Gun control: 'Suicide epidemic' pits US military commanders against NRA

[SecularMotion]

US military commanders are increasingly expressing frustration with the National Rifle Association for blocking what they feel are vital measures to keep troops safe.

The controversy revolves around the surge in suicide within the armed forces. The Pentagon is facing an “epidemic,” Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told lawmakers this week, with some 206 US troops suspected of taking their own lives so far this year.

“That is an epidemic,” he said. “Something is wrong.”

As they cast about looking for possible ways to bring down the rates of suicide, commanders say that the answer may lie in having candid discussions with their soldiers about their personal firearms--and to take personal weapons away from those who appear likely to hurt themselves.

http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/gun-control-suicide-epidemic-pits-us-military-commanders-against-nra

[glacierbay]

1. Here's a novel idea

instead of blaming everything on the NRA, how about ENDING THE FUCKING WARS!!!!!!
And better funding for the mental health services for combat vets., something my generation didn't have.

[ileus]

3. War makes money...it's easier to blame the NRA.

[PavePusher]

6. +1 n/t

[gejohnston]

2. and how would commanders remove these weapons?

While commanders are permitted to ask troops who appear to be an imminent danger to themselves or others about private firearms--or to suggest locking them temporarily in a base depot--the law requires that if the soldier denies that he or she is thinking about harming anyone, then the commander cannot pursue the discussion further, he adds.

Is there something in federal law including the UCMJ, which is still subservient to the constitution, that would allow a commander to do anything? Send CID to search their house? Not happening without a warrant and "I just want to see if he lied" isn't going to get him or her a warrant.

The US military has a about the same policy Canadian Forces has. If the soldier, airman or whatever lives in the barracks, their private guns are stored in the base armory. If they live in base housing, they are registered with the military police. Off base, the command would have no way of knowing.

[rl6214]

4. Slow google day...gotta pull up month old stories that have been posted about before.

That was your point right, that stories about gun violence are getting fewer and fewer.

[4th law of robotics]

5. Because if it weren't for the NRA soldiers would never gain access to weapons