General Discussion

oldhippie

(3,249 posts)

81. Well, I can tell you .....

Mon Sep 16, 2013, 11:12 AM

Sep 2013

... I worked my whole 40 year career on Army bases. Twelve years active duty and 28 years as an Army civilian. I retired from Fort Hood three years ago and still live in the area. I can guarantee you that there are more armed civilians in the local Walmart than there are armed guards or MPs within West Fort Hood. I worked on West Fort Hood for 15 years. Other than the guards at the gate there are maybe two MPs on the base at any given time. (I know most of them.) They are giving out speeding tickets. When I got rear ended on base once it took 45 minutes to get an MP to come over from main Fort Hood to take the report.

The only time West Fort Hood was full of guns was when Air Force One lands at the airfield, like when PBO came after the Fort Hood shooting. We were all told to stay home that day, all the MPs and Federal police were withdrawn from the area, and the Secret Service took over the whole place.

Bottom line is in a lot of places there will be more armed people in a Best Buy than a Naval facility.

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Naval yard shooting: this should end it once and for all [View all] Bennyboy Sep 2013 OP

End it... pffft... Ohio Joe Sep 2013 #1

Take all the guns away from the Navy. NYC_SKP Sep 2013 #3

The Navy Yard is an office complex hack89 Sep 2013 #2

How many armed guards? Bennyboy Sep 2013 #9

The guards are civilians, surprisingly enough Recursion Sep 2013 #26

There will be a handful of armed cops the gates and front doors hack89 Sep 2013 #78

There is a Marine Corp barracks at the Naval Yard aolwien Sep 2013 #15

It's four blocks away. There's an interstate between Navy Yard and 8th & I (nt) Recursion Sep 2013 #23

Even if there was a Marine barracks there Lee-Lee Sep 2013 #36

They also have force protection agency aolwien Sep 2013 #40

Too bad people don't go to jail for at least using the same caution that the military does with VanillaRhapsody Sep 2013 #146

Yes exactly, thank you for clearing this up. LiberalLoner Sep 2013 #179

Marines in barracks sarisataka Sep 2013 #50

You are telling me they couldn't be armed within a moments notice? aolwien Sep 2013 #54

That's the band and the silent drill team Recursion Sep 2013 #60

Well, a trombone can be a deadly projectile weapon if you play it right (or wrong!) kentauros Sep 2013 #79

A sharp slide to sixth position can nail somebody, alright..... (nt) Paladin Sep 2013 #154

If they are anything like the Army's ceremonial guard aolwien Sep 2013 #98

"Combat ready" is a specific term regarding training and equipment and is measured in days Recursion Sep 2013 #123

correct Duckhunter935 Sep 2013 #126

Yup LiberalLoner Sep 2013 #180

Yes Lee-Lee Sep 2013 #69

"It takes deliberate planning to open and issue weapons, by design." MH1 Sep 2013 #101

Actually Lee-Lee Sep 2013 #110

Yup, there was another crackdown on how things get issued after the Clinton base closure report.. X_Digger Sep 2013 #119

I was in a technical field, and it was easier to check out expensive tech equipment than an M-16. MH1 Sep 2013 #139

It takes about an hour and a half for an infantry company to draw weapons Recursion Sep 2013 #72

Yes, that is exactly what I am telling you sarisataka Sep 2013 #73

Plus there's the whole posse comitatus problem Recursion Sep 2013 #80

I was never stationed in DC sarisataka Sep 2013 #88

It's a full-fledged Naval Installation Recursion Sep 2013 #96

Nevermind aolwien Sep 2013 #89

Seriously: it takes an infantry company about 90 minutes to draw weapons Recursion Sep 2013 #93

That person has ZERO knowledge about how the Military functions on a daily basis. prefunk Sep 2013 #102

So this mighty military force that we have aolwien Sep 2013 #103

They are not to Duckhunter935 Sep 2013 #111

Navy Yard isn't even controlled access for the most part; there's a public museum there. Recursion Sep 2013 #113

You would prefer martial law? pintobean Sep 2013 #127

To reply to your unedited post... sarisataka Sep 2013 #105

You just said you never have been in DC aolwien Sep 2013 #108

Um.. what don't I know... sarisataka Sep 2013 #131

SAC in the 50's Duckhunter935 Sep 2013 #134

You are on the right track... sarisataka Sep 2013 #145

Yes, that is exactly what you are being told, and it is exactly right. prefunk Sep 2013 #97

2nd LiberalLoner Sep 2013 #181

The Marine Barracks is at 8th and I, north of the Navy Yard on the other side of I-695 hack89 Sep 2013 #74

Did they re-sign that as 695? Recursion Sep 2013 #82

It would appear so according to the almighty Google. hack89 Sep 2013 #86

Probably part of the Recovery & Reinvestment Act work Recursion Sep 2013 #91

The NHC is located there... Cooley Hurd Sep 2013 #156

Have you ever been on a military base? Lee-Lee Sep 2013 #4

But, but NCIS!!11!! NYC_SKP Sep 2013 #6

Oh come on you know there would be very heavy security on such doc03 Sep 2013 #7

Like I said, have you ever been on a base? Lee-Lee Sep 2013 #10

I have been in the military I am sure there are plenty armed security doc03 Sep 2013 #18

Yes of course that is the point. Warren Stupidity Sep 2013 #21

I think you have that exactly backwards. MelungeonWoman Sep 2013 #175

I omitted the sarcasm indicator. Poe's law applies. Warren Stupidity Sep 2013 #178

My bad. Carry on. MelungeonWoman Sep 2013 #183

I am simply saying Lee-Lee Sep 2013 #27

The original post went overboard on that point for sure, but to say doc03 Sep 2013 #39

If you spent time in the military, then you know this to be true. prefunk Sep 2013 #95

So, what's your point? Arm everyone? n/t doc03 Sep 2013 #112

My point is that you are being wildly inaccurate about the facts. prefunk Sep 2013 #122

depending on post or base Duckhunter935 Sep 2013 #114

That is less common now, but not unheard of. prefunk Sep 2013 #118

Fort sill is Duckhunter935 Sep 2013 #124

Why the hell would anyone willingly set foot on Ft. Sill? Recursion Sep 2013 #138

Moved ADA school here Duckhunter935 Sep 2013 #141

Good. As long as the ground is suffering. Recursion Sep 2013 #143

The FA Duckhunter935 Sep 2013 #144

When I was stationed at Fort Riley in the 1990's...there was no security wercal Sep 2013 #133

That is how Bliss was Duckhunter935 Sep 2013 #137

Duckhunter....Bliss...ADA....I get it now. wercal Sep 2013 #169

I would not go that far.... VanillaRhapsody Sep 2013 #148

Navy Yard? No. It's a museum and an office complex Recursion Sep 2013 #37

Does an ordinary town have armed guards and gates at the entrance and doc03 Sep 2013 #44

Well being in the city with the strongest gun control laws in the nation didn't prevent it Recursion Sep 2013 #51

He could have obtained the gun inside of the installation doc03 Sep 2013 #59

Only if they've installed an arsenal in the past few years Recursion Sep 2013 #66

Naval Sea Systems Command Headquarters. Warren Stupidity Sep 2013 #185

Ft Hood shooter had to be shot by local cop AngryAmish Sep 2013 #49

Wasn't so at Offutt. NuclearDem Sep 2013 #115

Many times.... Bennyboy Sep 2013 #14

And an ID card gets you right through the gate Lee-Lee Sep 2013 #20

Can debate all day about security at the base. Let's talk about the killer with a gun that is there. Hoyt Sep 2013 #33

Impossible. He's in DC. He couldn't have had a gun Recursion Sep 2013 #55

Not in Virginia they aren't... VanillaRhapsody Sep 2013 #149

The discussion is about base security sarisataka Sep 2013 #62

It's NCIS syndrome. Guns in desk drawers all around. X_Digger Sep 2013 #65

Ain't it the truth? Honestly, TV makes people stupid. I have always thought it should be outlawed if Nay Sep 2013 #151

Generally, only Sercurity Forces are armed on military bases, not the rank and file. prefunk Sep 2013 #90

The Marines that protect the President are stationed there aolwien Sep 2013 #16

No, they're stationed at 8th & I, four blocks away with I-295 in between Recursion Sep 2013 #29

Being on call does not mean continuously holding a gun. Yes, they may play tiddly winks, read, watc uppityperson Sep 2013 #167

The Ft Hood shooting was in a no-weapons-area, too. Eleanors38 Sep 2013 #24

Right. kentauros Sep 2013 #63

I wrote in the phenomenon you I.D.'d to one of my Eleanors38 Sep 2013 #188

Oh, I agree with everything you said there. kentauros Sep 2013 #190

Big old 2nd!!!!! LiberalLoner Sep 2013 #182

My understanding is that it's an office building pintobean Sep 2013 #5

And the gungeoneers are out in force 'splainin. Nt. Warren Stupidity Sep 2013 #8

Gosh darn those pesky facts, anyway! Lizzie Poppet Sep 2013 #11

It's like confronting creationists with paleontology: generally more amusing... friendly_iconoclast Sep 2013 #170

They should get underway and take the danger out to sea. pintobean Sep 2013 #17

"...end it once and for all." I doubt it. aikoaiko Sep 2013 #12

Almost no one in the Navy is armed. Revanchist Sep 2013 #13

the amount of security on the base Bennyboy Sep 2013 #28

Seriously, you're just wrong here. I used to work there. Recursion Sep 2013 #46

We will never win the gun debate ChangeUp106 Sep 2013 #19

Agree get the red out Sep 2013 #35

It might be of benefit to determine what "winning" is... Eleanors38 Sep 2013 #41

This logic of arming society only works if LittleBlue Sep 2013 #22

I'm sure they'll be another run on AR-15s at the gun shows now. Tommy_Carcetti Sep 2013 #25

The gun industry and NRA need thsese shootings to bump up sales. AlinPA Sep 2013 #173

Thank you, I agree!!! gopiscrap Sep 2013 #30

You mean how the strictest gun control laws in the nation didn't do anything? Recursion Sep 2013 #31

An elementary school in Conneticut didn't end it. Hayabusa Sep 2013 #32

Unfortunately, hardly anyone on a Navy base is armed. prefunk Sep 2013 #34

Particularly Navy Yard Recursion Sep 2013 #67

at least 4 dead riverwalker Sep 2013 #38

What I learned from this thread: Vashta Nerada Sep 2013 #42

Which is why we're positioning Best Buy stores in the Mediterranean. Robb Sep 2013 #43

Hahaha! Vashta Nerada Sep 2013 #45

There are certainly more people carrying in the Best Buy across the river than at Navy Yard Recursion Sep 2013 #53

Post #43 sums up how I feel about that. Vashta Nerada Sep 2013 #57

Well, I can tell you ..... oldhippie Sep 2013 #81

You may be surprised to know that very FEW Servicemembers are armed on a daily basis. prefunk Sep 2013 #85

There's a whole lot wrong with that. Vashta Nerada Sep 2013 #135

Why is that? It's a matter of logistics and security. prefunk Sep 2013 #140

You don't see it? Vashta Nerada Sep 2013 #142

I'm not entirely sure that is accurate and fail to see what your point really is. prefunk Sep 2013 #147

Go into your dance, Gun Enthusiasts Paladin Sep 2013 #47

LOL at the gungeoneers insisting that a navy yard is some kind of gun free zone! DanTex Sep 2013 #48

It's entirely a gun-free zone. It's in DC. Recursion Sep 2013 #52

So it's gun-free except for the guys with guns... DanTex Sep 2013 #56

That's what "gun-free zone" means. They generally have armed guards Recursion Sep 2013 #64

Umm... if they have "armed guards" then it's not "gun-free". DanTex Sep 2013 #68

Ah, you've discovered how illogical that phrase is, too? Recursion Sep 2013 #70

In which case the point the OP is making is valid, definitional technicalities notwithstanding. DanTex Sep 2013 #76

No. Navy Yard has *very few guns per capita* compared to most of the country Recursion Sep 2013 #84

They have armed security guards. "Good guys with guns" as Wayne would put it. DanTex Sep 2013 #92

Where have you lived that the police weren't armed? Recursion Sep 2013 #94

Are you saying that security at the Navy Yard is weak? DanTex Sep 2013 #99

It's a fairly soft target as DC installations go Recursion Sep 2013 #107

As for the gun control doesn't stop mass shootings argument... DanTex Sep 2013 #116

Undercut by the neighboring states *with lower gun crime rates*? Recursion Sep 2013 #125

Neighboring states with much lower population densities. DanTex Sep 2013 #130

Just as tight as a normal Duckhunter935 Sep 2013 #117

If it's a "gun free zone," it's because they admit that gun carriers are irrational. Hoyt Sep 2013 #77

You usually include the word 'bigots' pintobean Sep 2013 #87

Where are your pictures of the white RW militia guys with the guns? hack89 Sep 2013 #121

Apparently you like those photos. Hoyt Sep 2013 #150

I like routine. You are usually very predicable hack89 Sep 2013 #155

People are starting to recognize the gungeoneers. Hoyt Sep 2013 #164

So? Not like it is a major revelation. nt hack89 Sep 2013 #165

All the guns at Ft. Hood didn't prevent that shooting, either. leveymg Sep 2013 #58

You might as well try to abolish Mother's Day. lpbk2713 Sep 2013 #61

Worker in the building jsut now on CNN Bennyboy Sep 2013 #71

In a given building, yes, there's metal detectors and security Recursion Sep 2013 #75

all they are talking about now is security Bennyboy Sep 2013 #109

Well, that certainly convinces me, who worked there fairly recently Recursion Sep 2013 #120

Yes, I am sure Duckhunter935 Sep 2013 #129

Never pass up a tragedy to push your policial agenda. davepc Sep 2013 #83

Indeed. Enjoy your gun shows. Tommy_Carcetti Sep 2013 #100

In my experience (Army), US Military bases are very 'soft' targets wercal Sep 2013 #104

You shouldn't get your "facts" from a fictional TV show. former9thward Sep 2013 #106

This tradgedy will make no difference tiredtoo Sep 2013 #128

Thinking you're not familiar with the DC Navy Yard - lynne Sep 2013 #132

People do not go armed in a military facility, unless they are security. Agnosticsherbet Sep 2013 #136

Perhaps in a sane world that would end it Blue Owl Sep 2013 #152

You can't open carry at an NRA meeting? Really? Someone needs to call them on brewens Sep 2013 #153

No, that's not true. DesMoinesDem Sep 2013 #168

Bennyboy, I was stationed at the Pentagon for 7 1/2 years MrScorpio Sep 2013 #157

The reason people are arguing onenote Sep 2013 #159

Good question. MrScorpio Sep 2013 #160

Just like Fort Hood, right? NickB79 Sep 2013 #158

This embarrassingly ignorant OP: this should end it once and for all. DesMoinesDem Sep 2013 #161

They have strict gun control in DC. How can this happen? Redford Sep 2013 #162

Question: What is the state directly to the west of Washington DC? Tommy_Carcetti Sep 2013 #171

Very ill-informed LannyDeVaney Sep 2013 #174

Remember when Hinkley shot Reagan dorkulon Sep 2013 #163

The navy yard is not, contrary to your opinion, in a war zone nadinbrzezinski Sep 2013 #166

My View at link tiredtoo Sep 2013 #172

I put all blog floggers on ignore. bye TeamPooka Sep 2013 #176

Good idea /nt sarisataka Sep 2013 #177

Good policy nt Crabby Appleton Sep 2013 #186

The title is too stupid to bother with. pintobean Sep 2013 #184

Thank you for your reply tiredtoo Sep 2013 #187

Most people look for labels pintobean Sep 2013 #189