GUNS: Track purchases of returning military
CHRISTOPHER STAEHELI; Tacoma
What is most striking to me about the Fort Hood shooter coverage is the apparent political correctness in not discussing the suspect’s ability to purchase an assault weapon. President Obama, congressional leaders and the media all seem to have learned that it is politically incorrect to raise the issue.
The gun lobby claims that “guns don’t kill people, people do,” but the reality is people with assault weapons kill a lot of people. Since 9/11 and Oklahoma City, we’ve stopped the use of airliners and fertilizers as terrorist weapons, but we’ve done nothing to prevent a terrorist from purchasing an assault weapon.
Airliners and fertilizers don’t kill people either, but we did not ignore the risk of a terrorist using them. Had Nidal Hasan faced a waiting period, background check and mandatory registration, and had his assault weapon purchase been reported to the military, perhaps someone would have thought to ask questions.
Separate from the terrorist risk, up to half of our troops return from deployment with post-traumatic stress disorder and many have traumatic brain injury, both characterized by unpredictable anger, impulsivity and mood swings. It seems only common sense for military personnel to be required to report personal gun purchases.
While our leaders and media avoid discussing gun control, the rest of us can fear the reality that any “wanna-be terrorist” or stressed soldier can buy an assault weapon.
