Why is it illegal for medics to carry a weapon?

promethius9594

We don't carry or issue Colt .45's. The only thing issued is the M-9. You are NOT authorized to bring your own weapon on deployment, especially since the military could not stock ammo or parts for it, nor could they replace parts on a personal firearm. In other words, bringing your own weapon violates the law. That being said, the .45 does NOT have higher penetration power, it has higher STOPPING power. The whole reason for the switch to the 1911 in WWII was to decrease the penetration and increase the stopping power.

All that aside, it is not illegal for a combat medic to carry a weapon. When you do choose to carry a weapon, however, you lose your status as a non-combatant... meaning that our enemies would legally be able to fire on you. But then again, they're going to shoot at you anyway (terrorists don't exactly care about geneva protections), so you might as well carry something to shoot back with.

EDIT: To correct what was mentioned below, the Army DOES issue M-16s or other rifles to their field medics, and the Navy does the same with their Seabees who go out with the Marines. The Air Force however, does not issue an M-16 to it's medical personnel (that much is true)

smtfs2113

Surgeons don't carry weapons because they don't see any combat. I think you are talking about being a Navy Corpsman. they serve in the front lines with the Marines, so of course they carry weapons. Also, no soldier in the US carries a Colt .45

Why would you bring your own weapon into the Military? You obviously are not qualified to have the responsibility of saving men's lives under stress.

DOOM

It's not, but a surgeon is not a medic.

MP US Army

It's not, Next question

Medics carry weapons for personal defense, a rifle or handgun.

RemembertheUtah

It is NOT illegal for medics to carry a gun. The only ones who are forbidden carrying or using a gun are chaplains.
(And in Vietnam many carried a gun anyway.)

Medics can carry small arms to defend themselves and their patients. However if the enemy walks up to you without shooting and declares they are taking you as a detainee you have to hand the gun over to them. You can only return fire when fired upon.

You can not bring your own gun so do not even try. If they feel you need a gun they will issue you a gun. If the current issue gun is a 9 mm that is what you will get. Ain't no way they are going to give a doctor/officer/non-combatant an M16 or other type of rifle.

DietrichVonQuint

I think you are thinking of the Geneva conventions. That being said, I have seen plenty of medics and docs carrying some protection.

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