Thanks for your comments.

After months of research and consultation, it became clear we were going to be unable to compare the rate to the civilian population for many reasons. But one thing to keep in mind is that everyone who enters the military is screened and must undergo a battery of tests. The military allows in only a tiny fraction of felons. Civilians are not screened, and most murder are committed by felons with prior criminal histories.

Your comments on Sepi are interesting, and I think you are right as to why prosecutors and police were sympathetic to him. We chose to let the story of Mr. Sepi and his crime speak for itself. Many of these men who come back and kill are, in fact, very different from civilians who kill and that is a factor in the thinking of many people who deal with the aftermath.

Sincerely,

Lizette

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My letter to Lizette-

Regarding- Across America, Deadly Echoes of Foreign Battles First off can you pls put the numbers in perspective? How does the MURDER RATE for Vets (I’m not a Vet) compare with non-Vets? Can you pls follow up with this info because it appears to me that the stats you present are skewed to make it appear as though Veterans are committing violent crimes at a higher rate than the general populace, which I doubt. Skewed statistics aside, the example character- Sepi should be commended for taking out an armed Gang-banger. This, in my opinion was self defense. I suspect, the only reason he was charged was because he was carrying an unlicensed weapon (the charge was not mentioned in the article). Granted, an AK47 is overkill, but what if it were some non vet defending him/herself with a pistol? Would it be seen as an act of violence or self defense? I see nothing wrong with what Sepi did. Aware of his surroundings, he armed and defended himself with what was probably the only weapon he had available. Perhaps gang members will think twice before threatening someone.

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I’m disappointed in her response regarding the Civilian statistics. With respect to the testing folks in the military are subjected to, Peace officers also go through a stringent battery of tests and those tests aren’t 100% accurate at finding deviants char traits. With respect to her point about murder committed by felons, this is a straw man. Many murders are committed by civilians with no criminal history and I’ll bet with some research those stats are available.

Regarding Sepi- In the context of the article, he’s presented as an example of a vet out of control- A “Rambo” unable to adjust and fit into society after taking part in a war.

Sad.

Skewed statistics aside, the example character- Sepi should be commended for taking out an armed Gang-banger. This, in my opinion was self defense. I suspect, the only reason he was charged was because he was carrying an unlicensed weapon (the charge was not in the article). Granted, an AK47 is overkill, but what if it were some non vet defending him/herself with a pistol? Would it be seen as an act of violence or self defense?

I see nothing wrong with what Sepi did. Aware of his surroundings, he armed and defended himself with what was probably the only weapon he had available.

Perhaps gang members will think twice before threatening someone.

AP
-The 121 killings ranged from shootings and stabbings to bathtub drownings and fatal car crashes resulting from drunken driving, the newspaper said. All but one of those implicated was male.

The New York Times is a despicable trash rag that will soon be out of business. But I do hope they keep printing this crap it makes me money.

6 month range NYT 26 in June 07, 15.63 on Jan 9th
That is a drop of about 40%.

Full Disclosure: I have shorted this stock for over two years. I bought my wife diamond studs this Christmas with some of the profits. I do not hold a short position for very long. Do your own diligence don’t listen to me.