What precedent is this setting? The viewing an execution by the victim's family is common practice in America. There is no new precedent being set here. What is random about the execution of Timothy McVeigh? Waht is public about the execution? As far as I've seen, no one but the victim's family and prison officals are viewing the event. And of course the state has a 'right' to execute people, in fact they have a responsibility to execute people for capital offenses. 70% of Americans believe this - it is written into the legal code of state and federal governments alike. And I will feel better knowing that my society has taken the ritual step of executing this man for his most heinous of crimes.