Army tightens weapons policy

A new U.S. Army Alaska policy penned this week forbids soldiers from carrying privately owned concealed weapons in public, despite being stationed in a state with one of the most liberal concealed weapons laws in the country.

The move, officials said, is in response to several incidents involving soldiers and their personal concealed weapons.

"In the last six to eight months, there has been a number of incidents involving soldiers and privately-owned concealed weapons that indicated a need to look at this policy," said Maj. Kirk Gohlke, U.S. Army Alaska public affairs officer.

Gohlke noted the trial of three Fort Wainwright soldiers currently unfolding in court. A jury is deliberating the fate of Lionel Wright, Freddy Walker and Christopher Cox, who are on trial for the August death of Alvin "Snoop" Wilkins. The three soldiers claim self defense in brandishing personal weapons during a confrontation that killed Wilkins.

Gohlke said there have been seven other instances involving U.S. Army Alaska soldiers and personal concealed weapons in Fairbanks and Anchorage although he couldn't comment on specifics.

According to the new policy, "Soldiers who fail to comply are subject to adverse administrative action or punishment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice or both."

U.S. Army Alaska also prohibits anyone--military or civilian--from having or transporting a concealed weapon at any time on a USARAK installation, a policy that has been in place for some time.

But Alaska law is much less restrictive. Gov. Frank Murkowski in 2003 signed into law a bill that allowed citizens to carry a concealed handgun in public without a permit.

Included in the 2003 law is that local governments cannot change the state gun law to be more open or more restrictive, but the U.S. Army Alaska can enforce policies more restrictive than state law.

Local firearms instructor Joe Nava said there are still benefits of getting a concealed firearm permit, although the state doesn't require it.

Those that acquire a permit are eligible to buy a gun from a dealer without a background check, are allowed to carry a concealed weapon in 29 other states and are entered into the police computing system as a permit holder.

But while Nava encourages permitting, he doesn't agree with the Army's policy. He said it's a right given under the U.S. Constitution and state law for soldiers, like any citizen or resident of the state, to have and carry personal weapons.

"The military is taking away (soldiers') ability to protect themselves off base and that's not right," Nava said.

But Gohlke said the policy is specific only to concealed weapons and does not affect weapons for recreation and hunting.

The policy is meant to create a safer environment for soldiers and communities, not to infringe on personal rights.

"Our interest here is simply to protect the health and welfare of soldiers and promote good order and discipline," Gohlke said. "The intent is not to restrict soldiers' rights."

Staff writer Margaret Friedenauer can be reached at 459-7545 or by e-mail at mfriedenauer@newsminer.com .

After driving away from the club parking lot, the dispute escalated when Wilkins and friend Joel Bruney confronted the three men near 25th Avenue. Shots were fired, Wilkins was hit, and Bruney took him to the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital emergency room, where he was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

By that time, Walker, Cox and Wright had been detained at the Fort Wainwright main gate as they entered the post.

Crail told the jury to expect testimony that would support the claim that the three defendants were unprovoked in the shooting death of Wilkins. She displayed three firearms found in the soldiers' vehicle when they were stopped at the Army post; a 12-gauge shotgun, an AK-47 and a .40-caliber handgun. Crail said she could show that all three defendants had fired their weapons, while Wilkins, who she said had an unloaded shotgun, never fired during the altercation on 25th Avenue.

But Carney said it was Wilkins who was looking for a fight and emphasized her point by playing an explicit recording of Wilkin's music to the jury that specifically named "Ground Up."

The lyrics included lines like, "We'll lay you down and teach you homage" and "We'll put you six feet underground."

Carney went on to say the three defendants were simply enjoying a night out on the last weekend before their deployment to Iraq with the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. The firearms found in the soldier's car had been used earlier that day for target shooting at the South Cushman shooting range.

Carney said the altercation began when Wilkins reportedly reached inside the car occupied by Cox and Walker, grabbed a bandana and set it on fire. She said the soldiers drove off from the club but were followed by Wilkins and Bruney to the area of 25th Avenue, at which point the shooting occurred.

"The state would like you to believe they, by defending themselves, that there was some illegal use of a weapon," Carney said.

Carney and attorney Geoffry Wildridge, representing Wright, said they would show that Wilkins threatened the soldiers and put them in fear of their lives to the point that the soldiers felt they had to defend themselves.

"They didn't expect Fairbanks to turn into Baghdad," Wildridge said. "They had every reason to believe they were going to be killed."

The prosecution presented several witnesses who were in the area of the shooting in August. Each testified to hearing shots that night. Some said they heard shotgun rounds and pistol rounds, and others said they could not specify what kind of firearms they heard.

The trial continues today and is expected to take several days.

http://www.news-miner.com/Stories/0,1413,113%257E7244%257E3258038,00.html

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