INQUISITR.COM / News & Politics

SEAL Chris Kyle Attacked By Ron Paul On Twitter

By Wolff Bachner
Published on: 08:20 PST, Feb 4, 2013

Former Republican Presidential hopeful Ron Paul shocked and offended many Americans today with his comments on Twitter about murdered Navy SEAL and war hero, Chris Kyle. Paul posted a tweet that read in part, “Chris Kyle’s death seems to confirm that “he who lives by the sword dies by the sword.”

Kyle,38, was shot in the back on Sunday at a shooting range in Erath County, Texas. Chad Littlefield, 35, a friend and neighbor of Mr. Kyle was also killed in the attack. The police arrested, Eddie Routh, 25, at his home several hours after the bodies were discovered and charged him with capital murder. Routh has received numerous death threats and he is being held on suicide watch.

Chris Kyle was known far and wide as the greatest sniper in American military history. During four tours of duty in Iraq, Kyle recorded 255 sniper kills, 160 of which were officially confirmed by the Pentagon. Kyle fought in every major battle of Operation Iraqi Freedom. and he was shot twice and injured in six separate bomb blasts. For his valor, Kyle was awarded two Silver Stars and 5 Bronze Stars.

After returning to America and retiring from the Navy in 2009, Kyle began a successful Security Company and established a foundation to help veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In 2012, Kyle wrote a best selling autobiography, American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History.

Although Kyle had a business to run, plus a wife and two kids, he dedicated much of his free time to helping troubled vets. Erath County Sheriff Bryant told reporters it was not unusual for Kyle to take vets he was helping on outings to the shooting range:

“This shooter is possibly one of those people that he had taken out to the range, to mentor, to visit with, to help him.”

While it may sound highly unusual to take a man suffering from PTSD to a shooting range, experienced military veterans have said that Ron Paul is way off base with his remarks. Kyle believed by taking someone suffering from PTSD to the range, they could use familiar skills while bonding with guys who had also experienced the horrors of war.

Kyle’s friend and former SEAL Rorke Denver agreed with the concept:

“While it sounds backwards, I actually think time on the range and using those skill sets in a controlled and safe environment could be a huge benefit to veterans.”

Former U.S. Army Ranger Sean Parnell spoke about Chris Kyle and his work with veterans on Fox and Friends this morning:

“A lot of people are asking why are you taking somebody that’s struggling out to go shooting. Well shooting for guys like us in the military is a very, very familiar skill set. It’s like taking a basketball player out to shoot hoops, you know. And so, shooting with military veterans that are trying to re-adjust can be very healing, and Chris [Kyle] really used that well to his advantage to help people.”

“Chris is probably one of the most kind, compassionate people that you’d ever meet. He dedicated his life to helping veterans readjust from combat and that’s what I want people to take away from this.”

Most people reading Paul’s comments about Chris Kyle are furious with him. They feel that Paul is not only blaming Kyle for his own murder, but he basically called Chris a warmonger. Twitter exploded with a flood of comments condemning Paul for his thoughtless words:

While the citizens of our nation speak out loud and clear in defense of a true American patriot and hero, Chris Kyle, the staff of The Inquisitr would like to express our deepest respects and heartfelt condolences to Chris Kyle’s wife Taya, his two children, and to everyone who loved him. He was a giant among mere mortals. Non sibi sed patriae.

Share this article: SEAL Chris Kyle Attacked By Ron Paul On Twitter
ron paul Chris Kyle
More from Inquisitr