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PopeSkippyXVI

- 3 years ago

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What are your reactions to the shootings at Fort Hood on 11/12/09?

(The image is of a Boy Scout troop from Pflugerville TX visiting Fort Hood in September, but it might raise questions too. ) I am certainly saddened by it. I know the men were preparing to be deployed, but is this how you think they were prepared to give their lives for their country? Under the circumstances, did they? Do you find it odd or disturbing that it was the Army psychiatrist (and 2 of his helpers) that shot the 12 men? Since the shooter was not a civilian, the second amendment is not involved, is it? Again, I hate when this happens anywhere. I hate it a bit more when it happens like this, or like VMU, or Columbine.

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I'm numb.

yeah what's up with the date? nonetheless, what a tragedy for all involved.

11/12/09??? That's NEXT Thursday....

To me the saddest thing about it is that it could have been prevented. As amazing a job as our military men and women do everyday, the military doesn't come close to meeting the mental health care standards that it should. Almost across the board, the military fails to employ mental health professionals so that their departments are fully staffed. There is currently 1 mental health professional in the military to every 700 service member. This is a travesty. This particular man had many times expressed his disdain for being deployed and even went so far as to describe his sentiment online in comparing shooting members of the military before they were deployed to jumping on an IED with other soldiers around. He believed that killing them now would spare them from greater horrors they would face while being deployed. And with these sentiments, he was deemed fit for duty and made to deploy later this month. The other thing that scares me is the fact that he was a lifelong Muslim and what it might do to other Muslim service members. There are many Muslim active duty military men and women that have no intentions of ever harming or maiming anyone in our military. Whether or not that was this man's intention, many will point their fingers and now these people that so selflessly protect our nation will be labeled even more as terrorists and dissidents even more than they already have been. I think instead of worrying about whether or not to send a surge of service members for their umpteenth tour back to the middle east, there should be a bigger debate on creating a surge of qualified mental health professionals to help these men and women cope with what we ask them to deal with and overcome on a daily basis.

ON a truly "clinical" note: given the number of people in the military and the pressure they are under (not to mention possible underlying psychosis), it's not that surprising, imo. ON A NON-clinical note: SO so sad. It's not expected. Now there's the Orlando shooter. Madness.

The shooter lives, this is military, we may get some answers.

I react on two levels - one, as a human being. The loss of another person's life is a sad one, especially when it is forcibly taken from someone else. On the other hand - this man is a product of his "training." He was taught how to use the very weapons he used to kill these people, for the purpose of taking human life. I'm not a supporter of the military, but I can at least feel sadly for those who lost a family member and a friend, because it is something that is, to me, unfair. No one deserves to have their life taken away because of the anger and hatred of another person. But when you hand someone a firearm, teach them how to use it, aim it at someone one, pull the trigger... What do you expect?

First, the shooter was alone. His two "helpers" were not involved, according to the post commander. Indeed, I think it is tragic, but, quite frankly, not that an unusual event in the military. The shooting of people for any reason is horrific. I don't think this shooter shot those men because they were about to be deployed. I think he shot them because that was the opportune moment. I don't find it particularly odd that the shooter was a psychiatrist: psychiatrist have a very high incidence of suicide. I think his plan was to commit suicide, he didn't apparently plan to return home. News reports indicate that he treated PTSD in returning soldiers. It is very possible that he suffered the same. That he "should have gotten treatment"? I doubt he even recognized his own symptoms. Patients rarely do. Can't see the forest for the trees. I am shocked and saddened, but not surprised.

you can react to the tragedy for the individuals - or you can look at the broader picture the tragedy makes me weep for those families the broader picture analysis says that any army is bound to contain some complete screw ups... unfortunately screw ups are everywhere - why should a psychiatrist be an exception? (in fact they are more likely to develop mental illness than those in most other professions.) as for the right to bear arms - my views are clear on the submission on that subject...don't want to tie it in too closely with this tragedy but I am amazed that Americans still don't seem to get it re guns...

What an awful, horrible event! That is the one place that should be the safest and yet.. I was listeningto NPR this morning and they were talking more about the shooter and there were many things that were ignored that were red flags that this guy wasnt good nor stable to be doing what he was doing. He was supposed to be helping peolpe be ok or somewhat better after and he wasnt ok himself. Im not saying that the the shooting wouldve been foretold, and that he would kill people, but maybe it could've been prevented. I dunno. I just dont think that any signs shouldve been ignored. This guy had bad evaluations, and was said to be cold, and have raised suspisions from fellow collegues about whether he might have terrorist ideas, etc. What i dont understand is if, let's say if the motive was party that he didnt want to be deployed, plus he was already crazy, why in the effin world would he harm and kill other innocent people?! that angers me!

I live on a military base, I was in the military and my husband is in the Army. This tragedy hits home for my family. It is one thing for service members to lose their life in defence of their country in a war zone, to have it happen at home at the hands of another member of the military is a huge devestation that is unacceptable. I personally know the ammount of resources that a soldier has available to them at any time. If this individual had any issues regarding his own mental health or deployment there were other options besides shooting 40 plus members of his own f*****g team. The accusations that this person was harrassed or had problems with discrimination is hard for me to belive personally. The person who commited this henious crime was a Major- an officer (O-4)... they were pretty high up on the food chain as far as the military goes, even if they were harrassed or discriminated against they outranked probably a good 75% of people in the military. On top of that there is again, an overwhelming amount of resources out there and regulations that deal with discrimination in any form. This person did not have to do what they did.

11/12/09? That didn't happen yet. But, on Guy Fawkes Day, 2009, a Guy came in and shot a bunch of military personnel. I, personally, like the idea of blowing up a building or hurting or killing a politician rather than shooting random people on the way to serve their country. Of course, each man has his reasons, I'm sure his were valid. He could've used a bit more planning, though. If I had done something like that, I would've made sure it was atleast possible for me to escape. Anyway!

What a horrible event. Anyone who doesn't feel sympathy or sorrow for those lives is wrong. I just can't help but think though that this event has to shed a light on the whole guns in schools would prevent limit shootings. This was a military base with plenty of guns and plenty of trained people and yet lives were still lost. So hopefully we can put behind us this idea of having guns in school could somehow prevent this.

Violence begets violence.

Irony's a (tragic) b*tch.

Army psychiatrist... No I don't find it odd that he was the shooter (with 2 helpers). I'm sure listening to other people's problems is depressing on some level. Depression + crazy people + gun = This event ( and similar events ) My initial reaction was "F**k the world" now it's "World, cheer up. Why so serious?" If we're not at least safe on an army base then we're all screwed for sure.

Shooter was muslim..............terrorism??????????????

I honestly can't imagine being anywhere and having someone open fire. I would be one of the ones killed because instead of running for cover I'd be standing there thinking, "You've got to be kidding me..." I read today that the shooter tried desperately to get out of the Army, which brings me to yet another question.... Once you sign up for the Armed Forces (any of them), is there a "trial period" to see if it is a good fit, or are you in for good?

It's still too early for me, I don't know why it happened or anything. I'm still processing.

@PopeSkippyXVI ...waiting for this, too, to pass...

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What are your reactions to the shootings at Fort Hood on 11/12/09?