USAF Security Forces take down dove hunters

Dove hunters proned out on private land adjacent to Goodfellow AFB. Would like to hear the Air Force side of the story.

USAF guards detain dove hunters on private property

I'd also like to hear the other side of the story. Seems like, if it's that close to the base, they might have tried to give a heads up to the base or something. Or start hunting from a different direction. I don't know. Might not be any winners in this situation.

If they had an issue with the hunters, show up and talk about it. But putting law abiding citizens on the ground is uncalled for.

They have a fence that clearly separates military from private land. What happened was bs especially since they had just had a meeting with them that morning including the media talking about how important hunting was to the economy in that area.

Imagine your anger/surprise if a game warden had you laying prone on private property on an anthill and released you 30 minutes later without a warning or ticket.
That's fully denying someone due process.
Unless something comes out that the hunters were peppering buildings or vehicles on the base, this is really, really bad.

I get it. A bunch of white males carrying weapons in military-type clothing in close proximity to a military installation is a threat to security. - I should write headlines for CNN.


If you don't think our hunting heritage is at risk, think again.

could you imagine laying on asphalt for 30 minutes in 100 degree heat and not allowed to move.

I wonder how many of the base security boys were Texans.

Probably had some overzealous LT thinking west central Texas was the grounds of the next Islamic Tet Offensive performed by a sleeper cell of redneck imposters.

Even worse, could you imagine being the land owner? He was one of the hunters that was proned out!

I would be pounding on the door of the base CO's office.

30 minutes to figure out that they were dove hunters? Thought maybe the shotguns, dove ammo and older gentlemen dressed in camo may have helped expedite that conclusion.

Well, when I was in the USAF, the Security Forces weren't always the smart ones!

They need to do that when "hunters" refuse to pick up hulls. Let them taste the gravel

The base commander should have his but kicked!

That would be the duty officer not BC.

I image they are on a interesting higher alert level..

Unfortunate incident

These are not peaceful times and the Military does not take anything for granted. I wonder how close they were to the fence and if anyone shot across the fence?

It doesnt matter how close they were to the fence, what matters is what side they were on.

"Security forces" are a joke. Those guys freak out over the smallest warrants on base and treat the people like crap. Hope they get all they have coming to them. It's private land, they had no right to do that to those hunters.

Not disagreeing on that... Seemed a little over the top.

When does the air force have the right to enter private land?

As stated how close to the fence doesn't matter, but shooting over the fence is indeed an issue. But no warnings or tickets were issued, makes me think these guys were an okay group of hunters.

Texas hammer on his way

I just bought a place that is next to Dyess AFB in Abilene. We have been hunting there this season with no issues. If this happened to me and my buddies I would be livid. I would be knocking on someones door demanding an explanation and apology. I have lived next to the base for several years, and I will say that they don't respect private landowners like they should. They are constantly trying to get the city to pass regulations controlling what can be done on our property. It seems like private property rights do not matter to the government any more.

Want to end this rant by saying I have the utmost respect for our military personnel and what they do for us. They put their lives on the line to give us the freedoms that we have. I just wish that the bureaucratic side of the government would realize they have been fighting for exactly what they take away from us sometimes.

Did anyone else watch the skeet shooting carp video on the bottom of the page? Best combination of stupidity and awesomeness I've seen in awhile

A different news release... "17th Training Wing Security Forces responded to a report of six men armed with weapons at the base perimeter fence at 4:20 p.m. and temporarily detained the individuals, according to a news release from GAFB.

The group was promptly released once it was determined they were hunting near the base and not a threat to the installation, according to the release."

Walk along the fence of any security area, and you draw attention. It took Local Authorities 29-30 minutes to respond. If someone was outside the back fence of your house, what would you do? Assume it's OK because they are not on your property? Just saying...

The SPs have no jurisdiction over civilians off of government property. They are not FLEOs. In fact Posse Comitatus specfically forbids the military from enforcing civilian laws except in very specific circumstances:

The Posse Comitatus Act prohibits the use of federal military personnel to "execute the laws"; however, there is disagreement over whether this language may apply to troops used in an advisory, support, disaster response, or other homeland defense role, as opposed to domestic law enforcement.

On March 10, 2009, active duty U.S. Army Military Police troops from Fort Rucker were deployed to Samson, Alabama, in response to a murder spree. Samson officials confirmed that the soldiers assisted in traffic control and securing the crime scene. The governor of Alabama did not request military assistance nor did President Obama authorize their deployment. Subsequent investigation found that the Posse Comitatus Act was violated and several military members received "administrative actions".

The SPs involved, their supervisor and the base commander should be investigated and held responsible for their actions if they are found to be improper.

The terrorists are winning. Paranoia thrives.

The long holiday weekend will allow time for this to fester the SHTF on Tuesday. The armed Security Forces have no business outside the security perimeter on private land.

Best post on this thread and probably the whole forum for the week.

outside their area so it is very grey area at best and illegal at worst. From 4 generations of Navy. That being said if they are trespassing on your property and yet they are the ones holding guns on you..... kinda odd and also the tables could be turned in favor of the land owner holding a gun on the military for being on his land uninvited. Just my thoughts. I know a lot of great MP and a few very irrational MP.

I do know that where the fence is on most installations is not the property line. They put the fence back so that if someone was acting a fool or trying to breach the fence, the MP/SP are still on federal property when they go out to do whatever needs to be done. Now this isn't necessarily the case on every inch of the fence but for the most part its accurate.

I do know what happened though.
Airmen: hey sergeant, I see some guys over there with guns.
Duty NCO: falls backwards out of his chair because he was dead asleep. "Holy crap! I'm one bullet short on my EPR, Call backup, lets go get me that firewall 5"

I know bad Air Force joke. A few of y'all will get it

When I was in charleston, the base had an agreement with the local LE and would often patrol outside the base by the perimeter. And as previously mentioned, the fence is not the line for the base. In Eglin Florida, the base property is all over and people don't even know it. They even own a huge section of beach. Not thrilled about what happened, but don't assume we know all the facts or where the property line actually was. It would be a safe bet that the property was indeed federal and the fence line was not the physical marker.

Regardless, this situation sucks for all parties involved.

Considering the property owner was one of the ones that they put face down... I'm pretty sure he knew where his property line is.

Pretty sure this wasn't the first time that property has been hunted.

Those fields are hunted on a yearly basis like clockwork, unless somebody shot OVER the fence this is a bunch of bs

I know I have an unpopular opinion around here on these topics. I fully support all current troops and veterans. They deserve all benefits they were promised. Here's my solution. Make the military application process extremely selective to get the best and brightest. Cut the military by 80% or even more.

Still have the most powerful military in the world. Don't screw up other people's countries and make enemies. Don't subsidize a military-industrial complex. Spend the money on education and infrastructure on US soil.

Wow! Glad my son didn't choose to be "educated" at UTA.

If you check your history, you will find that the US policy of isolationism did not work and we still ended up in World War I and World War II. Reducing the US military's strength by 80% would be suicide on a national level.