Army Maj. Nidal Hasan, the psychiatrist who was found guilty of killing 13 and wounding 32 others during a November 2009 shooting spree at Fort Hood, Texas, was sentenced to death Aug. 28. A jury at Fort Hood convicted Hasan of murder five days earlier. Meanwhile, two Texas Republican lawmakers – Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. Roger Williams – are sponsoring legislation that would provide victims of the crime with the same benefits extended to troops who are wounded or die in overseas combat operations. Cornyn, Williams and their supporters contend that Hasan’s crime was tantamount to an act of terrorism, citing communications Hasan had with a Yemeni cleric reputed to have ties to terrorist organizations. Because Hasan received a death sentence, his case automatically will be appealed to the Army Court of Criminal Appeals, and then to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces if necessary.
