Crime surge among veterans suggest some didn't leave horrors behind

There is a report on the Fayetteville Observer, When war comes home: Crime surge among veterans suggest some didn't leave horrors behind focusing on crimes committed by veterans. Is it true? Yes, sadly it is very true. Most of the reports can be read on this blog. While it is also true most of these veterans had never been in any trouble before combat, there is something missing in the reports. The increase in crimes committed by veterans could be more about more combat veterans now than anything else. More veterans, more of them to commit crimes. Still the numbers are low compared to how many have come home from Iraq and Afghanistan. It seems like a bigger issue than it is because we're talking about people willing to die for the sake of someone else turning around and suddenly accused of committing harm to someone else. While we read about civilians committing crimes on a daily basis, when it is a veteran, it makes the headlines. Veterans are rare and veterans committing crimes are even more rare.

We cannot dismiss the growing need to help them heal after combat or the fact there are special circumstances when they face a judge or law enforcement. They deserve no less. Their victims deserved to not have it happen in the first place but justice demands all the facts are reviewed and considered when deciding what to do with them afterwards.

In a way, the media reporting on what happens when they don't get the help they need to heal is a good thing. It just would be really nice if when they do write an article like this, they mention how few out of the over 2 million end up facing criminal charges.