Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Leah Valencia, University of New Mexico- Talk Radio News Service

Rep. John Carter (R-Texas) introduced a bill Tuesday that would recognize the victims of the Fort Hood shooting as combat casualties and, if approved, could strengthen the argument that the incident should be considered a terrorist attack.

Carter, whose district includes the Fort Hood military base, said in a press conference that the bill would grant concessions for beneficiaries of all the military officers killed or wounded.

The status would also allow military victims to receive a Purple Heart and non-military victims to receive the Secretary of Defense Medal of Freedom, which is the civilian equivalent.

"They were basically taken out early in the combat," Carter said. "As far as I'm concerned, this was an attack by an enemy upon American troops on American soil."

Though Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, who was charged on Thursday with killing 13 and wounding 29, has been rumored to have ties to a radical Muslim group in Yemen but many lawmakers have criticized the accusations, calling them premature.

"I think we should call things what they are," Carter said. "I don't think we should worry about hurting people's feelings. No one is saying the term 'terrorism' has the word Muslim in it."

Lawmakers say they do not expect much opposition to the bill since it’s main focus is helping the victims.