Nearly One In Five Defendants In Capitol Riot Cases Served In The Military

[Nevilledog]

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Tweet text:
John FitzGerald
@TheTweetOfJohn
Of more than 140 charged so far, a review of military records, social media accounts, court documents and news reports indicate at least 27 of those charged, or nearly 20 percent, have served or are currently serving in the U.S. military.

Nearly One In Five Defendants In Capitol Riot Cases Served In The Military
Amid rising concern over domestic extremism, an NPR analysis found military veterans were overrepresented in those charged in the attack on the U.S. Capitol, when compared to the general population.
npr.org

https://www.npr.org/2021/01/21/958915267/nearly-one-in-five-defendants-in-capitol-riot-cases-served-in-the-military

[tblue37]

1. They need to quit mainlining Limbaugh by way of Armed Forces Radio.

[DURHAM D]

2. Just think about who the military has been targeting for recruitment for the

past 20 plus years.

[JonLP24]

3. The far right recruits the veterans after they get out

Veterans, former police officers, and first responders are highly valued members of their groups.

The military is mostly interested in recruiting someone young & healthy enough to join.

[DURHAM D]

4. They have been targeting gang members for decades.

[underpants]

5. I'm not surprised by that

The Air Force guy’s nickname was Torch - he dropped ordinance early and set a range on fire at the Academy

[Wounded Bear]

6. Anybody who's been in the military already has their IDs on the books...

makes them easier to round up.

[ProfessorGAC]

7. While That's A Concern...

...remember there are nearly 20.5 million veterans. That's around 15%.
These 27 out of 140 represents 19.3%.
Not sure we can statistically extrapolate to a conclusion that this number is meaningful.
I share the concern about radicals in the military, but not sure these data suggest anything big.

[SWBTATTReg]

8. Perhaps the high rate of those signing up from rural areas of America, being that there are,

oftentimes, no jobs available in their rural communities. So the ratio would be somewhat higher, being that a higher % of them were in the service, would get caught in this riot, I wonder if the military services can punish those participating in the riot?

[Klaralven]

9. Military service is a high point in many men's lives

After which they come home, get a job, get married, have kids, get divorced, lose job....

And joining a militia gives them a way to relive the high point in their lives and find comradeship with others in the same situation. Joining a born-again evangelical church also gives them a new meaning in their lives.

Lots of them seem to be in the 40 to 60 year-old range, so mid-life crisis.

[BlueNIndiana]

10. Putting on a uniform doesn't always change your point of view.

During my time in the service I knew plenty of racist people, they may not outwardly project it but being a "white male" myself I heard plenty of conversations and comments, when it was "just us" in a room, etc.

I did also know some, black individuals who blamed hardship and punishment on racism, when in fact it was just misconduct that would meet out punishment. I did not see any minorities singled out or punished more severely than whites, in fact in some ways they had a little more wiggle room on hair styles and other things then their white counterparts.

On the ship for example on the mess decks (dining hall) most people separated by race. I wasn't there was over racism, it primarily had to do with cultural differences such as music and other interests.

The military might be the first place many rural white Americans have ever interreacted with people of different backgrounds to any large extent and live with them.

I learned the military that its what is inside that counts, I knew plenty of black service members whom I would place my life in their hands and some white ones that I would not trust to guard toilet paper.

The military does make some change their point of view for the better some it just hardens their negative distorted beliefs.

Putting on a uniform doesn't make you a hero in my eyes, it does not grant you special privilege's to be above the law or treat people badly. I don't care if you received the congressional medal of honor, you still have to adhere to society's rules.