system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why civilian authorities were involved in the Fort Hood shooting yesterday

I only read a little bit on this yesterday, but from what I gather the short of it is:

*Guy starts shooting people
*Base (and near by town?) go on lock down
*MPs and SWAT corner the guy
*Guy shoots himself

My question is why was the SWAT team there? In a spot that houses one of the most lethal fighting forces in the world, whose job it is to protect the country from a full out invasion, why were the soldiers unable to deal with the threat of a single shooter?
gpt
most likely because 99% of military firearms are stored in arms rooms (giant 4" thick steel(?) door), with ammo being stored at a separate facility (ammo supply point).

to mobilize a unit/company/platoon to go fight this, you would have to not only get authorization to open the arms room (or have one of like, 3 people available who know the combo), then get transportation to the ASP, then find your way to that shooter. far too long. police, MPs, SWAT all have weapons readily available and are made for quick reaction.