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"The Supreme Court refused this week to review the murder conviction of an Idaho man who was prevented by state law from offering an insanity defense. The court's abdication of its responsibility encourages other states to dismantle a central principle of Anglo-American law: that a defendant should not be held criminally responsible when mental illness makes it impossible for him to tell right from wrong."

"In May, Slager pleaded guilty to deprivation of rights under color of law after a murder trial ended in a mistrial. He admitted he didn't shoot Scott in self defense and said he used excessive force. Federal prosecutors are seeking a life sentence. Prosecutors believe Slager committed second-degree murder and should also be punished for obstructing justice."

I think that the officer should get life in prison for killing this man. The man ran but there's other options than firing your gun at him, there was no threat to the officer, he was unarmed, and the officer said he used force that was unnecessary.

The cop shouldn't of shot the man in the back, there was no threat towards the officer. If the man pulled a knife or a gun out then I'll see why the police officer shot him, but because the man had no weapons on him and was just running way he shouldn't of gotten shot.

"The soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team have gone to war five times since 9/11, and 84 have been killed - including 13 during their current deployment to Afghanistan. How would the impending budget cuts affect civilians at their post? And what will it all mean for their spouses and family members who work on the base?"

i think that you should be able to get married no matter if your gay or not its not their life so why are they so against gay marriage

in my opinion I think that you should have the right to be married no matter if your gay or not. Its not their life its yours i just dont understand why they are so against gay marriage. It's not like its hurting us.

I'm glad that she won this case, because the law states that if your husband or wife were to die, you get the things they leave behind. I don't see why it would be different if you are gay. It just makes no sense. I don't understand why this law was passed in the first place.

It's interesting to read about the controversy over Obama's pick defense secretary and counterterrorism adviser.

I think it's fair to say that the criticisms made against Hagel are in the past now. He should be fit for the job. From a defense standpoint there will be a lot of issues at hand in this administration.

I think Brennan is a wise choice because he's been around for awhile and seems to have a lot of knowledge about a lot of things.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta speaks at a news conference in London on Jan. 19. (Photo: Jacquelyn Martin, AP) WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced Thursday that the military will lift its ban on women serving in combat roles, which will open about 230,000 posts, including those on the front lines.

This history right here.

Let the women do what they want if they can help in the war that makes us stronger.

A Defense Department study that proposed cutting $125 billion in administrative waste from the Pentagon budget was buried amid concerns the findings would give Congress an excuse to further slash defense spending, the Washington Post reported on Monday.

I think this will be a good thing for the U.S. I am pretty sure that there are enough people who want to fight for our country's freedom so why do we need to keep paying more and more for the military? I don't think they are going to take all of the money the military has.

"The new defense spending bill includes $120 million for tanks that the Army has repeatedly said it doesn't want."

I think that congress should quit spending money on things we don't need. The military has repeatedly told them not to make more, but congress keeps having more made by spending money to keep the factories running.

"Critics say the law makes it too easy to claim self-defense when violence could have been avoided, and that white people's fears are more likely to be deemed "reasonable" than black people's."

President Trump on Thursday morning released a $1.15 trillion budget proposal that seeks a major increase in military and other security spending while slashing spending in a wide range of other agencies including the EPA and State Department.

"All 100 senators have been asked to the White House for the briefing by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said White House spokesman Sean Spicer on Monday."

Do you guys think he was justified for doing this?

I feel like there were probably better ways to deal with the self defense act rather than going straight to an airstrike. It also makes it a little unsettling that Biden didn't have a conversation about it with other congress members and just did it.

I think he shouldn't have done this and taking this action this early into his presidency shows somewhat of a disregard for some of the morals he touted himself on to even get elected. Even if he had found himself justified in doing this to say taking into account those morals he reached this conclusion to go there so quickly is disingenuos

"President Joe Biden on Sunday signed an executive order aimed at helping to ensure all Americans have the right to vote by increasing access to voter registration services and information."

I think this was a really good move and America should be grateful he's doing something beneficial.

I think it is good Biden is doing something to make voting better for everyone, especially for us since were going to be able to vote next election

What's your guys' opinion on this?

It's a bad idea. Why would someone need to bring a gun to a voting site? Just vote and then leave. leave your gun at home for this.

I think it's a bad idea to let people bring guns to voting sites because theirs literally no reason to, there going to vote, and if anything letting people take guns will just make it worse.

Edie Windsor, the 83-year-old lesbian who sued the United States government for discriminatory treatment under the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), expressed optimism today that the Supreme Court will strike down the 17-year old law. "I think it went beautifully," Windsor said from outside of the court after today's oral arguments in United States v.

A day after jurors found her guilty of first-degree murder, Jodi Arias and her attorneys met with a judge in a closed-door hearing Thursday, according to a source with knowledge of the proceedings.

The U.S. military is ending its policy of excluding women from combat and will open combat jobs and direct combat units to female troops, CNN has learned. Multiple officials confirm to CNN that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta will make the announcement tomorrow and notify Congress of the planned change in policy.

"We are dropping cyber bombs. We have never done that before," Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Work told reporters traveling with him. "Just like we have an air campaign, I want to have a cyber campaign. I want to use all the space capabilities I have."

Ahead of the unannounced trip to the Iraqi capital, Mattis told reporters in Abu Dhabi that he was heading to Baghdad, "because I need to get current on the situation there, political situation, the enemy situation, and the friendly situation."