Should Military Recognize State Concealed Carry Licenses

[carl]

I don't see the need for an across the board concealed permit. There's got to be a better method available. Much like you opined, the weapon should be out in the open. That would in fact then support your theory about Hasan. It would be staring him in the face -- although the crazies I've encountered didn't seem to mind that I was also evidently armed.

I can't second guess you nor Redleg regarding on base concerns. You guys been there, me no. So any questions I ask will just be questions, or observations.

As far civilian concealed carry, I think it works well enough, not perfect but well enough. I don't know exactly what you mean by across the board concealed permit, but there is no reason not to have restrictions on the mentally ill and others who pose a concern. I read once that a pattern of repeated traffic violations is a red flag so you could even tie the permit to that.

In the civilian world, one of the arguments in favor of concealed carry is that the criminal can't see who is armed and who isn't. Therefore he has to keep in his small mind that anybody might be. That idea helps protect even those who aren't

This is where I disagree most. Those two incidents should have never seen the light of day and they are far from the first. So Hasan gets a firearm and gets on base. Too many MPs just waving us on by with barely a glance at the base sticker. So what if it takes time to get on base.

When I was at Bliss just about everybody and their grandma had a firearm in the pick-up. Those that weren't out in the open ended up on base without as much as an ID check. Hasan proved that theory works.

If somebody wants to get an illegal firearm in they will. It just isn't practicable to search each vehicle so thoroughly as to prevent it. Concealed carry would have no effect on that at all.

I'll site five of the worst events I was involved in where age, rank and behavior weren't enough of determining factors.

1980, a 2ID NCO freaks out on the rifle range and downloads a 20-round mag on the entire firing line. Damn good thing his bolt jammed or he'd have reloaded and commenced all over again. We never did figure out which screw came loose !

1981, a communications PFC returns from guard duty just behind me in the line to the armory with a still loaded/round in the chamber, M16. When I asked him to not point that at me and unload it per post rules, he stuck the barrel in my face. With no place to run and hide, I kneed him in the balls and grabbed the weapon as shots rang off into the air.

1990, a Marine Gunny just returns home and does in his family and then himself.

1991, a Marine CPL leaves his post and heads to the "react room" and promptly does Russian Roulette with his S&W model 10.

1998, a former NCO and communications specialist performs Russian Roulette with his Colt Commander

IMO there's enough reason not to grant across the board anything.

All those incidents are tragic or potentially tragic. But (don't hit me) they are neither here nor there as far as concealed carry goes.

I never had any thing like what happened to you happen to me, but I am always surprised how hostile people sometimes get when they are told not to fool around with a weapon.

Let's face it, other than a few MOSs just how many are effectively trained by the US Army to use a handgun, yet alone draw and accurately fire a concealed handgun under pressure ? I once attended a 6-day anti-terrorism course where we were firing over 400 rounds a day. We were anywhere from arm's length to 3 meters from our targets. Even after that burnout course, some of the student's targets looked like they were hit with 00 buck instead of a double tap from a 9mm !

My opinion is most people who apply for CCW are interested in guns and practice on their own. People with an interest and who practice can pretty often get it right.