The Gun Blogs

I posted about this situation a while back on my now defunct blog "Captain of a Crew of One".

It was reported that the Commander of US Army Alaska has issued an order precluding his soldiers from taking advantage of Alaska's liberal self-defense policies by forbidding the carrying of self-defensive firearms...both on and off duty.

At the time that I posted about it previously, I didn't have an email address but gave a snail-mail address and posted the letter that I sent to General Jacoby taking him to task for his policy.

I just received a Virginia Citizen's Defense League alert with more information. Below I have reprinted the alert which includes an internet "contact" form for USARAK's Public Affairs Office (still no e-mail for the general, but this is better than nothing). I urge all gun rughts supporters and supporters of our troops to let Mr. Jacoby know how you feel about his policy that places the well being of his soldiers (the very people pledged to protecting OUR safety and security) at risk.

VA Alert

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13. Would Army Major General Jacoby rather OUR TROOPS and their
families be harmed than defend themselves?
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In a letter to the Army Times, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Don Clark
reveals that the 3 soldiers whose use of concealed handgun(s) was the
cause of Army Major General Charles Jacoby's recent off-post
concealed carry ban WERE QUIETLY ACQUITTED of all charges, prevailing
on their claims of self-defense!

Yet despite the revelation that OUR TROOPS carrying concealed acted
in self-defense, General Jacoby continues his edict to disarm OUR
TROOPS off base, even when on leave in Virginia!

Here is Chief Clark's LTE:

http://tinyurl.com/ffk3u [subscription required]

Arms policy is unfair

I recently learned of the policy to forbid soldiers stationed in
Alaska to carry privately owned concealed weapons off post. Alaska
law allows all citizens with an Alaska driver's license to carry a
concealed weapon without first obtaining a permit.

I understand that this policy, established in March, was in response
to several incidents involving soldiers and weapons. One incident in
particular that had a major effect involved three soldiers who killed
a civilian in self-defense. These soldiers were tried in a court of
law and acquitted ["Three soldiers cleared in fatal shooting," News
Breaks, April 3].

We are soldiers. Weapons training should be more intensive, as well
as training on the use of deadly force.

How would the above story have turned out had these soldiers not been
armed to defend themselves? We would probably have buried three
soldiers.

What a shame that the chain of command reacted in such a knee-jerk
fashion. This policy severely restricts the soldier's right to defend
himself and his family in a place where all other citizens still have
that right.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Don Clark

Fort Rucker, Ala.

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It's time to melt the Alaska frost off Major General Jacoby's
Headquarters with some VCDL fire!

How about we send Army Major General Charles Jacoby a few thousand
emails via his command's webmail at

http://www.usarak.army.mil/pao/contactpao.cfm

Suggested Message:

SUBJECT: Please support OUR TROOPS & repeal your US Army Alaska
concealed carry ban!

Dear General Jacoby:

I am very shocked that you have obliterated your troops' right to
carry concealed handguns off post when off duty. It appears that you
would rather put your troops or their families at risk of harm than
to risk your career over whether one of your soldiers might do
something foolish.

48 of the 50 states in the Union trust their citizens to carry
concealed handguns in daily life. Surely you can have the same trust
in OUR TROOPS!

America's troops deserve the right of self-defense when traveling off
base and off duty, and so I ask you to repeal your 100% ban on OUR
TROOP'S right to carry concealed handguns off post when off duty.

Please let me know what you are going to do.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME

YOUR ADDRESS