When the Gun Is Worn in Uniform: Why Transparency Matters in Military Incidents

A grandfather is asking for something that sounds simple but isn't always given: the truth. Evaniel Johnson wants to see the video of the moment Tennessee National Guard troops fatally shot his grandson over the weekend. "Show me the video," he told the Associated Press. "Please show me that, and then I'm OK. Until you show me that, I'm gonna fight and advocate for my grandson."

This is where military policy and civilian accountability collide. The National Guard is unique in American law: it operates under both state and federal authority depending on how it's activated. When it uses force, the public deserves to know why. When families lose someone, they deserve answers. Right now, the process is murky enough that a grandfather has to demand what should be automatic: evidence.

Why This Matters

This isn't about second-guessing split-second decisions in dangerous situations. It's about the system that comes after. Military personnel, like all public servants with guns, need clear rules of engagement, proper training, and real accountability when things go wrong. Transparency is how we know those standards are being met.

The Common Good Party believes in gun policy grounded in evidence, and that includes guns carried by people in uniform. We also believe that veterans and service members deserve a system that protects both them and the communities they serve. That system only works if it's transparent.

Right now, military incidents involving civilians often move through military justice channels first, which can delay or limit public access to information. Families are left waiting, guessing, and fighting for basic answers.

The Accountability Gap

When a civilian police officer uses lethal force, there's typically body camera footage, an investigation, and public records requests that can surface evidence. Military shootings involving civilians are different. The chain of command handles it first. Transparency can take months or never materialize at all.

This isn't fair to anyone. It leaves service members operating under rules the public can't see. It leaves families in the dark. And it erodes trust in the institutions we've asked to protect us.

See the full reporting at The Hill.