Should Disabled Veterans with PTSD be allowed to stand gaurd at public schools to protect children from Mass shootings?

2020-02-28T23:47:55-05:00

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 29 at 2020 12:15 AM

2020-02-29T00:15:53-05:00

Why shouldn't Veterans with PTSD be permitted to hold any position that requires carrying a firearm?

Response by SPC Michael Oles SR made Feb 29 at 2020 1:43 AM

2020-02-29T01:43:59-05:00

Yes I believe they should

Response by SPC Nancy Greene made Feb 29 at 2020 2:05 AM

2020-02-29T02:05:26-05:00

Definitely Questionable for positive & Negative’ reasons. Just My two cents.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 29 at 2020 4:54 AM

2020-02-29T04:54:25-05:00

This is really several questions:
Should people guard children at public schools to protect children?
If the school board approves but I would vote against it.

Should Vets with PTSD be allowed to hold those positions?
Yes, if they are stable, You can have PTSD and be a police officer or continue to serve in the military.

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Feb 29 at 2020 7:18 AM

2020-02-29T07:18:28-05:00

I, like SPC Nancy Greene can see both negatives and positives to this. I have to say, no blanket statements on who can or cannot do this.

Response by SSgt Richard Kensinger made Feb 29 at 2020 10:46 AM

2020-02-29T10:46:16-05:00

Based on my clinical research on combat trauma and as a clinician w/ 40+ yrs. experience, I share these observations.
As a clinician treating someone w/ unresolved trauma I have the responsibility to protect my client and others from high-risk situations. Combatants I've interviewed have killed innocent civilians inc. children. I would never recommend an assignment such as this one. In addition to PTSD, combat vets exhibit other clinical conditions which place them at additional risk. No weapons! Volunteer working w/ youngsters in other ways can be more healing to both.
Rich

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 29 at 2020 12:05 PM

2020-02-29T12:05:32-05:00

Like any other demographic I would say yes, under the condition every applicant is thoroughly vetted. I don't think PTSD in itself should be a bar to the position as long as the individual can handle the responsibility of the position.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Feb 29 at 2020 4:03 PM

2020-02-29T16:03:43-05:00

You seem to insinuate that PTSD is one monolithic thing with no differentiation and that it is 100% disabling. PTSD is a spectrum. It can be treated and managed except in a small segment of cases. The tone of the question seems to point out that the PTSD may make them perform poorly or not at all. It might have the side effect of tripping the very behaviors they'll need to combat the threat like hyper vigiliance, reacting to training given the stimuli ("muscle memory"), hyper-focus, etc. it depends on the person.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 29 at 2020 4:09 PM

2020-02-29T16:09:18-05:00

It depends on the mental health of the veteran.

Response by CPT Cornelius Gorman II made Feb 29 at 2020 8:30 PM

2020-02-29T20:30:27-05:00

Difficult topic: if the disablement prevents military service according to federal dicta, the that same individual would probably not be a candidate for unrestricted, armed para-military service aka civilian defensive protection of our most vulnerable population. The school district liability for hiring without very specific psychiatric and/or psychologic clearance(s) in the presence of a documented “disorder” would be enormous and probably unaffordable from an HR/coverage standpoint. As a law enforcement pre-employment examiner, I’ve witnessed the power of the bottom line. The ADA does not require an employer to invest in advanced (expensive) assessment and the insured agency cannot be forced to adopt perceived risk associated with certain applicants. Extensive litigation in energy exploration regarding spinal MRI pre-employmant screening of labor applicants ended w/ a USSC decision in favor of industry i.e. applicant with health defect cannot prevent screening nor force employment where risk to self or others may follow. Given arduous litigation, ADA limitations, the vulnerable population and other issues, many origins of disability including PTS are grounds for applicant exclusion in certain occupational settings leaving no substantial recourse but to seak other less provocative employment.

Response by Cpl Tou Lee Yang made Mar 6 at 2020 12:39 PM

2020-03-06T12:39:52-05:00

No, why would you want someone with a mental instability, armed with a gun to begin with? That's how school shoot occurs.

Response by Cpl Archie H. made Apr 10 at 2021 9:52 AM

2021-04-10T09:52:06-04:00

There is in my opinion a difference between ptsd and mental disorders that would disqualify one from public safety positions. Too often police department hire veterans who have gun fetishes with mental disorders. “Some” of these veterans have mental disorders, only some or few who have real ptsd. If someone feels “all” those with ptsd are mentally ill then they have been brainwashed by the post Vietnam war media. I know a couple of marine combat veterans who served on large state police forces retiring after 30 to 40 years service. Another who resigned or retired after 20 plus years of service who could not pull the trigger to take out a criminal. Col. Jay Vargas a Medal of Honor winner could not go hunting with his brothers because he could not kill. Read about the battle for Dong Ha.

Response by SGT Lorenzo Nieto made Apr 11 at 2021 6:39 AM

2021-04-11T06:39:35-04:00

That’s a tough one how ever there are different levels of ptsd, and we should not look at veterans with ptsd as a treat to the system,I know a veteran with ptsd worse than me he drives a school bus, he says he does it because it helps him in more way then one.