\/p>\n
The Army says the execution will take place at Fort Hood. It is scheduled for Dec. 3 and would be the first U.S. military firing-squad execution since World War II.<\/p>\n
Tim Williams, a Jacksonville resident and military veteran, said he agrees with the execution but has concerns about making it public.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt bothers me that it\u2019s livestreamed. It does actually \u2014 it could be a springboard to someone else doing it,\u201d Williams said.<\/p>\n
Jacksonville resident Jakob Parks also agrees with the punishment but questioned the decision to make it public.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat person definitely deserves something like that,\u201d Parks said. \u201cThey disgraced our country in uniform, to be a major in the military and perform an act like that? I agree with it. I will say the public showing of it might be a little much\u2026 obviously it\u2019s changed since the \u201940s.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another Jacksonville resident, Thomas Tyler, said he believes firing-squad executions should remain in the past.<\/p>\n
\u201cEntirely too long for us to start doing it again,\u201d Tyler said. \u201cBut I mean, I guess they\u2019re trying to reinforce the rules, make it stricter, so people don\u2019t think it\u2019s okay to do certain things.\u201d<\/p>\n
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