This Is Why Most Military Personnel Aren’t Armed on Military Bases — and It’s Not Clinton’s Fault

The Blaze ^ | Sept 17, 2013 | Oliver Darcy

[Lucky9teen]

Monday’s deadly shooting at the Washington Navy Yard has renewed interest in why most military personnel are forbidden from carrying firearms on military bases. In the aftermath, some have pointed fingers at former President Bill Clinton, but is he really to blame?

Not according to what we found.

The question of why military members aren’t armed on base garnered attention back in November 2009 when Army Maj. Nidal Hasan opened fire at Ft. Hood and killed 13 people. He was sentenced to death on August 28. Now, nearly four years later, many are asking the same question.

So what’s the answer? It appears this “gun-free zone” type policy can actually be traced back to Department of Defense (DoD) Directive 5210.56, signed into effect in February 1992 by Donald J. Atwood, deputy secretary of defense under President George H.W. Bush.

WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 17: A police officer stands guard at the front gate of the Washington Naval Yard September 17, 2013 in Washington, DC. Yesterday a defense contractor named Aaron Alexis allegedly killed at least 13 people during a shooting rampage at the Navy Yard before being killed by police. (Credit: Getty Images)

The controversial directive states that “it is DoD Policy” to “limit and control the carrying of firearms by DoD military and civilian personnel.”

“The authorization to carry firearms shall be issued only to qualified personnel when there is a reasonable expectation that life or DoD assets will be jeopardized if firearms are not carried,” it says.

The policy, however, adds, “DoD personnel regularly engaged in law enforcement or security duties shall be armed.” A former member of the Air Force, with experience in base security, thus, told the Washington Post that he would guess there were “no more than a couple of dozen weapons on the Navy Yard.”

It appears DoD Directive 5210.56 was reissued in April 2011 by Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn III.

Some outlets are citing Army Regulation 190-14, a policy implemented in 1993 that changed policy regarding carrying firearms on the Army’s military bases, to cast blame on Clinton.

However, that policy specifically notes part of its purpose is aimed at implementing “applicable portions of Department of Defense Directive 5210.56,” which, as previously stated, was put into effect by Bush Sr.’s deputy secretary of defense:

Army regulation 190-14 actually implements a policy put in under George H.W. Bush, meaning Bill Clinton is not responsible for a lack of armed personnel on military bases. Additionally, the DoD told TheBlaze the Army regulation wouldn’t apply to other branches of the military like the Navy. (Source: Army regulation 190-14)

Further, DoD spokesman Mark Wright told TheBlaze Army Regulation 190-14 would not apply to other bases under different branches of the military, including the site of Monday’s shooting, Washington Navy Yard.

“No, it would not apply,” he said Tuesday afternoon.

Steven Bucci, a military expert for The Heritage Foundation who served 28 years in the Army and retired in 2005 with the rank of colonel, also told TheBlaze Tuesday afternoon that Clinton is not to blame.

“I think you are barking up the wrong tree if you are looking to put blame on someone for disarming the military,” said Bucci, when asked if Clinton was responsible. “I think that’s kind of a bogus story.”

“We have never had our soldiers walking around with weapons all the time, other than in combat zones,” he added, noting only Military Police have had that authority.

TheBlaze reached out to members of both the Senate and House Armed Services Committee to see if the policy will be revisited in light of Monday’s shooting. At the time of publication, no one was available for comment.

[dragnet2]

Among others...So it appears you’re the one who is full of it...No?

[zot]

I know guys who served in the USAF in SAC in the 60’s, and they assure me that their weapons were loaded on base. All of them, all the time.

I served in SAC in the 1960's as a B-47 Navigator.

Aircrew members carried loaded .38 cal revolvers all the time we were on alert (and slept with them next to our beds), but we did not carry them when we were not on alert.

Each aircraft on alert was guarded by an Air Policeman with a loaded rifle. The guards worked in shifts, around the clock. Even the assigned aircrew members had to show their flight-line badges and be recognized before the guard would allow them to approach their aircraft.

Gate guards, perimeter guards and roving patrols carried loaded rifles and sidearms all the time they were on duty, but not at other times. Anyone who tried to bully or ram their way into a SAC base would be warned, if possible, and if they didn't stop they would be shot.

Some of the roving patrols were accompanied by very large dogs, and the Air Police also had some Jeeps with loaded .50 cal machine guns.

Yes, SAC took base security very seriously and signs were posted. The standing orders were to stop any unauthorized people, put them on the ground, handcuff them and take them to the Air Police Command Post for interrogation. If they resisted or tried to escape, they were to be shot.

I am reminded of a professor from the University of New Hampshire who tried to penetrate a remote perimeter at Pease Air Force Base in the middle of the night, just to see if he could get away with it. As he told his story later, he got about 10 feet inside the base before he was spot-lighted, confronted by two armed men and a large German Shepard dog, thrown on his face in the cold mud, handcuffed and taken away. Three hours later, when he was taken back to his car, he was very sure he would not do that again.

[Talisker]

I am reminded of a professor from the University of New Hampshire who tried to penetrate a remote perimeter at Pease Air Force Base in the middle of the night, just to see if he could get away with it. As he told his story later, he got about 10 feet inside the base before he was spot-lighted, confronted by two armed men and a large German Shepard dog, thrown on his face in the cold mud, handcuffed and taken away. Three hours later, when he was taken back to his car, he was very sure he would not do that again.

What a maroon. He's damn lucky he survived.

[NVDave]

Indeed, it was when SAC was under LeMay.

One of the two guys is a shooting buddy. He sometimes pulled duty guarding the line around the bombers. He requested that he be allowed to carry his choice of weapon, a Garand over the M1 Carbine, for which he has no use or love. ;-)

Today, he’s into his 70’s and he could still drill someone in the head at 100+ yards with a Garand offhand.

[Does so]

"...It's an old custom in most military organizations to keep the weapons in an armory, and only issue them when a battle is anticipated..."

Under Jimmy Carter's military, we sailors practiced our riflery in 22-caliber—using the same 22 H&R model I'd used at a summer camp for boys!

In 1968, we had rifles locked into a glass locker on a small Naval Base in W. Germany.

Unauthorized persons were announced at our high-security location "climbing over the fence". A totally-unpracticed midnight response was made by us sailors. The key was thrown to me—I unlocked the cabinet—and the six of us ran out into the night—fully armed with real ammo and real Garands.

We were later commended for that response, although I never figured out how to load that M-1 clip into the underside of the M-1 Garand!

:-/

[neverdem]

Thanks!