Posted on 08/01/2015 12:03:27 PM PDT by abb
http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/08/navy_denies_reports_sailor_wil.html
Navy responds to reports sailor will be charged for returning fire against Chattanooga gunman
Leada Gore | lgore@al.com By Leada Gore | lgore@al.com
on August 02, 2015 at 12:02 AM, updated August 02, 2015 at 12:06 AM
The U.S. Navy is denying reports that it will file charges against a naval officer who used a weapon to return fire against Chattanooga gunman Muhammad Abdulazeez during last month’s deadly attack.
On Saturday, conservative commentator Allen B. West wrote a blog post saying sources had told him the Navy would bring charges against Lt. Cmdr Timothy White for illegally discharging a firearm on federal property. White and a Marine are believed to have fired their personal weapons during the July 16 attacks that killed four Marines and one sailor.
The Pentagon prohibits military personnel from carrying personal weapons while on duty.
“Flood the phone of (Secretary of the Navy) Ray Mabus and (Secretary of Defense Ash) Carter and ask them whose side they’re on,” West urged. “Demand the charges being brought against Lt.Cmdr White be immediately dropped. If those charges are not dropped, I will personally lead the charge to have Carter and Mabus removed from their positions.”
West’s story quickly spread online and commenters on the Navy’s Facebook page expressed outrage over the idea of White facing charges.
The Navy quickly responded that the West allegations are false.
“Stories of Navy personnel being charged with an offense are not true. There is still a long way to go in reviewing the facts of this tragic incident, but at this time we can confirm no service member has been charged with an offense,” the Navy said in a statement posted to social media.
Policy could be changing
The issue of additional protection for service personnel remains a pressing topic for the Pentagon. Last week, Secretary Carter issued a two-page memo asking military commanders and civilian leaders to formulate new security plans for facilities that could be at risk.
The plans, Carter wrote, could include the option of additional armed personnel at sites.
https://www.facebook.com/USNavy
U.S. Navy Paul, stories of Navy personnel being charged with an offense are not true. There is still a long way to go in reviewing the facts of this tragic incident, but at this time we can confirm no service member has been charged with an offense.
If only this Naval officer had a ‘Fast and Furious’ gun, he might have a chance of getting this charge reduced or dismissed.
Well, it’s hard to argue it isn’t. I’ll grant you that.
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