Former Marine Sounds Off On Military Base Gun Policy

By Lori Fullbright, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- There are many who believe if the soldiers at Fort Hood had been armed, the death count wouldn't be so high. One former Marine says it makes no sense to send armed troops into combat overseas but not allow them to protect themselves while on a base here at home.

Mike Seeklander is a former Marine who served in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He is also a champion marksmen and the Chief Operating Officer of the United States Shooting Academy in Tulsa. The Academy provides extensive training for military and law enforcement.

Seeklander was devastated when he saw the news out of Fort Hood and more than a little angry.

"It's extremely frustrating. These are America's warriors, well trained. Their job is to defend our nation but they can't defend themselves on their own bases," he said.

Seeklander is not advocating every person fresh out of boot camp be allowed to carry a weapon at a base or fort, but, says some could be selected and given additional training, to provide protection.

"NCO or staff NCO, which means you've been in the military 4, 5, 6, 7 years, vetted, very well trained, a leader, why not let those go armed?" he said.

Seeklander says history shows us the only way to stop an active shooter is to have someone well armed and well trained, ready to respond. In fact, he points to the civilian police officer who did stop the shooter at Fort Hood as an example.

He says the decision to have bases unarmed was a reaction to firearms accidents, but it has made our bases vulnerable to attack.

"If this was a terrorist attack - and we don't know at this point and time - what are you going to attack? Go to a military installation and shoot em up, if I know that the American military are unarmed, duh," said Mike Seeklander, a former Marine and CEO of the United States Shooting Academy in Tulsa.

Seeklander says he hopes the military's reaction now isn't to build taller fences, add barricades or get additional laws passed.  He says shooters will bypass security measures, and anyone willing to murder obviously doesn't care about laws.

The former Marine hopes the military instead will allow its own people to fight back.