Popcorn, cold beer, MRAPs here...

shepp · May 17, 2014

Vietnam they spit on them and called them baby killers, now days they just label them psycotic terrorists

unforgiven · May 17, 2014

I have not read or heard of ANY felony assualts or firearm violations attributed to Veterans as a group.From anywhere in the state of Indiana.

gnatshooter · May 17, 2014

I have not read or heard of ANY felony assualts or firearm violations attributed to Veterans as a group.From anywhere in the state of Indiana.

This study about veterans and crime gets cited a lot.

http://psycnet.apa.org/index.cfm?fa=buy.optionToBuy&id=2012-26670-001

Basically, it shows that vets with PTSD are more likely to be arrested than those without PTSD. All fine and good so far as it goes.

The problem is that civilians also get PTSD, and this study does not show that veterans are more likely than civilians to be arrested.

I think we're looking at an urban myth created by libtards. The fundamental notion is that a close association with firearms makes people prone to shooting a lot, and especially shooting at people. It's a way of ignoring the real problem: that a certain group of males aged 18 to 40 make up around 4 percent of the US population but commit nearly half of all violent crime, regardless of military service.

unforgiven · May 18, 2014

What i do read and hear about is the sad rate of suicide among our military brother's and sister's. :'(

shepp · May 18, 2014

What i do read and hear about is the sad rate of suicide among our military brother's and sister's. :'(

Exactly and they just sweep it under the rug with anything else worth actually using tax money for. Disgusting!

gnatshooter · May 18, 2014

It turns out, the US can divert military surplus, such as vehicles, to other countries as well...

US surplus equipment cuts costs for IDF - YNet News (Israel) - 05.18.14
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4521008,00.html

"Technological and Logistics Directorate's refurbishment factory helps military save during budget crisis by renovating US-made M-16s, Humvees."

gnatshooter · May 19, 2014

It's official. The claim that returning US vets are criminal geniuses has gone viral. Just about nobody has a bigger circulation that the UK Daily Mail. Maybe the Huffington Post is bigger, but that just means -- since they're rabid leftards -- that they're probably next on the 'Violent Vets' story. Read on:

We need mine-resistant tanks because military vets back from Afghanistan have created a new kind of criminal, claim Georgia police - Daily Mail (UK) - May 19, 2014

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2633150/American-police-forces-benefit-millions-dollars-military-weapons-proof-vehicles-armed-forces-leave-Iraq-Afghanistan.html

As American military forces return from Iraq and Afghanistan, one Indiana police station is benefiting from a mine-resistant vehicles once used to tour the war zone to combat a new breed of criminal with military training.

'When I first started we really didn’t have the violence that we see today,' Sgt. Dan Downing of the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department told Fox 59. 'The weaponry is totally different now that it was in the beginning of my career, plus, you have a lot of people who are coming out of the military that have the ability and knowledge to build IEDs and to defeat law enforcement techniques.'

greenmist · May 20, 2014

I don't know your experience or which teams you served,

You wouldn't drop your body armor to run up a flight of stairs to a violent confrontation in an effort maximize your speed or surprise...or at least I hope not.

Man, you said a mouthful there.

My body armor doesn't weigh 18 tons, and doesn't announce itself from 5 blocks away.

Play cool. This ain't time for plowin skulls.

StainTrain · May 21, 2014

Concepts the same. Whether or not you agree with the mode, armor serves the same purpose. Be it individual or crew..... matters not.

MRAPs are certainly not as loud as they have been characterized.

Edited May 21, 2014 by StainTrain

gnatshooter · May 21, 2014

The ancestor of the MRAP was the Greek phalanx.

They didn't care if they were seen. They figured that distance weapons would be pointless against them, and forged ahead.

And, in the modern field of battle, stealth means speed. Speed is established by the latest generation of radar, missiles, and tracking. Ground-based armor simply can't move fast enough for stealth. In the civilian environment, it can't move faster than cell phones, or, heck, faster than the press. All you can hope for is that the armor is tough enough for the job, and stick your nose in.

In short, not much has changed.

StainTrain · May 21, 2014

Well stated, sir. It has its purpose...and its purpose ain't to be sneaky.

shepp · May 21, 2014

Good thing I got a vet next door to help me build IED's

gnatshooter · May 27, 2014

Here's a valid military/criminal connection that's not getting much attention: gang members in the service. But the question still is: is criminal veterans a real issue, or just invented by people who want MRAPS?

Soldier Living Double Life As Gang Member - News Channel 3 - May 15, 2014
http://wreg.com/2014/04/27/wreg-finds-soldier-living-double-life-as-gang-member/

“Think of things in the war time of the things many people in the military are doing. They have rifles up and they and several of their colleagues are kicking down doors and telling people to get down or ordering them around in another way. Reminiscent of a bank robbery, right. It is also reminiscent of a home invasion,” said Smith.

StainTrain · May 27, 2014

Street Gangs and National Level Gangs within the military are nothing new.

shepp · May 27, 2014

Street Gangs and National Level Gangs within the military are nothing new.

For sure, evil resides everywhere!

98Z5V · May 28, 2014

Street Gangs and National Level Gangs within the military are nothing new.

Very, very, very true.

Bloods and Crips spread up the west coast from California. Some were "enlisted" into the military to gain training. Training that they could take back to the hood once let out of the Army. Many, many of them were at Fort Ord, in 7th Infantry Division (Light). When 7th ID made the move to Fort Lewis, Washington, guess who it took with them? Gangbangers. Only one Regiment moved, and the order was given in inactivate the Division. But that one Regiment was plenty.

This was going in in 1989 through 1993 at Fort Ord, and 1993-on at Fort Lewis.

I could tell story after story of gang confrontation about those two places.

gnatshooter · June 5, 2014

Melbourne police lose assault rifle - WTXL TV - June 5, 2014
http://www.wtxl.com/ap/national/melbourne-police-lose-assault-rifle/article_fab53ccc-0b88-5366-88e2-456194330e2e.html

excerpt:

The Melbourne Police Department can't find an assault rifle given to it through a federal government program, meaning it won't receive an armored assault vehicle.