WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following two incidents this month where veterans of the armed services murdered police officers, Republican presidential candidate Donald J. Trump and GOP congressional leaders are putting heavy pressure on ordinary military people to condemn the actions of radicalized veterans, according to several statements released by representatives.
"Why is no one willing to use the phrase 'radical veteranism?'" asked Frank Guinta (R-NH) at a speech in Portsmouth. "Why is it so hard for us to tell it like it is?”
“These people are dangerous, they prescribe a specific ideology, and they're in our country,” he continued. “Military leaders and ordinary troops need to stand up and condemn these actions. Are they on our side or not?"
Within the last two weeks, Gavin Long, a veteran of the US Marines, and Micah Xavier Johnson, a veteran of the US Army, ambushed and killed several police officers in Baton Rouge and Dallas, respectively. In the wake of these attacks, widespread concern over the presence of veterans inside the country has broken out.
