Former SEAL sniper Chris Kyle was murdered at a gun range near Glen Rose, Texas on Saturday. Fellow vet Eddie Ray Routh has been arraigned in Kyle’s death and that of a second veteran murdered at the range, Chad Littlefield.
Routh apparently suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Kyle and Littlefield were trying to help Routh deal with his PTSD. The motive in the killings remains unclear. That did not stop former Rep. Ron Paul from popping off about it on Twitter.
Chris Kyle’s death seems to confirm that “he who lives by the sword dies by the sword.” Treating PTSD at a firing range doesn’t make sense
— Ron Paul (@RonPaul) February 4, 2013
By that reasoning, everyone who ever served in the US military deserves to be shot to death. That would include Paul himself, who served in the United States Air Force.
Paul is a medical doctor, but he is not a psychiatrist. He is a gynecologist. He is also a crazy old coot.
So much for the hope that Ron Paul would gallop off into the sunset, never to be heard from again.
That was certainly Rand’s hope – mine too.
I don’t think I would call that a smear, but, on the other hand, I wouldn’t call being a member of the Air Force as a flight surgeon, 1963-65, and the Air National Guard, 65-68, serving in the military.
As someone who served in both the Army and Air Force, I can attest that the Air Force is a great alternative to military service.
So Ron Paul will die from… I don’t know, dementia maybe.
I don’t think anyone knows really what sets off a PTSD episode. Being on a gun range, where the noise and firing are expected probably wouldn’t whereas a car backfire, or a firecracker set off near the Vet might. Even a word or a phrase or even a smell, not something someone would think of, might. After a year in Vietnam, even though I had been in a “safe” job and not exposed to constant fighting, a loud noise like a backfire would have me heading for the ground without thinking about it wondering why my rifle wasn’t hanging at my side like it should have been.
As Don said above, I doubt Ron Paul even met anyone that could be diagnosed with PTSD during or after his time in the Air Force. It’s not his specialty and he should not even be trying to give an opinion about it. I agree, he is a crazy old coot!
When Soledad Obrian asked Ron Paul about one of his twitter comments when he was running for president, he revealed that he does not manage his twitter account. He probably still does not. On the other hand, this seems similar to his comments implying that the U.S. deserved 9/11. The phrase, He Who Lives by the Sword, Dies by the Sword, is typically applied to violent criminals (think Bonnie and Clyde). It really makes no sense in a case like this. It’s more evidence that we need stronger involuntary commitment laws.
Today the WFB reported that he does control his own Twitter feed now.
It’s a sad event and I think the part about life and death by the sword is out of place. But I’m sure a lot of people are wondering if trying to treating PTSD at a gun range was really such a smart thing to do? One of the symptoms of PTSD is violent outbursts right?
Aside from his opposition to the Federal Reserve and high taxes, I never understood how he could have so many supporters.
“He is also a crazy old coot.”
That’s an insult to old coots everywhere.
“By that reasoning, everyone who ever served in the US military deserves to be shot to death. That would include Paul himself, who served in the United States Air Force.” …….where do you get that? It doesn’t make sense to bring someone having psychological problems to a gun range no matter how you slice it, you can’t keep on killing your own defense from gun grabbers by defending a foolish mistake. Our whole argument hinges on the ability to keep the unhinged from access.
No, our defense depends only on our having in law as well as in fact, the right to defend our lives and liberty with effective tools like firearms.
That the unhinged should be kept from them is a different argument that should also be made.
The trouble is it’s not, it is central to the argument!
The trouble is it’s not, it is central to the argument
And so Ron Paul, re-re-re-confirms how vilely unsuited to the Oval Office he is.