I have watched many experts give their opinions as to what went wrong at the rally at the Butler Farm Show grounds that resulted in an attack on former President Donald Trump.

Everybody from Secret Service agents, sheriffs, local police and even the Pennsylvania State Police commander had an opinion. I realize I have different experience than do these individuals, but the answer is simple and the Secret Service should learn it.

During my years in Vietnam as a U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam combat adviser, I always carried a .45 Colt 1911 pistol with three magazines of “tracer” cartridges. When I wanted the ARVN infantry troops to fire at the North Vietnamese Army, I fired my pistol and got results.

No need for tracer ammo, but when that one individual stuck his head above the roof line and the punk pointed his rifle at the officer, the officer ducked and got on the ground. Instead of wasting any time on a radio, he should have pulled out his sidearm and emptied the magazine or cylinder by shooting straight up in the air. That would have alerted every law enforcement officer in the area, ensuring former President Donald Trump would have been secured immediately and all eyes and sniper rifles would have seen the shooter. Problem solved.

Gerald H. Wetzel, U.S. Army retired, Butler Township