So far in 2015 our enemies killed four US military service personnel in Afghanistan and three in Iraq. On one day this year a terrorist killed five US military service personnel within the continental United States. That’s right, there were more U.S. servicemen killed here in the U.S. than in either of the two wars we’re currently fighting abroad. That’s easy, ugly, math. As reported by the Marine Corp Times our current administration is dealing with this threat by closing offices and telling recruiters not to wear uniforms . . .
The President of the United States has told our Marines there is safety in hiding amongst the sheep. I don’t think we can get much farther from “The Few, the Proud” than that. And if that’s what the Marines have been asked to do, what’s happened to the Air Force recruiters? Do those folks have to put on a burkah before they head into the office now?
To much of America, the recent terrorist attack on service members at a Chattanooga recruiting station has led to a debate on whether or not all members of our armed forces should be allowed to carry weapons when on military facilities. How on earth is this a debate? Of course they should. See right there? It’s in the name: armed forces.
Our leadership’s response has been, quite literally, to close up shop and hide. Yes, the administration has posted additional security at some bases. But there is still no plan to allow members of our armed forces to carry weapons on post or during their duties off post. How’s that working out?
When I was a reservist and came to drill, I was always armed. I joined just after September 11th, 2001. Just like now, I was told that uniformed service members would be specifically targeted by terrorists. When I drove on post, my vehicle always carried a shotgun or rifle, and I almost always had a pistol with me as well.
Yes, this was against the rules. No, I didn’t hide it and no, I never got in trouble for it either. This was under a different administration with officers in my unit who were bigger gun nuts than I. And it was in Texas. I would recommend each service member consider their own responsibilities to determine if they should carry a personal weapon while in uniform or on post. I did, and I carried.
But service members shouldn’t have to break the rules to keep themselves, civilians and their brothers and sisters in arms safe. The civilian leadership of our military, as well as a lot of our top generals and admirals, should be ashamed of themselves for creating the disArmed Services out of our military. As American civilians, we should doing all we can to shame them. Senior NCOs and field grade officers out there, it’s your voices calling for change that should ring the loudest.