After Chatanooga shooting, Congress weighs arming troops on bases

The Christian Science Monitor ^ | July 20, 2015 | Shontee Pant

[george76]

The Armed Services Committees are working to allow commanders to carry personal firearms through the National Defense Authorization Act.

The House Armed Services chairmen are working together to “do more to protect our troops” following a deadly shooting on July 16 in Tennessee, according to a statement released Friday.

A recent shooting in Chattanooga, Tenn. which claimed the lives of four Marines at military recruiting stations, has rekindled debate over rules prohibiting members of the military from carrying concealed weapons on military bases.

...

The concealed-weapon amendment, if included in the final version of the bill, would allow the commander of a “military installation” to authorize a member of the Armed Forces to “carry a concealed personal firearm” if it is deemed “necessary as a personal- or force-protection measure.” The final language of the bill is still under discussion.

[Sacajaweau]

They should have never been disarmed. Who did that??

[jagusafr]

Lift the ban completely, for goodness’ sake. It’s been stupid from the first day and continues to be stupid today.

[Paul46360]

Happened in 1992. Reason given was high vet suicide rate!!!!

[relictele]

Only in liberal America would the Armed Forces be unarmed.

[HamiltonJay]

I know my Step Father carried in the early 90s at his reserve station during desert storm, in fact was advised to by command. Not sure when the rule requiring disarmament was issued but I would guess sometime under Clinton.

[Junk Silver]

It’s too bad our Constitution didn’t say anything about the right to keep and bear arms.

If there had been any sort of stipulation, or even an amendment about that there wouldn’t be any need to debate such issues.

[Paladin2]

Congress? What power do they have to make Zer0 do anything?

[Gaffer]

One wonders in the history of the Knesset whether it ever pondered whether is soldiers (or citizens for that matter) should be armed. To keep arms from our soldiers (for you folks out there who are as old as I am, our sons and daughters and grand children) in an age when we are beset with a government sanctioned onslaught of foreign infestation is treason in my opinion.

[pfflier]

George HW Bush.

[george76]

Bill Clinton signed the executive order that any other could have reversed.

[Vigilanteman]

This is terrible. It will create a hostile working environment and make the fabulous gay troops feel uncomfortable. < / sarcasm >

[pfflier]

This is ludicrous. US military members generally are psychologically screened better than the civilian population.

This screening starts at pre-induction then follows the service member, to some degree, throughout their active duty time.

Sure there are some exceptions but the active screening process is designed to detect them.

[South40]

They’ll wait until the next one, the. Tel us again how much safer people are in gun free zones.

[george76]

Israel arms kindergarten teachers to protect the children from Moslem terrorists on Jihad .

[hadaclueonce]

Congress? Just wait until the GOP have the majority. We will see some real action...

my ass.

[South40]

It’s still high. 22 a day. Making helpless victims of everyone hang changed it.

[jonascord]

When you are a Dictator wannabe, you do not trust your military. Even now, the military does not have ammo on base. If there is a live fire training exercise, the ammo is brought in from off base, and every round is accounted for. They have to return the spent brass, as well as all unfired ammo.

Why am I reminded of the movie, Dogs Of War? Remember when, in his briefing, Walken said that the dictator doesn't trust his soldiers?

Now, that wouldn't be obummer, would it?

[Gaffer]

That was my point. :0)

[BuffaloJack]

> They should have never been disarmed. Who did that??
That would be Bill Clinton.