Originally Posted By melekalikimaka <<There was no offense intended. >> I didn't read your comment as offensive either, onlyme. Even though you and I don't agree on everything, I don't think you're a jerk at all and enjoy reading your posts.
Originally Posted By Mr X Not to mention fat people (the last straw in "acceptable predjudice"). OnlyMe, I really hope that "later" just meant see you later from this thread!! I've seen way to many posters leave lately...
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< including some with felony convictions >>> So, how can people with felony convictions be of any use to the military, since they are prohibited by federal law from even touching a firearm? People with misdemeanor convictions for domestic violence fall into the same category. Particularly when the firearms prohibition for misdemeanor domestic violence convictions went into effect, there were many stories about police officers and military having to resign their positions as they could no longer touch a firearm, even though in some cases the conviction was 10-20 years prior to the new law. One particular situation I remember was of an Air Force officer who had many years prior had a domestic violence conviction. He was still legally allowed to operate a warplane (possibly even carrying atomic weapons), but had to resign since he could not possess the sidearm that was part of his survival pack. I would hope that this is being handled through some lawful means, but I'm very curious as to what it might be. Perhaps the law was amended to exempt military service. Or, perhaps these people are receiving pardons. Does anyone know the specifics?
Originally Posted By ElKay Hey all it's been a looong time between chats. . . ;-) I suppose most of you folks here are too young to remember "The Dirty Dozen" film. As I recall they were violent sociopaths with criminal records too. Just kidding. Seriously, it's a bad trend allowing recruits with criminal histories into the military, especially those with lower aptitude scores and giving them automatic weapons. Isn't it more likely that they would be less able to follow military dicipline and wash out more frequently (costing the taxpayers lots of money to train these recruits only to have to give some dishonorable discharges or even section 8s?), but more importantly,wouldn't these types of soldiers be less reliable in a firefight? What about problems interacting with civilians in combating an urban insergency? There's already been several nortorious cases of abuse from soldiers with no crimminal records and higher IQ scores. Do we need more incidents like Abu Garaib or the squad that planned to rape and kill the victim's family? Why does the military need to lower standards? Aren't there tens of 1,000s of prep school trained potential recruits in college chapters of the Young Republicans all over the country waiting for their call to the colors? Why not see if Jenna and Barbara Bush want to follow in the footsteps of their dad at the same age during a similar crisis??
Originally Posted By mrichmondj << So, how can people with felony convictions be of any use to the military, since they are prohibited by federal law from even touching a firearm? People with misdemeanor convictions for domestic violence fall into the same category. >> Yup, it's a real problem. The recruiting system doesn't seem to care much. We just send them back to be discharged or transfer them to a useless position where weapons aren't involved when they show up on the doorstep with their domestic violence reocrd. Of course, when you turn someone back like that, you also suffer the consequences of not getting a replacement for about 6 months to a year. Unfortunately, there aren't very many qualified individuals clamoring to sign up for the military these days. Even fewer that stick around beyond an initial enlistment.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Yup, it's a real problem. The recruiting system doesn't seem to care much. We just send them back to be discharged or transfer them to a useless position where weapons aren't involved when they show up on the doorstep with their domestic violence reocrd. >>> Could you clarify what exactly you mean by "we?" Do you mean your unit, or the Army in general?
Originally Posted By officerminnie I am always still a bit taken aback when a guy comes in wearing an Army uniform to register as a sex offender. I had always assumed you couldn't join or remain in the military if you were a convicted felon. My bad. As for the gun issue, when one of our deputies was on the receiving end of a domestic violence protection order, he had to check out his firearm at the beginning of his shift and then turn it back in at the end. So maybe in the military the felons/dv-convicted folks are only allowed to use a firearm while they are on duty?
Originally Posted By gadzuux If you're anywhere in the middle east, you're "on duty" 24/07. I wouldn't want to be without a firearm at all times.
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Originally Posted By DVC_dad <<<For the record.... convicted felons admitted into the military have gone DOWN in recent years.>>> I cannot possibly see anything wrong with this post.
