Would military bases be more secure if mature, responsible, and cleared active duty soldiers carried pistols (other than just the MPs)?

2016-12-27T16:00:53-05:00

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2016 4:02 PM

2016-12-27T16:02:42-05:00

Honestly? Yes. Military membeta are expected to be able to handle a weapon anyways, why not allow it? Some base commanders have begun allowing this. I think it will be a growing trend.

Response by MSgt George Cater made Dec 27 at 2016 4:09 PM

2016-12-27T16:09:21-05:00

Of course. Anything to make them

Response by SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint made Dec 27 at 2016 4:40 PM

2016-12-27T16:40:09-05:00

Depends how people react in a situation. IF MPs are on the scene and they have it under control.... do not pull your weapon unless you have a good shot. IF you are there and no MP or official response yet, we depend on you. It could work. But, everyone needs to be trained and not conflict with the professionals.

Response by SGT Steve Hines-Saich B.S. M.S. Cybersecurity made Dec 27 at 2016 5:05 PM

2016-12-27T17:05:19-05:00

Allow NCOs to train troops at the range often....we would also need to reiterate proper use of force.

Response by SFC George Smith made Dec 27 at 2016 5:27 PM

2016-12-27T17:27:38-05:00

at the current rate of assaults the NCO and Officers should be allowed to apply for and Qualify to cary a Side arm on post...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2016 5:31 PM

2016-12-27T17:31:14-05:00

If 1 in every 100 physical altercations on post turned into a gunfight, I don't believe post would be a safer place.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Dec 27 at 2016 5:42 PM

2016-12-27T17:42:02-05:00

Yes.

Response by CW4 Guy Butler made Dec 27 at 2016 5:54 PM

2016-12-27T17:54:06-05:00

Probably not. Take 2016, for example.

There was one attack (murder/suicide) at Lackland Air Force Base in April, 2016.

https://www.airforcetimes.com/articles/two-dead-in-shooting-at-lackland-air-force-base-in-san-antonio

There were 3 deaths due to to negligent discharge for the Army in 2016:

https://safety.army.mil/STATISTICS/PreliminaryLossReports.aspx

The last reported shooting at Ft Drum ( that I could find) was a domestic dispute in 2011:

http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20110519/NEWS03/305199923&template=mwdt

I'm still not convinced the threat is great enough to warrant arming Soldiers, partly because I don't see how it would mitigate the threat.

breaking-report-active-shooter-lackland

The morning calm on basic military training graduation day at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland was shatTwo people are dead in an apparent murder-suicide at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2016 5:55 PM

2016-12-27T17:55:41-05:00

How is this going to work? The current guidance is to shelter in place during an active shooter. Are you going to have individuals trying to respond on their own accord to an incident? Will there be some sort of base-wide QRF with armed patrols? How will this be coordinated with the MPs?

Even on FOBs and COBs weapons were cleared coming into the wire. Yes, Soldiers in this kind of set up had free access to ammo to defend the operating base. Do you propose that CONUS installations be treated in a similar manner?

I am not opposed to the general principle, but I wonder about the rules.

Response by MSgt George Cater made Dec 27 at 2016 7:37 PM

2016-12-27T19:37:44-05:00

Yes. Anything that makes bases more of a hard target. Remember that we may call terrorists cowards and their mindset is alien to us, BUT they aren't stupid and are suicidal only to the degree that they want to cause max harm to us before they die. They should look at trying to pull another Ft Hood the same way they would shooting up a cop bar or an NRA convention. You know they don't try those places cause of the low probability of success. And you know our bases are actually target rich significant targets with no greater LEO presence than outside the gates.
Just my two cents.

Response by PVT Raymond Lopez made Dec 27 at 2016 10:27 PM

2016-12-27T22:27:14-05:00

Hell yes!! The whole world is a combat zone!

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Dec 29 at 2016 4:45 AM

2016-12-29T04:45:38-05:00

You say mature, responsible, and cleared. Does that mean after some test we might tell Soldiers that they are not mature and not responsible?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2016 12:13 PM

2016-12-29T12:13:16-05:00

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member And how will you determine when someone is mature, responsible, and cleared? By age? By rank? Position? Taking some training?