The real underlying issue where the military oscillates back and forth is arming guards. The security "issues" on a base are generally dealing with drunks, the odd protestor, and curious members of the public. A typical military base has a real security threat about once a decade. The rate of death/accident from mishandling firearms is a couple per year when guards are armed. It is an easy calculation. - I was a former weapons officer with responsibility for guarding nuclear weapons on a submarine.
Thank you so much for your informative reply. I apologize for my ignorance, but please see post #17, after a few days to think about it, it’s beyond heartbreaking for us outsiders. We don’t know nuthin. Yes, I’ve had 2 close members of my family serve during vietnam, another family member service more recently, and a few friends. But this topic was never brought up. I love our military..and because of 9/11, and now hasan...my feelings about our country’s safety has changed. I never dreamed in a million years our pentagon would be hit....the way it was. it changed EVERYTHING.
The real underlying issue where the military oscillates back and forth is arming guards. The security "issues" on a base are generally dealing with drunks, the odd protestor, and curious members of the public. A typical military base has a real security threat about once a decade. The rate of death/accident from mishandling firearms is a couple per year when guards are armed. It is an easy calculation. - I was a former weapons officer with responsibility for guarding nuclear weapons on a submarine.
And how is that any different than "out in town," where there are drunks, muggers, the odd protester, car jacker etc etc. The military could very easily allow concealed/open carry of personnel firearms to SNCOs (or at least personnel and dependants/retirees over 21) with a CCW and valid military ID. All other non-military ID holders/non-LEOs would be restricted from carrying weapons on base. Would this prevent non-LEO/non-mil ID holders from carrying? No. But it would serve as a deterance and allow for punishment of unauthorized carry. It would also allow military members and dependants the same security on base as off.
Please tell me you weren't a Marine because this " very very scary" statement is making me sick to my stomach. Most of the Marines I know have 2-3+ deployments to Iraq. And know this isn't some rear echelon or the bottom of the ocean, but no kidding on patrol in the streets of Al Anbar Province.
Firearms and the ability to protect one's self may seem scary to you but for real men (read "grunts") its a way of life.
Furthermore, it is ridiculous that I have a CCW and can carry out in town; however, to come on base I have to remove my magazine from my weapon. Remove the rounds from the magazine and lock my pistol seperate from my amuniton (even though I can buy both at the PX). And then have to re-load everything so I can carry when withdrawing/depositing money at the credit union in town or picking up a gallon of milk in the store. Oh yeah, and this is on a base that allows civilians without DoD decals.... so who knows what they are bringing on base. But, God help me if I get caught with a loaded weapon in my vehicle.
An armed soldier (over 21 because thats the civilian handgun law; preferably a SNCO) could have instantly stopped Hasan the moment he yelled "Allah Akbar" and squeezed off around. But instead 13 people are dead and 30+ are injured..... because guns are "very very scary."
If we continue to allow our bases to be soft targets they will continue to be hit. And you can't tell me two bored Pfcs at the gate casually scanning IDs makes a "hard target." Our enemies are determined. Military bases are an enticing target. My felow Marines and I selflessly put our lives on the line to defend 300+ million Americans grateful or not, but can't defend ourselves on base.... and the hassle of bringing a weapon on base means it is less likely we will be armed on our way to/from work.
***The notion of 1000s of 18 years olds running around armed, sober, drunk, chasing women, coming back after striking out, and all of that is very very scary.***
LOL! One time our barracks won some prize for efficiency at our air base. As a result the entire barracks was invited to the NCO club for all we could drink! After a couple of beers several of us went into town as we DID NOT want to be at the barracks that evening.
When we returned (sober) that night we found that the CQ had to call out the riot squad and the APES (Air Police), as we called them, completely surrounded the barracks because there were so many drunk and disorderly soldiers there.
We missed it!
Straw man argument. Nobody is arguing that every drunk 18 year old be packing heat 24/7.
But what about sober 21 year old NCOs and up, who have Texas CCW permits?
Would the situation in Fort Hood have been better, or worse, if the killer had not been unopposed for 3+ minutes in a killing pen?
And the notion of 10,000s of 21 yr olds (the legal age to carry a firearm in this state) running around armed, sober, drunk, chasing women (and men), coming back after striking out isn’t scary in Hometown, USA? I don’t see any difference. At least my son has had training in the proper use of a weapon. On the other hand, I know a bunch of gun-toting civilian idiots who are a danger to everyone in 3 counties.