Tragic Shooting in Fort Hood

Today we are deeply saddened by the events of yesterday at Fort Hood, Texas. Twelve brave soldiers were gunned down in a place where they should have had the right to believe they were safe, or at least as safe as anyone can be in this mixed-up world these days.  One of their own, a Major no less, walked into a crowded building and opened fire on his brothers-in-arms.  This homespun terrorist coward, after taking the lives of 12 unarmed soldiers and wounding 31, stopped four rounds himself.  Apparently, the first one was from a female civilian police officer.  Since the shooter was a Muslim, being shot by a woman would be only marginally less horrible than being trampled by a herd of pigs.  Fortunately, the coward didn’t die.  Through the miracles of modern medicine he may, one day, be brought to trial to answer for his cowardly acts.

Since he was a member of the United States Armed Forces and in uniform at the time, he must be tried under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).  The UCMJ carries some pretty stiff penalties for several different behaviors.  Since he turned his weapon on other members of the Armed Forces he may be tried for Treason. He will obviously be tried for Murder. Here is what the UCMJ says about murder:

918. ART. 118. MURDER 

Any person subject to this chapter whom without justification or excuse, unlawfully kills a human being, when he- - 

(1) has a premeditated design to kill; 

(2) intends to kill or inflict great bodily harm; 

(3) is engaged in an act which is inherently dangerous to others and evinces a wanton disregard of human life; or (4) is engaged in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of burglary, sodomy, rape, robbery, or aggravated arson; is guilty of murder, and shall suffer such punishment as a court-martial may direct, except that if found guilty under clause (1) or (4), he shall suffer death or imprisonment for life as a court-martial may direct. 

Since he walked into that room with two handguns and extra ammo, I’d say clause one just might be applicable. But, I’m not a lawyer, this is just my opinion.

I realize that the authorities are not calling this an act of terror. I beg to differ.  (Wow, imagine me not agreeing with the government. Who’da thunk it?)  As a soldier, this Muslim creep was a trained marksman.  He apparently knows his way around a handgun since, with two handguns, he was able to fire at least 43 rounds.  He MUST have had several extra magazines.  A trained shooter, with extra ammo walking into a room full of unarmed people is, without question, a weapon of mass destruction. He was about to be deployed to either Afghanistan or Iraq. Soon we may know what he was thinking about.  I hope so.

John A. Wilson

President

Conservative Action Project