When you consider that our military has a socialised form of medicine and medical care and they have the restrictions about keeping and bearing arms on base, it really makes me think just how far from American ideals and American way of life the military life really is. It doesn't quite uphold the Constitution that they are in place to protect. I always thought those gun restriction in the military were ridiculous, and I can't imagine what more regulation they can impose that isn't already on the books.

This world is full of crazy rules and ideals, both military and civilian. I mean you can't legally buy beer at 18 years old anymore in this country. You can't even legally purchase a handgun at 18 years old. Yet at the age of 18 you can be drafted or join the military of your own accord, be trained to kill, be trained on and issued an M16 or some other type of weapon, be sent into combat, and be asked to die for your country if need be. If you can be asked of and expected to do those things for our country in the name of freedom at the age of 18 years old then you should damn well be legally able to lawfully keep and bear your own personal firearms on base. Just my opinion.

It basically boils down to the same philosophy that drives liberal politics -- people are something to be managed and accountability lies with commanders, not with individuals. It goes far beyond socialized medicine and gun control. It also includes restrictions on free speech, expressions of religion, association, etc. Most bases have lists of "off limits" establishments you're not allowed to visit even on your own time. I've seen Marine Corps bases enforce dress codes for what people were allowed to wear OFF DUTY in civilian clothing -- things like shirts being tucked in, belts, no open toed shoes, etc. Those who live in the dorm are subject to having their rooms and personal space inspected at any time and being subject to discipline if their bed isn't made or something's out of place. I once had a brother-in-law corpsman who was over 40 have to ask a guy half his age for permission to leave the base so he could have dinner with us.

There's a reason why military people tend to be conservative -- they've seen where the liberal nanny-state mentality can go.

Well said expatriate.
Just when you think they can't do any more stupid stuff, they just keep pushing and pushing our great Country to the edge.
We also need to watch out for this UN small arms treaty that our great past President Hillary Clinton is trying to sign us up for. :rotest1

And they are strongly working on disarming us from the inside. I wonder what other country's think about our soldiers at home being disarmed!

I'm just sure the shooter at Ft Hood would have stopped and thought about violating Military firearms protocol before going on a killing spree. I mean dying for Allah is one thing but getting put on report? Why, that would be unacceptable. I'm sure he made sure his shoes were shined and brass polished before opening up. :rotest1

I've been following this, and this is yet another example of passing laws on the majority of law abiding citizens because of one bad apple. Hassan, the bad apple was able to go on the killing spree because nobody paid attention to all the red flags he was sending off. Now instead of facing the obvious shortcomings in the system, they pass new laws so it appears like they're doing something. Sigh...

Seems like that's the real reason government and politicians do anything. It's all just for show. Window dressing. Enacting something worthless, but new, just to give Americans the false sence of security that most people seem to crave. Change for the sake of change . That's the new philosophy these days and it's wrong, dead wrong!!! We already have laws in effect. They are pretty effective when enforced and used properly. I say enforce the current laws. No need for worthless legislation that punishes the 99.9% of honest law abiding citizens, yet does nothing to prevent the bad apples from doing what they will do anyway.

Your right Cowgal. My Grandmother used to call it closing the barn door after the horse was loose. These people however have burned the barn and are salting the fields and trying to dismantle the tractor. All to make us safer of coarse. I find it ironic that as afraid of combat vets as the Dems seem to be it was a non-combat, rear eschalon type that went postal.