In a recorded statement to the press that was just aired, President Obama addressed today’s Ft. Hood shooting, pledging to “get to the bottom of what happened.” He saluted the service members and their families and pledged to get the base and surrounding community what it needs to deal with the situation. Saying the shooting re-opens the wounds of the earlier Hassan massacre, he stated that he knows everyone around the country is keeping those involved in their prayers and that service members need to feel safe when they’re on their home base. Strangely, he didn’t address the fact that those stationed at Ft. Hood, like almost all other domestic military bases, are required to be disarmed. Still.
Well that didn’t take long.
COMMENT MODERATED
Serious question: do military bases criminalize keeping personal firearms in service members’ homes on base?
Next serious question: what stops a service member from discretely storing a handgun in their work area?
You would think they would have learned after the first time.
A luminary in my industry passed away this week – someone made a comment that his death shouldn’t be used to highlight the faults of our industry – the basic situation was he pioneered things and got none of the credit or fame his contemporaries did. However, my response is “Well, what better time is there? The topic is on everyone’s minds…”
Much like here. My feelings go out to those lost in today’s incidents. They died serving our country, but not in the cause of battle, but they still deserve our respect nonetheless.
It boggles the mind that an *army base* with trained soldiers, restricts the carry of firearms while on base. Before I became POTG, I (incorrectly) assumed soldiers carried on base. The popular depictions of soldiers always had them with a sidearm or a rifle slung over one shoulder after all.
Soldiers have the basic training to carry and operate weapons. Why not reinforce that discipline and practice by letting them carry all the time on base? If it must be gradual, allow sidearms at first. Make it part of the inspection process. You have to carry a sidearm and it must be up to a certain standard, otherwise your superior kicks your butt. It’s good discipline, practice, and keeps your mind on being a soldier, which is what you are paid to do.
The *armed forces* are not armed while on duty or on base? In what world does that even make sense? In most states, civilians like us can carry almost all the time, and also our law enforcement officers are actually expected to carry on and off duty. But yet the people with the most training in firearms are not allowed to while on base? Wow…
To him its only workplace violence, just another opportunity for expanding government power
This is unsurprising. As an ex-mech infantryman, I saw first hand how the military’s policies from CCW to Personnel Organization to Compensation are control-freakish and detrimentally paternalistic. Outside of certain elite special ops areas, it’s no place for a responsible, thinking individual.
The book “Bleeding Talent” by Tim Kane nails the cancerous culture. And as noted above (by surlycmd), blame can go toward both parties.
Not helpful to the cause coolbreeze72
No guns sure helped Drummer Lee Rigby. Or not.
Clearly among the reviews the top searches involve reviews of newly produced gun models or those which have recently attracted wider press for some reason, such as publicized use by a famous or infamous person. I assume Google Trend should be a guide as to when to light a fire under a reviewer. Six or seven non-review but gun-related news topics seem to have done very well. Those non-gun-review posts, especially current events, probably spread TTAG name recognition among many who arrive at the site via search engine requests. Breadth of visible categories is a win when up against search engine formulas and a diffuse demographic.
The structure of the site has a lot going for it when viewed against advertising competitors: The NRA Blog, for example, would appeal to the same audience as its print publications and also other elements in the NRA web panoply. In other words, the blog’s potential is disappated across sister sites and pubs. The Gun Wire is actually designed to be a low time-on-site aggregator. It’s virtue is very low overhead.
TTAG, by comparison, has (in effect) cross-selling, by offering distinct content of several sorts in terms of search-hit likelihood. Leaving the comments sections of reviews open has the effect of generating (hopefully accurate) updates by readers who use the firearm in question. That’s smart. It probably also makes for better subsequent reviews after the first-look reviews, as the writer has the comments as (perhaps) helpful hints.
What a well-balanced set of regulars, RF himself included. Old versus young, technical versus current and former defense counsel, very experienced shooters and a few who can give a relative newcomer’s perspective. All good:
To clone an old joke about Canada, one could start to say “TTAG could have had lawyers writing on gun-related legal cases, technical people writing on gun accuracy and engineering, and journalists writing on MSM bias and politics, but instead they got…” but hold it, having at least three sorts of people by background write both within and occasionally outside their greatest expertise …works. It adds variety of outlook whether within the gun reviews, current events, or pure opinion pieces. Nonetheless, I sense in every gun review the variously light and heavy hand of a journalistic über boss. Just sayin’.
And why not. In journalist years I estimate RF has 76 years of experience. Use it or lose it.
I do hope the natural underlying goal of the site, ‘enterprise,’ is also being well met, ’cause surely the Administration ain’t gonna bail you out! Laugh. Good luck.
Who is this person?
Well, I feel better now, knowing that Ivan broke the rules. If people would just follow rules, all would be good in the world.
He was so heartbroken he yipped a 3 footer…..
1970ish, me and a buddy of mine used to ride his mini-bike a mile or so to an area next to the Tijuana border carrying our Crosman 760 power masters to hunt. Our main goal was to shoot homing pigeons that were on the fly with baggies hanging from their feet.
Got stopped once by a deputy. As soon as he saw they were BB guns, he left. We were 12 or so.
Never did hit a flying bird.
Honda 50. Honda 70. Honda 90. How many kids could you fit on one and still have a chance to reach your destination? Lord, it’s a wonder any of us lived long enough to turn 18.
Um, what did you do with the baggies? 😉
When I was in highschool (late 70’s) I would carry my hunting rifle on the bus along with a ditty bag for my hunting clothes. No one thought anything of it. Once at school I would “park” my stuff in the principle’s office until the end of the day at which time I would change clothes, go out back of the school and hunt till dark.
A few realities:
There is currently (roughly 7:00 p.m. MT ) no reported motive to the assault.
Seems like he’s ALWAYS “getting to the bottom of” something……..
I agree! When will America say Enough, we will no longer be helpless victims! Of course that means the opposite of what Caren thinks.
4 dead 14 + wounded shooter down
Great review, certainly raises up the bar.
Soldiers and sailors die, often enough from foolish choices in Washington. But those same policy makers often as not dissemble and speak a canned empathy, while silently they calculate the the best political damage control strategy and set it in motion. “Tell me, John, how many people know about this?”
Caren, I hear you, and I stand with you: NO MORE GUN-FREE ZONES. With crazy people running around, we need open carry. Remember: gun control means tight grouping, so make time to hit the range soon. Practice is essential.
Fort Hood is a Federal military base that just happens to be in central Texas, why even bring up Texas law? Stay off Federal property if you want the ability to protect yourself, which seems backward because you would think 2nd amendment would apply to the Feds the most.
How ironic. Overwhelming force of police locate, close with and apprehend or kill an individual. And one underwhelming crazy determine individual can kill more & faster than authorities can muster the overwhelming force to deal with the lone shooter.
The solution is simple yet all the logic in the world is denied to keep existing policy.
“Gun Free” zones are a lie. “Gun free” zones mean that just mentally unsound, criminals, and jihadists have guns and use them.
He also stated that he would look into how this can be prevented in the future. Hmmm, I think we all have an idea what policy changes would help.
Only in .gov would this be acceptable. What’s sad is that there are probably better admins, DBAs and programmers that can’t find work.
Will any of these accessories fit on a century arms vz2008?
Like Riley, I carried a shotgun on to the school bus in the seventies. It didn’t seem out of the ordinary then. What’s strange is that today we have made great inroads on gun rights (conceal carry, ownership in Chicago), yet the thought of a gun on a school bus seems far fetched to most gun owners today.
When dealing with an aggressive dog, always use conventional pepper spray in a stream dispenser, that way you can SOAK the offending animal, who then runs home, enters through the doggie door still dripping, and lets his or her owner share the experience. Bonus points!
Nothing beat the shotgun, Benneli M4 for me. There is just a feeling of security, high confidence and mindset that you can stop anyone when you hold a shotgun in your hand, and that my friends… are the equalizer.
Gents I know 90% of the commenters here get it- but lets just remind ourselves of the tragedy and grief his family is facing, and will have to deal with for the rest of their lives, including all the news and commentary on the internet.
We POTG, who may perhaps best understand the daily sacrifices of our military brothers and sisters, and the challenges of dealing with their experiences and injuries- lets be respectful, and wait for the facts to come out.
I suggest we can do that, in deference, and lead by example, in contrast to the “the blood-dancers” who are so eager to speak…and twist the truth.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/04/02/6291372/statements-on-shooting-at-ft-hood.html
Yes, yes, yes, and you cannot effectively counter kneejerk emotional pleas for more gun control. Best advice, keep a low profile wait for it to blow over, the news creeps will be back to the missing plane and the wonderfulness of Obamacare in a week.
Ahhhh, a line right out of the liberal play book. When attacking someone, call them fascists.