Freedom States Alliance Press Release

Contact: Scott Vogel (312) 243-8980, scott@freedomstatesalliance.org

November 6, 2009

Shooting Shows Why Sen. Burr's (NC) Amendment To Allow Veterans Suffering From Mental Illness Easy Access To Guns Is Dangerous and Deeply Flawed

(Chicago) – Not even soldiers on an American military base such as Fort Hood are immune from the unique threat from powerful and increasingly lethal handguns. Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan is a psychiatrist who treated returning vets suffering from PTSD and other issues of mental illness. He was scheduled to deploy to Iraq within weeks. Hasan used a powerful "cop killer" handgun -- designed to puncture Kevlar protective vests -- called the FN 5.7 or Five-Seven to murder 13 people (12 soldiers and 1 civilian) and wound 28 others before being wounded by a policewoman responding to the scene. According to the Associated Press Hasan purchased the deadly handgun from a gun dealer, "Guns Galore" in Killeen, Texas.

In response, Freedom States Alliance communications director, Scott Vogel offered condolences to the victims and families of the shooting massacre stating “It is particularly heartbreaking for our nation that so many brave and selfless men and women who serve our country have lost their lives as the result of this terrible shooting.”

Lt. Gen Robert Cone, the Commanding General of Fort Hood, said that the handguns used by Hasan to murder his fellow soldiers were not military weapons. When asked during the press conference on Thursday night whether the soldiers under attack were armed, Gen. Cone made a remarkable statement:

“As a matter of practice we do not carry weapons. This is our home. (Emphasis added). We do have security guards that are here, the MP's and the Department of the Army civilian police… the fact is that soldiers do not carry weapons routinely unless they are in a training event.”

Such a definitive statement from the commanding general of the largest American base demonstrates the military's own concern about the easy access to handguns and other weapons, even from its own highly trained and disciplined military personnel. Such a restrictive policy against carrying guns, even for soldiers who are prepared for combat, should give guidance to lawmakers about the need to better control access to firearms for civilians.

In addition, our lawmakers must recognize that soldiers with multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and who suffer high rates of combat fatigue, PTSD, substance abuse and other mental health concerns, are at greater risk due to the easy access to guns. Despite this fact, Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) is pushing a gun lobby backed bill, the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act (S. 669), that would limit the circumstances in which a veteran’s name could be added to a federal database used to do instant background checks for gun purchases.

Sen. Burr's legislation would prohibit the Veteran’s Administration from submitting soldiers' names to the National Instant Criminal Background Check database unless a judge determines the veterans to be a danger to themselves or to others. Such a high standard ensures that soldiers will gain easier access to firearms regardless of their emotional state or mental health and will put themselves and others at greater risk of violence.

“This tragic shooting highlights the need for our policymakers to courageously stand up to the gun lobby to pass stronger gun laws and provide solutions to the 280 million guns in private hands that put us all at risk. Afterall, if the good men and women on our nation’s largest army base are vulnerable to a mass shooting, then clearly we have a national gun crisis that demands our attention,” said Sally Slovenski, Freedom States Alliance executive director.