Concealed carry for all current service members (CAC holders)?

CW4 Scott Kjendlie That's why after we get the policy recommendation well fleshed out we need to get people involved and writing congresspeople.

Maj (Join to see) Sir, Good suggestions, I was thinking of posting a petition in addition to encouraging people to write congresspeople, I was also thinking I might see if I can link in some gun rights organizations. But its going to take some time to build it up.

SFC true but even if it's not a law a soldier could still do the same.....

SFC (Join to see) have you looked at the 10 points for policy improvement above? Do they adequately address your concerns? If not, can you recommend improvements so that they do? Surely we can improve on the status quo. A disarmed "Armed Forces" is an exercise in absurdity.

Sir, just because a person wears the uniform it is no indication of maturity and more especially responsibility. People have mentioned the amount of training soldiers receive in weapons as a justification but that's irrelevent. Soldier receive training in prevention of sexual assault, safety briefings about drinking and driving or drugs, etc... Yet they still commit crimes and violations of those laws and it is not only lower enlisted.
I cannot recall how many times I have.responded to the home of a soldier who negligently discharged their firearm inside their home and in some cases wording themselves, even MP's who receive more training than any other soldier on pistols.
This debate could go on and on but my initial stance is still the same. Presenting these credentials solely based on military service is a recipe for disaster.

SFC (Join to see) I'll reiterate the invitation to look at the 10 points and make any suggestions you have on them (because your concerns should be well contained in them). I'll also reiterate what I've said a few other times to other people who've raised the 'soldiers cant be trusted with arms' argument elsewhere on this thread. In the long term the soldiers that you do not trust with arms must be mentored into competence or separated form the military. This is not the boy scouts. It is our profession to bear arms.

SGT Andrew Boffen Good point, a few others have asked about this as well, if you look above you'll find some of them, BLUF: incremental change, we gain momentum with active and reserve that people consider currently well trained and ready and build from there.

SSG (Join to see) Great to hear, lets write some letters!

Personally I think the CCW, CPL, & CAC should be universally accepted by every state just like a drivers license.

SSG Jamil Spruill I very rarely downvote people. I usually save it for cases where people are rude or unprofessional. I was torn on the choice here, but decided against it in favor of this longer post. I respect your difference of opinion, as I did with MSG Sommer Brown, but feel your distrust of your fellow soldiers without recognition that they must be mentored into improvement or separated from service is unsettling. We are a profession of arms. As a profession of arms it is incumbent on us to both bear arms and be proficient tactically.

Therefore I have to correct you tactically: your assertion " a taser, baton, or mace works just as well or if guns" is categorically untrue. They are alternatives some in LE have available but I absolutely and positively promise you there is no weapons training package that anyone takes that teaches people who carry batons and mace and tasers AND pistols that they should use less lethal means when faced with a shooter armed with a firearm, unless they have no other option, I invite any LEO or MPs to correct this if I am wrong.

Please review the above 10 points and see if they adequately capture your concerns, if not, feel free to suggest changes or to disagree with us. Recognize that doing so is contrary to the very concept of an "Armed Force."

I understand what you're saying but after almost 11 years of service I've seen and heard of more soldiers killing themselves and leadership because of inner stress, unseen mental issues from childhood etc. I've had a very successful career with little need to have a gun full time if you wish for it then that your choice and opinion but you can't force me to change how I feel about it in anyway. If lethal means are necessary but say that person with the weapon is your longtime best friend and comrad who just went through a divorce and lost his kids and dealt with lost all his life would you instantly kill him or wish to disarm him. Insider threat kills more soldiers than random personnel with guns.

SSG Jamil Spruill Your vignette suggestion is important, it is the duty of an engaged and involved chain of command to take care of our SMs' mental health and behavioral needs (when you know a solider is dealing with serious issues, you disarm and treat him, we all know that), take a look at the 10 points and see if they encompass your concerns.

I will tell you I have personally faced a situation where a brother Marine drew a condition 1 pistol (magazine inserted, round in chamber) and pointed it at himself, and could easily have pointed it at anyone else. I had a condition one pistol on my hip, and didn't even need to grip the weapon. He eventually calmed down, holstered up and talked it out. He completed the deployment safely without further incident. Having a weapon doesn't require you to use it, but not having one means you cannot use it.

I don't intend to force you to change how you feel about guns personally, but I do challenge you to work to reconcile the facts that you work for an organization whose very existence is predicated on being armed and you are advocating to keep your brothers disarmed when faced with very real threats. If that doesn't strike you as challenging I further challenge you to scroll through this post, find soldiers who were on board Ft Hood during Maj Nidal Hassan's attack and talk with them about their views on waiting for MPs to arrive on scene.

I'm replying on my phone and I can't see any 10 points of discussion so please stop saying review them and yes I understand that doesn't mean you have to pull your weapon. In some cases soldiers might not inform leadership of all their personal issues and I have great relationships with my soldiers. The army has functioned since creation without having soldiers armed but now it is essential it's people properly enforcing security in facilities and not allowing access to non cleared personnel. I follow your justification and seem we are both going to counter each other on this time and time again. I respect your opinion though, you have good reasons for wanting the change.