Purplehood wrote:DEB wrote:No. The shooter is a Field Grade Officer, Major. (I say "is", as he hasn't been found guilty and stripped of his rank yet). The military is a Hierarchy, officers especially those of Field Grade are given great leeway. This is just a knee jerk reaction to the shooting by the military to show the outside world, especially those who believe that gun registration prevents crime, that they, the military, is quick to respond to prevent another mass shooting. One can still register their weapons, carry on post as if going to the range and detour to another location. No one follows you to insure you arrive at the range. Again just knee jerk as, I feel, all gun carry retardation does. Gun free zones are free fire zones for mass shooters, registration only retards those who follow the law and etc. These regulations, again, are aimed at the enlisted ranks. Commanders, usually in the rank of Captain, can't tell someone of higher rank to follow the regulation, such as our Major. My take with over 30 years of Army service.
I admit to not having 30 years of service, but I would dispute that you cannot tell someone of higher rank to follow any particular regulation. You can and are expected to. However, discretion is also highly valued in the Armed Forces.
You are right, one should follow regulation no matter one's rank. I was perhaps a bit over dramatic. What I was wanting to convey was, that here on Fort Hood if you are in the rank of SFC and above you self register. FH Reg 190-11 states that Soldiers in the rank of Staff Sergeant and below are required to obtain approval from the unit commander. That Newly assigned Soldiers (SSG and below) in possession of assignment orders may receive a temporary weapons registration (not to exceed 5 working days) pending Commander’s approval. Soldiers (SSG and below) that purchase a firearm (on weekends and
holidays) may receive a temporary weapons registration (not to exceed 3 working days) pending Commander’s approval. So as you can see/read what through registration would have prevented a Field Grade Officer from not registering his weapons? There are no checks. Also getting away from weapons, a junior grade soldier cannot tell a senior grade individual to adhere to regulation, or maybe to refrase this, the senior leader does not have to take the suggestion from the junior grade, unless it is considered an illegal order, such as the killing of prisoners, theft of some properties, disobeying ROE and etc. A private can tell a senior grade that he/she must adhere to a certain regulation, but if they do not, the private can't do anything to that individual to force compliance. (I am not talking about Military L.E.) While on the other hand, if the senior grade individual, especially a field grade, tells a private they must comply with regulation and the private does not, that private can be prosecuted for disobeying a lawful order. If a Captain tells a Major to register his/her weapons, that Major can tell that Captain to bump off. The Major perhaps can be prosecuted for not registering by the Senior Commander, but nothing will occur to him/her, through the UCMJ, for telling the Captain no. In the Military, respect only goes up, IAW the UCMJ. There are several other nuances, i.e. cannot curse a subordinate and etc, but that is the nature of the Military. Majors can order Captains, Captains cannot order Majors. This explanation is also not fully taking in consideration of all nuances, i.e. the Major can be under arrest, the Captain can be placed in charge of the Major through UCMJ procedings and etc. But for the normal day to day activities of the Military this is the case. As a junior grade soldier you better have your act fully together before you castigate a senior grade to comply with a particular regulation.
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