To help combat suicide in the military, leaders would like greater leeway in talking to a servicemember about it and whether they personally own a firearm. Standing in their way, is a new law backed by the National Rifle Association that is frustrating things.

Some U.S. military commanders are at odds with the National Rifle Association over a relatively new law that bars them from talking to a servicemember about their personal firearms if the individual lives off base, according to a Christian Science Monitor article.

The NRA-backed law, which went into effect in early 2011, includes language that prohibits them from talking to their charges about weapons and safety, particularly when they live off base. The article relied heavily on Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, the Army's former vice chief of staff.

Chiarelli's concerns about firearms in this case center entirely on preventing suicides, which have risen sharply. So far this year, more than 200 military personnel are believed to have committed suicide, according to the Pentagon. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta called it an "epidemic" when he met with Congress this week.

Source: Christian Science Monitor
        

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