Militia member arrested in Ohio for discharging weapon outside recruiting center. Was this inevitable?

LTC Bink Romanick — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 17:18:02 -0400

Was this predictable? What are your thoughts on the situation?

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2015/07/23/recruiting-center-shot-fired.html

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 23 at 2015 5:19 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 17:19:50 -0400

I just saw this. Got his weapon taken away and everything. This is twice now in the last week or so.

Response by TSgt David L. made Jul 23 at 2015 5:20 PM

TSgt David L. — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 17:20:22 -0400

It's bound to happen. The law of averages says someone will have a ND. I just hope they only hurt themselves.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 23 at 2015 5:21 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 17:21:15 -0400

Not surprised about this at all. Militia should not be allowed to be posted outside recruiting stations with weapons.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Jul 23 at 2015 5:21 PM

LTC Bink Romanick — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 17:21:51 -0400

What could go wong

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jul 23 at 2015 5:22 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 17:22:44 -0400

Oops!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 23 at 2015 5:28 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 17:28:13 -0400

You gotta figure there's gonna be ones out there with a weapon and not much knowledge. Was bound to happen, and it'll probably happen again. Let's nope nobody gets hit because of their stupidity.

Response by CW4 Guy Butler made Jul 23 at 2015 5:39 PM

CW4 Guy Butler — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 17:39:37 -0400

Predictable? Yup.
Prediction 2: a driver is going to pull into an Armed Forces Recruiting Center's parking lot, spot the local militia, and slow down. Then hesitate as they try to assess what's going on.

And one of those well-meaning militia member's threat-I-meter is going to spike.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jul 23 at 2015 6:11 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 18:11:21 -0400

Just noticed the same article on my FB Feed. Oh Yeah. That didn't take long.

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Jul 23 at 2015 6:55 PM

Cpl Dennis F. — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 18:55:34 -0400

Yeah, predictable. From experience, I would want armed trained housewives. They have no ego and pay attention much better, while being trained, than any other demographic including police,(who have a great deal of AD/NDs). Sadly this is gonna turn into a mess and add to the division of military/civilian/ police in our society. I'm sure that the agenda gangs are out their just waiting to make use of this. Although I strongly support our rights to own and possess arms, after a long time working with novice owners, not everyone is qualified, has enough common sense, or should own one simply because they 'can'. There are a lot of stupid people wielding, guns, cars, scissors and cell phones. God save us from them all.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 23 at 2015 8:09 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 20:09:22 -0400

Accidents happen. I wasn't there, but one of the Safety officers giving a safety briefing in Kuwait discharged a weapon in the class.

Response by Sgt Ken Prescott made Jul 23 at 2015 10:22 PM

Sgt Ken Prescott — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 22:22:28 -0400

Ahem. Keepeth thy booger hook off of the bang switch unless you want to put holes in things.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 23 at 2015 11:29 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 23:29:12 -0400

I probably wouldn't. Though I would feel admiration and gratefulness for their efforts, any external protection of off-site facilities should be by and through trained military personnel.

Response by SSgt Charles Edwards made Jul 23 at 2015 11:35 PM

SSgt Charles Edwards — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 23:35:40 -0400

Treat all weapons as if they are loaded. First rule of firearm safety.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 23 at 2015 11:36 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 23:36:10 -0400

Bad idea. Saw this coming.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Jul 23 at 2015 11:44 PM

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 23:44:03 -0400

Double oops... This one is AD Navy... Self injury...

Man accidentally shoots self at military recruiting office

A service member is recovering after accidentally shooting himself with his personal weapon Friday morning.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Jul 24 at 2015 6:18 AM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 06:18:36 -0400

Marine recruiters told to call the cops if armed citizens show up ...

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/2015/07/23/marine-recruiters-told-call-cops-if-armed-citizens-show-up/30583421/

Marine recruiters told to call the cops if armed citizens show up

In the wake of the deaths of four Marines and a sailor at the hand of a lone gunman in Chattanooga last week, armed civilians have been volunteering to stand guard at military recruiting stations around the country to protect them.

Response by SGT David T. made Jul 24 at 2015 8:45 AM

SGT David T. — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 08:45:50 -0400

If there were meaningful policy changes that actually protected out SMs this entire thing could have been avoided. Even if we put police or SMs there, we have the potential for accidental discharges. It happens with highly trained people too. Honestly, I think the benefits outweigh the risks.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Jul 24 at 2015 10:23 AM

SGT Ben Keen — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 10:23:10 -0400

Again, this goes back to great intentions but poor execution. I get it that these guys are trying to do the right thing and that ADs happen at the clearing barrels everyday but what you see here is a lack of sound decision making. First, to agree to allow someone that is probably untrained to see a weapon, second, the failure to fully clear the rifle and lastly, doing so in a public crowded shopping center.

Again, I understand they are trying to do the right thing, but I think this serves as the prime example of why it's really a bad thing.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Jul 24 at 2015 10:29 AM

SGT Ben Keen — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 10:29:33 -0400

Response by SGT William Howell made Jul 24 at 2015 11:08 AM

SGT William Howell — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 11:08:34 -0400

First, if they are bringing .22 that look like ARs they are woefully under armed. Second, not sure how they plan to defend a building...from the parking lot. Cover and concealment are our friends!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2015 11:39 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 11:39:12 -0400

I respect the good inrentions of those civilians, probably the majority of whom are veterans. However I can understand why the military soes not condone it; the armed bad guys could intermingle with them and start shooting either at the other civilans or the recruiters.

Response by CW2 Carl Swanson made Jul 24 at 2015 1:34 PM

CW2 Carl Swanson — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 13:34:01 -0400

We all know it was just a matter of time before some "rent a cop" moron messed up what the other civilians (vets) were trying to do. Just glad no one got hurt.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Jul 24 at 2015 1:52 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 13:52:56 -0400

This is my surprised face.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2015 9:58 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 21:58:41 -0400

YEP, it was inevitable. Just like the goofball in Gainsville who shot himself in the leg while breaking the rules. Overreacting to situations without thinking them through leads to bad things happening.

Response by LCpl Barney Gaumer made Aug 7 at 2015 12:46 PM

LCpl Barney Gaumer — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 12:46:05 -0400

Militia Members hearts are in the right place. Need to work on the "Well Regulated" aspect :)