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Nuclear Unicorn

(19,497 posts)
Wed Jul 22, 2015, 07:02 PM Jul 2015

Report: Navy officer and Marine fired upon Chattanooga gunman

Report: Navy officer and Marine fired upon Chattanooga gunman

A Navy officer and a Marine fired their sidearms at the gunman who killed five service members last week in Chattanooga, according to the Navy Times.

It is unclear whether either hit the gunman, Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, according to the paper.

...

The Washington Post first reported that the Marine may have been carrying a 9mm Glock and possibly returned fire on the gunman.

The report is raising questions over why the service members were armed, since it is against Defense Department policy for troops other than military police or law enforcement to carry weapons on federal property.

http://thehill.com/policy/defense/248771-report-navy-officer-and-marine-fired-upon-chattanooga-gunman


Had the service members survived they could well be looking at military punishments such as reduction in rank, dishonorable or less-than-honorable discharges, loss of rank and pay or even courts martial.

Would that be justified?

If not, why keep the policy?

It seems of little value to maintain a gun control policy if the policy is waived in instances of legitimate self-defense. We should focus on crimes actually committed, not pre-crime punishments.
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Report: Navy officer and Marine fired upon Chattanooga gunman (Original Post) Nuclear Unicorn Jul 2015 OP
Another article on the topic. So much we don't know. MADem Jul 2015 #1
it wouldn't be dishonorable discharge gejohnston Jul 2015 #2
I know law isn't supposed to be a matter of popular sentiment but Nuclear Unicorn Jul 2015 #4
An article 15 tends to be a career ender Lurks Often Jul 2015 #5
Had the service members survived, they could be looking at punishment OakCliffDem Jul 2015 #3

MADem

(135,425 posts)
1. Another article on the topic. So much we don't know.
Wed Jul 22, 2015, 07:23 PM
Jul 2015

The USN 0-4, LCDR White, DID survive. We don't know if the weapon was in his car, if he was going to the range, coming in to work, going home from work, or what. He may not have actually been "carrying" in the official sense of the term. I "carried" on base when I checked a weapon out of an armory. There are exceptions.

The Marine with his weapon died.

http://www.navytimes.com/story/military/2015/07/21/sources-navy-officer-marine-shot-chattanooga-gunman/30426817/

gejohnston

(17,502 posts)
2. it wouldn't be dishonorable discharge
Wed Jul 22, 2015, 07:43 PM
Jul 2015

you have to be convicted in a general court martial to get something like that or a BCD. Those are reserved for serious crimes like armed robbery or desertion. I could see an article 15 something less.

Of course, it would depend on where the gun was stored.

Nuclear Unicorn

(19,497 posts)
4. I know law isn't supposed to be a matter of popular sentiment but
Thu Jul 23, 2015, 08:40 AM
Jul 2015

to even suggest charging him would be a PR nightmare for the big wigs.

 

Lurks Often

(5,455 posts)
5. An article 15 tends to be a career ender
Thu Jul 23, 2015, 11:20 AM
Jul 2015

Officers and senior NCO's who get an Article 15 will probably not get promoted when they come before their next promotion board.

OakCliffDem

(1,274 posts)
3. Had the service members survived, they could be looking at punishment
Wed Jul 22, 2015, 07:56 PM
Jul 2015

    Does that not come under the heading of:

    "Judged by twelve or carried by six"

?
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