A recent report given out by the House of Representatives has raised many questions that everyone should be thinking about. The army recently gave out more than 500 “moral waivers” to criminals throughout the country, allowing them to serve in the army. Some were even allowed to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Now you may think that these waivers were used for criminals who committed petty crimes, such as stealing from a grocery store or running a red light. But the waivers were used for criminals who have committed crimes that deserve major punishment. People who have been deemed terrorists and who have committed sexual assault are fighting in our military. We are basically giving these people a second chance that they do not deserve. Some of the crimes these people have committed have caused them to be in jail for life. But now, maybe one year after they walked into jail, they are walking out and given a leave from jail for a few months.

What is really interesting is that several waivers were given to people who were convicted of making terrorist threats. These people obviously do not want to be in the United States and does not believe in the American beliefs. Yet we have them fighting for us, defending out freedom and beliefs. These people especially should not be allowed to fight. They could even be allowing other men to be killed by not protecting them as they should.

Some of these people could also be trying to kill themselves and put an end to their punishment. In jail, it is much harder to do than in a desert and when you join the army, a gun is provided to you. I think these people do not deserve to die. Judges have ruled that they should be in jail for ten years or even life, and they need to serve that sentence.

I think our government needs to look into this problem that we have with the military. Yes, we do need more men and women to serve in the military, but we are going in the opposite direction. Instead of trying to get people who would be useful in the military, we are using convicts. We shouldn’t be sending out a message saying “If you make a mistake and abuse someone, it’s alright. You can get out of your sentence for more than a year by joining the army.” A career in the military is supposed to be an honorable job, not something for convicts.