Defenseless Defenders

"We need to change this and change it fast. No more defenseless defenders. Our service people are trained to take care of themselves. Time we let them."

It happened at Ft. Hood, and now it has happened at NAS Pensacola. Armed Muslims, who were on the base, who should not have had weapons, got some. Then they killed some of our heroes. Unarmed (by base policy) defenders of freedom. Defenders who were made defenseless by stupid policies laid down by clueless superiors. Am I angry about this? Oh, yes I am. I have been angry since Ft. Hood, and now am really pissed the Muslims have attacked my favorite Naval base.

Of the three sailors who were gunned down in Pensacola, I am only going to focus on one for this article. Joshua Kaleb Watson had just finished his training at the Naval Academy, and was now in Pensacola for flight training. When the gunman started shooting, Ensign Watson took numerous rounds to his body. When the first responders came in, although gravely wounded, Ensign Watson was able to give specifics about the gunman to authorities. 

But here is the real kicker. Ensign Watson may look like a mild mannered nice guy from his picture, but on the gun range, he was a dead shot. In fact, he was captain of the Navy Rifle Team at the Academy. If he had been allowed to carry on base, this story might have had an entirely different ending. But he was not. So instead of being able to defend himself and others, Ensign Watson became nothing more than a target.

Here is the irony which I think needs to change, and change quickly. Everyone who serves is in the ARMED SERVICES. Did you get that word, ARMED? Everyone has had some kind of firearm training. Some a little, some a lot. Being a member of the Armed Services, while we are still involved in the War on Terror, is justification for all members to carry while on a military base. That makes as much sense as allowing all peace officers to carry while in a police station. Having our nation's heroes be relegated to only being targets in the event a bad guy gets a gun on base, is stupid and wrong. 

If we don't change this policy, it will happen again. How do I know? Word gets out. The Islamists know our bases have become soft targets. The chance to get on base and take out American service men and women is way too tempting. However, if our bases were hardened by letting more service people carry, bad guys would think twice about visiting harm on our bases. 

When I see our Congressman next month, I am going to mention this to him. I know he will be receptive. We need to change this and change it fast. No more defenseless defenders. Our service people are trained to take care of themselves. Time we let them.