Another "gun free zone," another attack where a crazy person shoots himself after killing three victims and injuring another 16 people. Except this time, the shooting was on a U.S. military base in Texas, on home soil. And the same base where a similar shooting happened in 2009.
The Ft. Hood shooting that occurred earlier this week got me thinking about why there were so many victims on a U.S. military base. You'd think that our armed forces would be, well, armed in order to protect themselves. In fact, only military law enforcement and security personnel are allowed to be armed on base.
Department of Defense directive 5210.56 was enacted under President George H.W. Bush, which in part says the following:
(D1) 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. Evaluation of the necessity to carry a firearm shall be made considering this expectation weighed against the possible consequences of accidental or indiscriminate use of firearms. DoD personnel regularly engaged in law enforcement or security duties shall be armed.
Wow. I had no idea about this policy until some of my Facebook fans commented on my page.
Military personnel should have the option to open carry or conceal carry. This is all about choice and freedom. President Obama and the Department of Defense must repeal directive 5210.56 and allow our soldiers to protect themselves from threats, both foreign and domestic.
The Ft. Hood shooting that occurred earlier this week got me thinking about why there were so many victims on a U.S. military base. You'd think that our armed forces would be, well, armed in order to protect themselves. In fact, only military law enforcement and security personnel are allowed to be armed on base.
Department of Defense directive 5210.56 was enacted under President George H.W. Bush, which in part says the following:
(D1) 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. Evaluation of the necessity to carry a firearm shall be made considering this expectation weighed against the possible consequences of accidental or indiscriminate use of firearms. DoD personnel regularly engaged in law enforcement or security duties shall be armed.
Wow. I had no idea about this policy until some of my Facebook fans commented on my page.
Military personnel should have the option to open carry or conceal carry. This is all about choice and freedom. President Obama and the Department of Defense must repeal directive 5210.56 and allow our soldiers to protect themselves from threats, both foreign and domestic.
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