Iraq War vet brings AK-47 to 7-11

[SoonerCoug]

Commits murder in alley.

Maybe this should be in the current events section instead of politics, but the NY Times is thought by many to have a political agenda.

Interesting to consider the hidden price of war on ex-soldiers.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/13/us...pagewanted=all

“Matthew knew he shouldn’t be taking his AK-47 to the 7-Eleven,” Detective Laura Andersen said, “but he was scared to death in that neighborhood, he was military trained and, in his mind, he needed the weapon to protect himself.”

[UtahDan]

Originally Posted by SoonerCoug

Commits murder in alley.

Maybe this should be in the current events section instead of politics, but the NY Times is thought by many to have a political agenda.

Interesting to consider the hidden price of war on ex-soldiers.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/13/us...pagewanted=all

“Matthew knew he shouldn’t be taking his AK-47 to the 7-Eleven,” Detective Laura Andersen said, “but he was scared to death in that neighborhood, he was military trained and, in his mind, he needed the weapon to protect himself.”

Soldiers and society pay a massive price in what war does to people and it should never be overlooked. EVERYONE should go rent "In the Valley of Elah" which came out last year and is about exactly this.

It is not a argument for pacifism, but rather for properly caring for our veterans.

[MikeWaters]

Matthew Sepi did not "commit murder".

At least not in the eyes of the law.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Sepi

Who has the agenda? You or the NY Times?

[BigFatMeanie]

War does have a terrible cost; however, Powerline thoroughly debunked the notion that Iraq or Afghan vets commit homicide at a rate higher than the general population.

That being said, the stories are indeed poignant on an individual level.

[SoonerCoug]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

Matthew Sepi did not "commit murder".

At least not in the eyes of the law.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Sepi

Who has the agenda? You or the NY Times?

OK, he shot and killed a guy and injured another because they had guns on them and he was scared. I thought it sounded like murder. I don't have an agenda. I just thought it was an interesting story.

I also thought it was interesting that many of the 100-something murders by vets are vehicular homicides. I wouldn't think that kind of crime would be the result of war experience, unless the vet is drinking because of PTSD.

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by SoonerCoug

OK, he shot and killed a guy and injured another because they had guns on them and he was scared. I thought it sounded like murder. I don't have an agenda. I just thought it was an interesting story.

I also thought it was interesting that many of the 100-something murders by vets are vehicular homicides. I wouldn't think that kind of crime would be the result of war experience, unless the vet is drinking because of PTSD.

Go back and read again. There are two accounts. One in which the veteran fires after being fired upon, and one where the veteran fires first and one of the others fires back.

You seem to conveniently neglect to mention that he was fired upon.

Is the accuracy of this account about the same amount of accuracy in the personal stories you tell?

[SoonerCoug]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

Go back and read again. There are two accounts. One in which the veteran fires after being fired upon, and one where the veteran fires first and one of the others fires back.

You seem to conveniently neglect to mention that he was fired upon.

Is the accuracy of this account about the same amount of accuracy in the personal stories you tell?

I wasn't trying to say anything about the 2nd amendment, MW. I was just commenting on the general idea of how PTSD affects soldiers. Relax. I won't try to take your gun away. You can defend yourself as much as you want. I realize that the world is very dangerous, and having guns makes us safer. More guns=safer. Right?

[MikeWaters]

You have consistently mischaracterized what happened. Whatever your motives are, maybe you can enlighten us. I don't know what they are.

[SoonerCoug]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

You have consistently mischaracterized what happened. Whatever your motives are, maybe you can enlighten us. I don't know what they are.

I scanned the story, and I didn't pay close attention to the details of how things panned out in that particular case. Sorry I said he committed murder. He killed a guy, and it may or may not have been in self-defense. The whole AK-47 thing makes me a little suspicious, though.

You'll notice that I also pointed out that the NY Times was including vehicular homicide in their count, and I didn't think they were being fair with their argument. Like BFM said, I guess vets aren't more likely to commit violent crime than regular people.

[UtahDan]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

You have consistently mischaracterized what happened. Whatever your motives are, maybe you can enlighten us. I don't know what they are.

Cura te ipsum.