Editor,
Some military veterans are being treated lightly for committing crimes stateside, on the excuse that they have PTSD or this of that from war, with mainstream society sighing, “It is easy to understand why he just flashed back and freaked out and did what he did.”
Specifically, the police have a tendency to hold back on arresting when called to investigate, when they learn the perp is a vet, and judges are showing hesitation when needing to convict as per sentencing guidelines, often preferring rehab. What makes a punishment to fit the crime even less likely is that so many in street-level law enforcement are themselves vets, their numbers growing with all these tens of thousands of returning military.
Where is this leading? To where all vets are elevated even more by our needlessly warrior nation to such a high and untouchable status as “true heroes” that they all enjoy effective immunity all the way from racist intimidation and harassment to domestic violence up to trigger-happy killings committed with that same old military mentality as part of a totally militarized police camped throughout the nation?
Sincerely,
Arun Anand Ahuja
UNM student
