John T. Reed’s news blog

There were 1,000 people in the Bataclan theater in Paris when the terrorists came in. Paris has strict gun-control laws of the kind America liberals say would prevent mass shootings.In the U.S., 5.2% of the population has a concealed-carry permit. I do not know if that includes off-duty police who also have guns and permission to carry and are encouraged to carry when off duty.Do the math. If terrorists tried that in a U.S. theater containing 1,000 people, 52 of them would have loaded guns on their person. In seven states, no permit is needed. Anyone who wants can carry...

Regarding a wall on the Mexican border All Republican candidates are in favor of a wall. During my active-duty Army days, one of the best practices or required practices on perimeter defense was that although inanimate devices like berms, Claymore mines, contact mines, trip wire mines, and concertina wire, were useful and good to have, the core of all perimeter defense was human, armed guards observing every inch of the perimeter 24 hours a day. The inanimate things were only to be used as supplements to the human sentinels.All this talk of a wall is just putting our nation of...

In response to Ben Carson’s claiming he was offered a scholarship to West Point, I said that people who did not receive an appointment to West Point claiming that they could have gone there is surprisingly common. I have encountered such people about ten times since I graduated from West Point. It typically goes like this. I’m at a backyard barbecue with friends and acquaintances. A man I do not know says, “My wife says you went to West Point.” “Yup. Misspent youth.” “I could have gone there. Turned it down.” “Who nominated you?” “What do you mean? “The first...

Resembles a scholarship West Point cadets do not pay cash out of pocket or incur dollar-denominated loans to attend West Point. That resembles a scholarship. On occasion when discussing the Army football team, I have said they have 3,800 guys on scholarship. But that was athletic shorthand.But getting away from that shorthand, there are vast differences between the West Point deal and a scholarship. West Point is not a grant A scholarship is simply a grant, a gift contingent only on your remaining in the degree-program in question and maintaining passing grades. To collect your education benefits at West Point,...

I recently said Trump’s trade policy was essentially the same as the 1930 Smoot-Hawley Tariff which caused the Great Depression—the New Deal and the Fed prolonged it.  In their 11/4/15 issue, the Wall Street Journal had an op-ed by George Melloan, author of a book on the Great Depression. He said the same. The title is “Donald Trump, Meet Herbert Hoover.” Google the title to read it online. Sample quote: “…if [Trump] is taken at his word, he is one of the most ardent opponents of free trade ever to seek high office in the U.S.” A trade war of...