Congress pushes to allow troops to be armed on military base

[MarcSpaz]

This is freakin' awesome! Bout damn time!!!

http://www.stripes.com/congress-pushes- ... s-1.358555

Congress pushes to allow troops to be armed on military bases
By Travis J. Tritten
Stars and Stripes
Published: July 17, 2015

WASHINGTON – Congressional leaders said Friday they will direct the Pentagon to allow troops to carry guns on base for personal protection following a deadly shooting rampage in Tennessee that killed four Marines and seriously wounded a sailor at a recruiting center.

The directive will be included in the National Defense Authorization Act, which sets defense policy for the coming year and may be finalized by the House and Senate this month, according to a joint statement from Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, who are heading negotiations over the bill.

Gun proponents have been calling for the Defense Department to lift its current policy, which allows only security and law enforcement to carry loaded guns on military facilities outside of war zones, since Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan killed 13 people and wounded more than 30 in a shooting spree at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2009.

DOD spokesman Mark Wright said commanders already have some flexibility to arm troops if they see a security need.

The current department policy says that arming personnel would be “limited and controlled” to avoid accidents or misuse, and the arming of any service members outside of security and law enforcement “shall be limited to missions or threats.”

Looks to me like EVERYONE should be armed because of the THREAT of loss of life. But that's just my opinion.

[Viper21]

Couldn't agree more Marc. Everyone in the military has been threatened in one way shape or form from jihadists. It's sad to see our fighting men unarmed & able to defend themselves on their own soil, or own base. As a parent of a Marine, & soon to be Marine, it boils my blood to see Military men gunned down unable to defend themselves.

[SHMIV]

My son has been contemplating a military career, specifically with the Marine Corps.

This should be something that would make my heart swell up in pride.

But, the idea causes me great dread and concern. Not because I fear losing my son in battle. As heartbreaking as that would be, I could take that. But, it looks like our troops are being sent on suicide missions by people who have no love for this country, then get to come home to be disarmed so that they can be gunned down here.

That just ain't right. It's a blatant disregard for those who volunteer to walk into harms way, and a dishonor to their families.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[Reverenddel]

Arm the Armed Forces. They've been trained, they have carried in violent situations, let them carry here in this country. Period.

[MarcSpaz]

No Doubt. The defenders of our freedom can't defend themselves? What kind of twisted joke is that?

[dusterdude]

The marine corps trains every marine extensively on proper firearm use.there is no excuse for any marine to be unarmed.this situation is a travesty

[Jeff82]

The military is trained to use rifles. Very few actually train with pistols. What they need to do on military installations, federal land, they need to follow the laws of the state that they're in as far as concealed carry goes and allow their soldiers, Marines, sailors, etc to conceal carry when they're properly licensed by the state. If it's in a Constitutional Carry state then so be it, let it be Constitutional Carry.

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[AlanM]

Actually, very few Navy people are trained in the use of firearms.
Unless they are special Ops people, (Seals, UDT, etc.)
A few weapons department enlisted men on each ship are given pistol training, and possibly rifle training, so that they can stand Petty Officer of the Watch on the Quarter Deck while in port.
When I stood Officer of the Deck my Petty Officer of the Watch carried an unloaded 1911 with two magazines in a belt mag. pouch. Each magazine had 5 rounds in it.
That was true while in port in the US and also in Rota, Spain and several other ports in the Med.

[Monkey]

Actually, very few Navy people are trained in the use of firearms.
Unless they are special Ops people, (Seals, UDT, etc.)
A few weapons department enlisted men on each ship are given pistol training, and possibly rifle training, so that they can stand Petty Officer of the Watch on the Quarter Deck while in port.
When I stood Officer of the Deck my Petty Officer of the Watch carried an unloaded 1911 with two magazines in a belt mag. pouch. Each magazine had 5 rounds in it.
That was true while in port in the US and also in Rota, Spain and several other ports in the Med.

Aboard Cruisers & Destroyers, most Sailors receive enough firearms training to stand a quarterdeck/roving patrol watch.

It isn't enough. Not by a long shot.

[Swampman]

I had a couple days on the range with a 1911 and M14. That was it. Had some fun at sea one time with an M60 machine gun.

[MarcSpaz]

My daughter is dating a guy who has been in the Navy for 4 years now. He's a submariner. He is one of the few people who get selected for patrols while in port.

I took him to the range a few weeks ago. He told me that was the first time he ever fired an AR. He also said the AR and pistol shooting we did in the 1.5 hours we were there amounted to more training than he received with the Navy to do patrols. (and yes... I would say for all intents and purposes, it was training for him, regardless of the fun factor.)

Still, lets change that. Just because someone is a tech on a Sub, that doesn't mean they should be victims on land. If the DOD doesn't have the time or ability to bring everyone up to speed, at least put it on the individual to train and get the experience they need.

I also think local civilians who go on base should be allowed to carry, especially if they have a CHP/CCP. I am on Army, Air Force, and Navy/Marine Forts/Bases regularly both for my job and to visit family and/or friends who are on base. Even though I am a civilian, I'm a vetted, cleared and trained person who belongs on base. When the bad guys show up to cause as much damage as possible, they don't care who you are. Its not like Nidal Hasan, Ivan Lopez, Aaron Alexis, Jeffery Tyrone Savage, Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez or any other whack job is interviewing people to see if they are a civilian before they killed or injured them.