Posted on Apr 3, 2014
COL George Antochy
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God Bless the Fort Hood community. Given this tragedy at Fort Hood is it time to consider placing select individuals under arms while in garrison? I really do not support concealed carry on military installations. I definitely do not believe we should be issuing weapons to everyone while in garrison. This latest tragedy has got to make all of us think about any possible changes could be made. Obviously a greater reliance on the buddy system is a good start. No one should ever be 'alone'. We have certain school districts assigning some teachers under arms. Maybe it's time to return to pre-WWII days and place the duty Officer and NCO under arms for their tour of duty. Every duty officer and NCO would be required to attend some specific training, with recurring training required. This 'under arms' would only apply to the installation, and possibly be restricted from housing areas. Discussions are worthy, and this is just one recommendation that should be worth detailed discussion and study. 
Posted in these groups: 31m8esm34pl SafetyTrain2 Training
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SFC Military Police
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Edited 10 y ago
As a career MP I can say I know that some people do in fact carry concealed weapons on the installations, they just haven't been caught yet. When a vehicle is stopped at the gate for a "random search" it is the vehicle that is searched not the driver or passengers. Therefore it's not that hard for people to do it.
On the subject of duty personnel being armed, I agree. There should be someone in each facility or unit that has a weapon or access to a weapon at all times. Whether it is the command team or the duty Officer/NCO. 
Regardless of the continuous weapons training soldiers receive it still doesn't account for maturity and mentality. Many of our soldiers are young and barely off of momma's apron strings. We train them in weapons use in a combat environment where the enemy is out front but not in a crowded urban building full of bystanders. 
As I tried to explain to one pro- carry soldier. Imagine a room with 100 soldiers, all with the right to carry but no one knows if the other is armed or not. Then one soldier decides to start shooting. Now every other soldier that has a weapon draws and starts shooting because they don't know who started it all they know is it was someone in uniform, which they are now surrounded by. 
This is one more reason I have always argued that the MP duty uniform needs to be distinctly different than the population so that they stand out. In a stress filled active shooter situation a little Velcro MP brassard is not noticed nor is a patrol belt in a crowded room of like uniformed people. Sure MP's wear headgear indoors but it's just as easy for a shooter to do it too.
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LTC Special Operations Response Team (Sort)
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I couldn't agree more. This antiquated rule makes every soldier, sailor, Marine and Airman on Base an easy target.
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CW2 Joseph Evans
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I have to agree with your less than popular opinion, sir.

I think that those who have been granted CCW permits by their states should generally be granted, by post authority, open carry with an "under arms" tabard like the MPs and some Staff Duties and CQs wear. This provides other first responders with a ready ID of "friendlies" authorized to carry on post.
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