GUNS: Don't disarm our service people
The recent murder of four Marines and a sailor in Chattanooga illustrates the absurdity of current policies that establish “gun-free zones” on military bases and forbid military recruiters from being armed while on duty. This is the same insane policy that led to the murders at military installations in Texas and Virginia.
The primary function of the military is to protect the public from aggression, whether foreign or domestic. There are numerous news stories reporting that patriotic civilians are taking on the task of standing guard at recruiting stations because the recruiters are forbidden to protect themselves.
Under current policy, my wife - who has never used a firearm - can legally arm herself and stand guard at a recruiting center to protect the recruiters, but the soldiers and Marines who have been trained for years to proficiently use firearms are disarmed.
The military and civilians have switched roles, and this role reversal is completely out of whack. The Army and Marines do not need our protection; they need to be armed.
This story was originally published July 27, 2015 at 1:45 PM with the headline "GUNS: Don't disarm our service people."