Are we, as uniformed service memebers, soft targets?

I feel safe on Fort Meade. I sometimes go to the ATM at 0-dark-thirty, and I feel very safe. I don't think a terrorist is going to get on post. I know it could happen, but the checks in place are pretty darned good. Bases are certainly much more secure than most public places. Bottom line: I feel very secure and safe on post.

I don't see us a a soft target, any more than any city or town. But I am sympathetic to the argument that military members should be allowed to carry weapons posted by Capt Richard I P.:

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/arm-the-armed-forces

Im here to read the comments! his should be good!

First, the threat from ISIS is exceptionally low. You may have some "fringe lunatics" that may come with their own ideas, however ISIS has blown so much smoke and hype that they are devaluing themselves as a credible "outward" threat. Al Queda threatened the United States, Great Britain, and a few "western" nations, but they maintained focus. So far, ISIS has threatened the US, UK, Turkey, Spain, France, Iraq, Russia, Japan, etc.

It is similar to the Westboro Baptist Church with the picketing funerals. First it was the military and people were shocked and offended. Then it was military events and people were shocked and offended. Then it was public events and people started not to care. Finally it was basically ANYTHING to try to get that "shock value".

Is ISIS a credible threat? ABSOLUTELY. Do they have organized plans that are well underway? Probably not. They should be eradicated before they have a chance to solidify their boundaries. However, they are focused on establishing locally.

To get to the point of the original message, there are several factors to consider. I think that allowing CCW among Soldiers that have met the civilian requirement is fine. However, simply saying "You have a CAC, you are now capable of having that privilege at all times." No. Think of the last battalion range. I have seen field grade officers that don't know that their weapons aren't loaded. I've seen company grade officers that couldn't tell that the rounds were loaded backwards in the magazine. Enlisted that thought that they had a critical weapons malfunction and stopped a range for upwards of 10 minutes until finally the THIRD NCO to look at the weapon performed SPORTS and realized that a magazine wasn't seated properly. People that fail to follow directions and go back to attempt to handle their weapon while others are downrange. I even know of a case where a Soldier fired an AT4 BACKWARDS. These people lack the knowledge and discipline to make a split second decision necessary, and as such do not deserve the right to concealed carry without further training.

Then you have the competition of egos. For a select minority of the population, firearms enhance the potential for firearms related issues especially with alcohol involved. Someone's drinking in the barracks, gets angry and starts a fight and one or the other needs to draw a weapon to defend themselves. Now, what would have been a simple "barracks brawl" turns into a fatal shooting. I'm sorry to say that this stuff happens.

To those that are responsible and have undergone the proper training and maintaining of handling firearms in a safe, mature, and effective manner, I absolutely support arming them to prevent tragedies like Fort Hood and Fort Bliss. However, I am a firm believer of required extended training, much like is required for motorcycle operation. The harsh reality is the "consummate professional" that we all expect from a man or woman wearing the uniform of the United States military is not always the realities. Look at US Army WTF Moments, where people are wearing uniforms like thugs and flashing gang signs.

It should be a privilege, not a right. Base safety is generally a good deterrent for a majority of basic threats, but should not be the sole determining factor. Likewise, the wear of the uniform should not be the sole factor in determining an individuals decision making capacity with regards to concealed or openly carrying loaded firearms while on post, just as it isn't in the realm of the general public.