Should Military Be Armed?

2015-07-19T22:54:11-04:00

http://marinecorpstimes.va.newsmemory.com/publink.php?shareid=0ce553717

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 19 at 2015 10:55 PM

2015-07-19T22:55:39-04:00

I's mot sure I understand the question. Do you mean armed at all times, as opposed to only during conflict or training?

Response by SSG Michael O'Malley made Jul 19 at 2015 11:00 PM

2015-07-19T23:00:56-04:00

Our community police officers are trained and carry their weapon 24/7. Our military are trained yet we only give them weapons when it's time to qualify on a range or deploy to a war zone. How much sense does that make? I understand that on large military post they have a Military Police force but a small local center in the community does not yet we have full time trained personnel that can provide it. Even some national guard post like in Nashville, TN and Smyrna, TN have armed contractors that patrol and stand guard

Response by Sgt Jay Jones made Jul 19 at 2015 11:10 PM

2015-07-19T23:10:39-04:00

When I was in Vietnam I was stationed at a supply depot called Force Logistics Command, Camp Books, DaNang. When we were inside the wire our weapons were unloaded. When we went outside the wire our weapons were locked and loaded. I truly think it makes sense with this undeclared War on Terror. If you are in a position that requires duties or activities outside the security of a base. Side arms should be worn for self defense. If anyone has had safety training in the handling of firearms besides police, it is the military!

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jul 19 at 2015 11:11 PM

2015-07-19T23:11:29-04:00

Yes. We are trained in firearms and firearm safety and are armed in combat zones. There is no valid reason not to trust the military to be armed stateside as well, IMHO.

Response by CPL Eric Allen made Jul 19 at 2015 11:25 PM

2015-07-19T23:25:24-04:00

Yes and no. First I think we should make sure the armed individuals are smart enough to use it but only in the work area if we were to allow all individuals carry what's to say the not so smart individuals have ND and some might even forget where they put it last.

Let's just look at like places like NTC I remember two people forgetting their rifles and other people would have to police them up.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 19 at 2015 11:29 PM

2015-07-19T23:29:06-04:00

Sgt Jay Jones hard to do without arms. Oh you mean with weapons? Well we got laws that would blur the lines if we allowed it as we cannot do policing actions stateside. John Q. Public sees our uniform not our individual self making a decision and taking actions. So if someone shoots someone it says Soldier or Marine or Sailor or Airman shoots, not Billy or Suzy shot a guy or gal in defense.....

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jul 19 at 2015 11:29 PM

2015-07-19T23:29:18-04:00

Yes, in certain circumstances... I am not sure we need all with a gun 24/7. We do need more.

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Jul 20 at 2015 3:32 AM

2015-07-20T03:32:17-04:00

No.

Response by Sgt Robert Jowers made Jul 20 at 2015 5:05 AM

2015-07-20T05:05:26-04:00

If our fellow service members have been properly trained I see no issue allowing them the ability to have a concealed hand gun license and be armed in certain areas, especially wearing the uniform. Police officers are trained and on their off time they carry so why can our fellow Marines, soldiers, etc. not be allowed the same protection.

Response by Maj Mike Sciales made Jul 20 at 2015 5:20 AM

2015-07-20T05:20:23-04:00

I'm concerned. I've been deployed with everybody armed & we've had accidental discharges and weapons left in bathrooms. We have a fairly high suicide rate, easy access to weapons won't help, we've had "green on green" murders (fired Tenn recruiter shot up his office in 2013) and that's not including the normal assault rate on installations. I get it that people are scared & mad. How about changing how we recruit? The era of the walk in is over. Recruiters can come to schools or universities and work out of armories or secure Federal facilities. More guns might result in greater injuries & deaths from our own troops. We might want to Observe how the changes immediately implemented (work from armories, wear civilian clothes or packing heat) work.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Jul 20 at 2015 5:21 AM

2015-07-20T05:21:23-04:00

Yes, but DoD cannot even implement the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act. This would allow all current and retired MP/SF/MA to carry concealed. Military LEOs would have to be in good standing when getting out and qualify annually with their weapon. It's a law and DoD hasn't implemented it yet (except AF). If they cannot implement something that is a Federal Law how are they going to implement something that isn't?