Retired Military Commanders urge Congress to address 'gun violence crisis'

[eagleclaw]

More officers earned my Disrespect than my respect.

Every LtCol and up got there by being a politician.

20 years in and retired as Msgt. I know what I am talking about.

I believe the officer /enlisted system needs to be re-examined and revised. I always question why an E-8 or an E-9 with 17-20+ years experience would have to salute a boot lieutenant and call him/her sir/mam.

[DennisH82]

I believe the officer /enlisted system needs to be re-examined and revised. I always question why an E-8 or an E-9 with 17-20+ years experience would have to salute a boot lieutenant and call him/her sir/mam.

SHHHHHHHHHHHH no need to change anything, stop warning our lunch. Nothing tastes better than a butter bar flexing his muscles at a SNCO near a woodline. How man MSG/1SG's or SGM/CSM's actually complain about this? I think they look forward to it like a chew toy. You guys want to take away all our fun, stop it already.

[Sgt.K]

SHHHHHHHHHHHH no need to change anything, stop warning our lunch. Nothing tastes better than a butter bar flexing his muscles at a SNCO near a woodline. How man MSG/1SG's or SGM/CSM's actually complain about this? I think they look forward to it like a chew toy. You guys want to take away all our fun, stop it already.

My last station was a hospital unit (LOTS of O-types around). I had a pretty good handle on the ones who were prior enlisted, i.e. a critical care R.N. Captain who had been a spec ops E-6 weapon specialist (awesome dude), or another R.N. Captain who had been an infantry squad leader.

Had a fairly new (to the unit) butter bar R.N. that gave off a quiet "I know my $#!% AND how to use it" vibe. I offered my impression to him and he smiled and said, "yeah, I was a 1st Sgt - this is a lot less stress." I imagine...

I had previously been a squad leader in a Combat Engineer battalion, acting as Platoon Sgt for several months while the PSG was on temp assignment, and we were actually short a lieutenant - so I was ranking man in the platoon. When the freshly minted ROTC grad showed up, I managed to *gently* guide him into his role without many theatrics...

[DennisH82]

My last station was a hospital unit (LOTS of O-types around). I had a pretty good handle on the ones who were prior enlisted, i.e. a critical care R.N. Captain who had been a spec ops E-6 weapon specialist (awesome dude), or another R.N. Captain who had been an infantry squad leader.

Had a fairly new (to the unit) butter bar R.N. that gave off a quiet "I know my $#!% AND how to use it" vibe. I offered my impression to him and he smiled and said, "yeah, I was a 1st Sgt - this is a lot less stress." I imagine...

I had previously been a squad leader in a Combat Engineer battalion, acting as Platoon Sgt for several months while the PSG was on temp assignment, and we were actually short a lieutenant - so I was ranking man in the platoon. When the freshly minted ROTC grad showed up, I managed to *gently* guide him into his role without many theatrics...

The ones with a clue usually take it all in and adjust well, even the prior service enlisted. I really LOVED brand new Butter bars even as a SSG. One time I got into an argument (Fake one with another PSG)when a new PL came in, I kept saying he is mine and the other PSG kept repeating that I lost the last three LT's I was given and the last LT was still in the hospital from the grenade incident. I kept mumbling that possession was 9 tenths of the law the whole time he was in the CO's officer for his meet and greet. My CO at the time had a sick since of humor so when he walked out he called the 1SG and told him to run me off I wasn't allowed any more LTs for the year He did however tell the new LT that if he screwed up he was sending him to my platoon . Did I tell you I just love that new Butter bar smell

[eagleclaw]

It looks like generals don’t have the monopoly on supporting gun bans. A retired colonel is also in on the act. Ret USMC Colonel Doug Applegate (D) was running for a U.S. representative seat held by Republican Darrell Issa in the state of California in 2016. Issa won the race. It appears Applegate is running again in 2018. However take a look at this devil dog’s web page that describes his view on the second amendment.

http://www.applegateforcongress.com/.../where-i-stand

With his “yearly qualification “requirement he could make Dianne Feinstein look pro gun.

[JenniferG]

It looks like generals don’t have the monopoly on supporting gun bans. A retired colonel is also in on the act. Ret USMC Colonel Doug Applegate (D) was running for a U.S. representative seat held by Republican Darrell Issa in the state of California in 2016. Issa won the race. It appears Applegate is running again in 2018. However take a look at this devil dog’s web page that describes his view on the second amendment.

http://www.applegateforcongress.com/.../where-i-stand

With his “yearly qualification “requirement he could make Dianne Feinstein look pro gun.

I stand with the victims of gun violence and will fight to honor the lives lost.

I support banning assault weapons.
I support banning gun sales to those on the no-fly list.
I support banning bump-fire stocks.
I support lifting CDC ban on research into gun violence.
I support mandatory universal background checks, including for guns sold on the internet, and transactions between private individuals.
In addition, I support and propose yearly training and qualification for civilians
No Marine carries a weapon unless they are trained and qualified, repeatedly. We need to learn from the Corps. Train and qualify civilian gun owners once a year, through mandatory weapons safety courses and tactical range qualifications from certified organizations. The purchase and sale of ammunition and reload materials must require proof of that annual classroom training and range qualification. As a member of the Marine Corps “rod & gun club", I continue to own a firearm.

Whose military did he serve in? It wasn't the US Marines. US Marines are sworn to uphold the US Constitution.