ICYMI: Two days before the Orlando massacre, retired Army Generals David Petraeus and Stanley McChrystal were joined by about two dozen prominent former military officers in announcing the formation of a new gun control group, the “Veterans Coalition for Common Sense.”
The group hopes to help prevent mass shootings by engaging veterans and elected officials to “close the loopholes in our background check laws that let felons, domestic abusers and the dangerously mentally ill buy guns without a criminal background check.”
According to military.com, Petraeus and McChrystal (above) are joined by a membership that includes retired Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden, who also led the National Security Agency and the Central Intelligence Agency; NASA astronaut Navy Capt. Scott Kelly, whose wife, former Rep. Gabby Giffords, was shot and seriously injured by a gunman in 2011; retired Marine Brig. Gen. Stephen Cheney; and retired U.S. Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen.
Another stated goal of the group is “strengthening existing laws and ensuring lawmakers and stakeholders have the resources and training they need to prevent gun tragedies.” The group will also partner with the veterans community on suicide prevention and mental health.
McChyrystal, who previously served as the commander of U.S. operations in Afghanistan, has said that he does not believe the public should carry military-style weapons. The statement released by the coalition on Friday said that, since 1969, more Americans have been killed by gun violence than in all U.S. wars combined.
“I believe that our Constitution affords responsible Americans the right to own guns, but we need to keep dangerous people from having easy access to guns. Felons, domestic abusers, even known terrorists can buy a gun here without something as simple as a criminal background check. This has to stop,” Gen. Cheney said. “Our laws don’t support responsible gun ownership, and far too often guns fall into the hands of dangerous, irresponsible people.”
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
