TexasCHLforum.com

>So I am asking all of you to also send notes to the Senators if you agree

I agree. Its already on my 'to do' list.

>I agree that gun control doesn't work in an uncontrolled area and in a free society. But I don't think an active
> duty military installation is uncontrolled area and I don't think the military is a free society.

Agreed. But you could say the same thing about a prison and apparently we can't keep illegal weapons, drugs or even cell phones out of prisons, so I don't think it will work anywhere. This whole tragic incident has shown that a military installation isn't that controlled either.

I'm glad the Fort Hood PD officers were able to respond and stop the killer, but wouldn't have been better if one of the soldiers in the building was armed and able to stop him sooner?

>If I'm reading the post correctly, we can send Marines and the Army to Iraq with Missiles, Tanks, Machine guns,
>and hand grenades, but we cant trust the same soldiers to protect themselves at home with Pistols, in the US.


This is kind of my view. While I can understand things are just 'different' in the military (I grew up an army brat, so I have some understanding) it just seems incredulous to me that the brave, dedicated people that fight to protect our freedoms, and our constitution do not get to enjoy those freedoms while on base.

I can appreciate there would be logistical issues on a base, but I still find it hard to comprehend that while Sgt Bob is off base we (the state) are happy to issue him a CHL and 'allow' him to protect himself, as soon as he is on a military facility we effectively disarm him and effectively make him a potential victim like a child at school or a university student.

There's something that seems fundamentally wrong with this. Is it really that different from those civilians who work at private companies that have 'no gun' signs or policies? Who does that really protect? I think we're generally in agreement that a 'gun free zone' is really a 'target-rich environment'. Why should our military people be expected to live and work under conditions that we generally don't tolerate?

>This was mass murder, not terrorism.


Definition #2 seems to apply:

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http://terrorism.about.com/od/whatister ... rism_5.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Definition of Terrorism under U.S. Law


United States Law Code – the law that governs the entire country – contains a definition of terrorism embedded in its requirement that Annual Country reports on Terrorism be submitted by the Secretary of State to Congress every year. (From U.S. Code Title 22, Ch.38, Para. 2656f(d)
(d) Definitions
As used in this section—
(1) the term “international terrorism” means terrorism involving citizens or the territory of more than 1 country;
(2) the term “terrorism” means premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents;
(3) the term “terrorist group” means any group, or which has significant subgroups which practice, international terrorism;
(4) the terms “territory” and “territory of the country” mean the land, waters, and airspace of the country; and
(5) the terms “terrorist sanctuary” and “sanctuary” mean an area in the territory of the country—
(A) that is used by a terrorist or terrorist organization—
(i) to carry out terrorist activities, including training, fundraising, financing, and recruitment; or
(ii) as a transit point; and
(B) the government of which expressly consents to, or with knowledge, allows, tolerates, or disregards such use of its territory and is not subject to a determination under—
(i) section 2405(j)(1)(A) of the Appendix to title 50;
(ii) section 2371 (a) of this title; or
(iii) section 2780 (d) of this title.
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Now the reports are saying the shooter is still alive and in the hospital.

I hope he gets a court martial and execution by firing squad.