This is a summary of the events of this tragic terrorist attack at Fort Hood that every American should know about to understand the severity of what happened.
Table of Contents
Background Information
In late November of 2009, the Fort Hood massacre happened on U.S. soil, which resulted in the deaths of 13 people—nine soldiers and four civilian contractors. A former Army psychiatrist named Major Nidal Hassan fired more than 130 rounds, wounding 64 others-38 soldiers and 26 civilians before being killed by police.
What Actually Happened?
Nidal Hasan was born in Virginia in February of 1970 and showed early signs of being “mentally disturbed.” During his training at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he showed signs of having a personal hatred against the U.S. government—especially the military, which he viewed as a tool of control over American citizens and their liberty.
You may not know everything about the Fort Hood shooting, but that doesn’t mean you know anything at all. How much do you really know about Nidal Hasan?
Interesting facts about this tragic event
What are the 10 most interesting facts about this tragic event? Find out in this post!
1) The death toll of military personnel and civilians killed in the Fort Hood shooting is equal to that of Americans who died on September 11th–the only difference is, September 11th was a terrorist attack while these shootings were an act of domestic terrorism.
2) The Fort Hood shooting is the deadliest terrorist attack in America since September 11th and the fourth-worst act of terrorism in U.S. history. Others include the Oklahoma City bombing (168 deaths), the bombing of Pearl Harbor (2200 deaths), and the Murrah Building bombing (168 deaths).
3) The Fort Hood shooter is being treated by two U.S.-based physicians, including one who tutored him while he was in the Army.
4) The United States Government has been consistently hiding evidence from the public that shows that the Fort Hood shooter was a steadfast supporter of Islamic jihad.
5) The Fort Hood shooter is now paralyzed below the waist, raising questions as to whether he will try to commit suicide or not.
6) The Fort Hood shooter, Nidal Hasan, will be tried and convicted in civilian court and not in a military court-martial. This decision contradicts the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which states that members of the military are subject to court-martial for crimes they commit within the military. However, Nidal Hasan is now an Army civilian employee.
7) The Fort Hood shooter may still walk free if he is found guilty. This is thanks to President Barack Obama’s new law that prevents terrorists from being imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay and also prohibits them from being tried in a military court-martial.
8) The Fort Hood shooter is said to be a “devout Muslim,” but his mosque in Virginia is denying that he was very religious and also says that he kept a low profile.
9) The Fort Hood shooter once told his psychiatrist that suicide bombers were justified.
10) The Fort Hood shooter’s father showed up at the shooting scene and said, “Nidal is dead. He is dead. He is gone.” He continued, “I feel sorry for the people that have been shot,” even though his son carried out the attack. Was he telling the truth? Was he lying?
The Aftermath of Fort Hood Shooting
The 2010 Fort Hood shooting is still being closely scrutinized. After this tragedy, the U.S. military has taken steps to make sure that similar tragedies don’t happen again.
The United States Army has developed an electronic health record system that, in part, will allow soldiers and commanders to monitor psychiatric problems among troops and help them before they become uncontrollable psychiatric situations that may lead to mental breakdowns or even suicide.
In response to the shooting, the United States military has come up with a number of new training programs that address emotionally disturbed soldiers, including suicide prevention and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Army is also stepping up efforts to stop violent extremism by screening troops for ideology.
However, these programs are only piecemeal. The truth is that the Fort Hood shooting still happens and this is known to many within the military as well as in America. Things will never be 100% safe again because of terrorism.
The Fort Hood massacre is a shining example of the lack of good counter-terrorism work being done by the United States government. What happened at Fort Hood could have easily been prevented if the U.S. government took better care of its military personnel and soldiers—and that’s why this massacre is so important to learn about as it could affect our nation’s security for decades to come.
Aftermath Discussion: Gun Control
After the Fort Hood shooting, gun control debates erupted across the nation. One of the issues being discussed was whether U.S. military personnel should be allowed to carry guns while at work. The events of the Fort Hood massacre have led some to suggest that soldiers should be allowed to carry weapons in their workplace, but it doesn’t seem likely that this will happen anytime soon as there are still strong arguments against allowing them to do so.
What Are the Pros of Gun Control?
The pro-gun advocates believe that gun control does not protect civilians, but often limits the rights of law-abiding citizens. Some people will say that stricter gun laws are needed because others may have easy access to guns in the U.S., including terrorists and mentally unstable individuals. The argument is that if more people carry weapons, they can be used as a weapon against a large group of people. Therefore, more weapons and stricter gun laws can protect civilians from violent attacks.
What Are the Cons of Gun Control?
The anti-gun control people believe that guns are not the problem and that it is someone’s intent to use a weapon as a murder tool or in some other malicious manner—not the gun itself. They also argue against restricting law-abiding people’s right to own a gun.
What is life like for soldiers now that they cannot carry guns on base?
Since the shooting, all soldiers have had to leave their weapons at home. Even if they work in the motor pool and will be driving a vehicle, they can’t carry a weapon with them while they are on base. They must leave their guns at home or in their cars. The only people allowed to carry guns are military police and security officials who patrol the perimeter of Fort Hood.