Dallas, Baton Rouge Killings Stir Debate on Vets, PTSD and Gun Violence
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The killing of three police officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana over the weekend is the second high profile shooting of police officers by a military veteran in recent weeks. The Dallas gunman also had served in the military.
Service members and veterans are not as often included in the conversation over gun control, but the recent rash of shootings has some U.S. military veterans urging for new policies to prevent gun tragedies. A 2013 poll by the Global Strategy Group of military veterans found that nearly 90 percent support responsible gun ownership legislation that would include mandatory background checks, and more than half (58 percent) favor a ban on assault-style weapons.
In light of recent shootings, more military veterans are speaking up. Former CIA Director General David Petraeus, along with other retired veterans such as General Stanley McChrystal and Admiral Eric Olson, formed the Veterans Coalition for Common Sense to put their support behind responsible gun ownership.
Are those who are most experienced with guns always in the best condition to remain firearm owners after they return home from war? Here to weigh in is Chris Marvin, a retired U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter pilot. He's now principal at Marvin Strategies, a consulting firm that focuses on veteran-related initiatives.
