Posted on 11/06/2009 7:12:24 AM PST by marktwain
A murderous rampage killing was carried out today at Texas' Ft. Hood Army base by American Army Major Malik Nadal Hasan.
According to news reports, ten soldiers and two civilians were killed and thirty-one wounded in the attack. Initial reports said Hasan was also killed in an exchange of gunfire with a female officer, but it now appears he is in custody, and in stable condition. Reports also said two other suspects, who are also soldiers, were also apprehended, then later released.
From the ABC News:
[Lt. Gen. Robert W. Cone] said there were "eyewitness accounts of more than one shooter," and the others were tracked to an adjacent facility.
Cone called the attack "a terrible tragedy, stunning." He said the community was "absolutely devastated."
President Obama called the Fort Hood shootings a "horrific outburst of violence."
...Cone said the motive for the attack, which took place just after 1:30 p.m. CT, is unclear.
When news first breaks about yet another tragic mass shooting in this country, the minds of many gun owners go immediately to wondering whether it occured (like the vast majority do) in a "no-guns" zone, where the victims are rendered defenseless either by law or policy.
One would like to think that, of all the government-controlled properties in America that have been turned into "no-guns" victim zones, our Army bases would not be among them.
If you thought that, however, you thought wrong.
According to a source quoted by ABC News, "it is rare for firearms to be on the base because they are locked up." And according to a source of my own, who was once stationed on this base, concealed carry is prohibited.
Indeed, Lt. Gen. Cone is quoted as saying "as a matter of practice, we don't carry weapons here, this is our home."
What are we coming to in America when even a United States Army base is rendered a "no-guns" zone?
Again, from the story:
Cone said that a gunman entered a facility known as the Soldier Readiness Facility, where soldiers who are preparing to deploy go for last minute medical check ups and dental treatment. Sources told ABC News that the soldiers gathered there were getting ready to deploy to Iraq.
The gunman used two handguns, Cone said. He wasn't sure if the shooter reloaded the weapons during the attack.
America's military servicemen and women deserve better than to be rendered defenseless except in times of training, or when they are deployed overseas and anticipating hostile contact. And they deserve better than to be rendered defenseless here at home, by "no-guns" policies on base, or by laws such as those in Ohio that prevent the sale of a handgun to anyone under 21, even to someone who is active duty or a veteran (O.R.C. § 2923.21).
We trust our young soldiers with the full might of the U.S. military. Surely we can trust them with a handgun carried for their own protection here at home.
Chad D. Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Association Vice Chairman.
The facts are not all known, of course, but it appears that a female MP SGT went right at him, shot him four times, and was herself wounded.
A pistol stopped this rampage. His target might have been the packed graduation ceremony only a few doors away.
I believe the motive is quite clear. The General is simply unwilling to speak the truth in this environment.
i thought military bases were considered “federal facilities” and carrying was restricted by GCA ‘68?
He may have shouted Allahu Akbar before he started killing but authorities can’t confirm it. What a pile of shit! P.C. at it’s worst! Why in hell are nut job Muslims allowed in our armed forces?...More f’ing P.C.? That damn P.C. just got 13 servicemen killed!
Not so - federal law (as stupid as this is) prohibits the introduction of firearms onto military facilities. There are big signs up at the front gate of each facility here in San Antonio warning of the penalties for carrying onto the installation. This makes it extremely inconvenient (not to mention unsafe) for folks like me who have CHLs and always carry, as it means I have to leave my weapon at home all day if I need to go by the base for something during the day.
One must wonder, what would the result have been if 5 people in that room were CHL holders who were carrying? It’s inexcusable, IMHO, to prohibit concealed carry on military installations.
Colonel, USAFR
There was an intersting documentary on women serving in the Israeli military that I saw.
Their rifles were always with them. Even racks outside the showers to store them while in the shower.
They know the threat muzzies pose.
I’m on and off of base a few times a week, and it means I’m unarmed for that time and both commutes.
Meanwhile, these bases are “guarded” around 99% of their perimeters by chain link fences a child can climb. And in the case of the Navy, they are usually “defended” on the water side by a beach or marsh that cub scouts could invade in rowboats.
Certainly the base commander can authorize those who he chooses to carry weapons. Commanders routinely allow peace officers to carry weapons on posts, as well as hunters and target shooters. I am often on a post that allows anyone to have a gun in their vehicle as long as the gun is in a locked container.
Those who had a moment of awareness, knew why they died.
“Another of the injured was Private Keara Bono, 21. In a desperate phone call to her husband, she said: ‘They shot me. And I’m still here in this country.’
Remember that the 1930s Army had to speak carefully of the Japanese even as the Imperial Army was raping China,and that Patton dropped vocal(and correct) support for American tanks and armour because his superiors preferred the traditional horse calvary.Patton was then still in uniform when the U.S. needed a leader after the initial disaster in North Africa.
If you have been to Israel you have seen armed guards at every school, nursery, on every school bus. Being armed is an expected part of life.
Sir, I believe you are mistaken. It is not federal law, it is command policy.
Somehow I doubt he was using 30-round mags.
I know the feeling. While I had one in FL, I didn’t bother getting a carry permit when I moved back to VA, as I work on a base here, and to/from work is about the only place I go on a regular basis.
Yes, 13 servicemen are dead who didn’t have to be dead, all because of the left playing politics and conducting social experiments with our military instead of leaving it alone to be what it is supposed to be. Add to that the PC of disarming the soldiers, and it’s a perfect breeding ground for America-hating Muslims to attack.
Not exactly. We were aloud to own personal weapons. Even had a base gun club where we could purchase guns at a discount price My AR-15 cost me only $488. We even had a base shooting range operated by the gun club. The restriction was that our guns had to be checked in and out of an armory when we did take it to the range, or off base.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.