Extremism among vets needs study and prevention, lawmakers warn
By Leo Shane III
Thursday, Oct 27
White nationalist protesters clash with counterprotesters at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., on Aug. 12, 2017. (Steve Helber/AP)
Federal officials need to find new ways to study and prevent extremism among veterans before the problem becomes widespread, according to a new report released by Democratic lawmakers on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee on Thursday.
“Acknowledging the unfortunate reality that violent extremism is a small but growing threat among the U.S. veteran population does not impugn all veterans,” the report states. “Rather, ignoring the threat of veteran-involved violent extremism does a disservice to those who continue to support and defend the Constitution … following their military service.”
The report follows a series of hearings and inquiries by the committee over the last year into the issue of extremism and radicalization.
According to their findings, veterans have been involved in about 10% of all domestic terrorist plots and attacks in the last seven years. Over the last 30 years, individuals with military backgrounds killed 314 individuals and injured nearly 2,000 others in violence rooted in extremist ideology.
https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2022/10/27/extremism-among-vets-needs-study-and-prevention-lawmakers-warn/
