National Guard using UNLOADED weapons to protect airport

[guyver01]

CNN

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (AP) -- National Guard troops patrolling Pennsylvania airports for more than seven months after the September 11 terrorist attacks were carrying unloaded weapons, a newspaper reported Sunday.

At 16 airports across the state, the troops were banned from patrolling with loaded weapons, according to guardsmen interviewed by The Philadelphia Inquirer for Sunday editions.

Instead, the guardsmen carried loaded magazines on their belts, the paper said.

 

[NetworkDad]

Which politician's dumb idea was that?

 

[Ih8canada]

those guys can load those guns quick so its really not that big of a deal.

~quickdraw mcgraw

 

[guyver01]

Originally posted by: Ih8canada
those guys can load those guns quick so its really not that big of a deal.

~quickdraw mcgraw

that's not what the guardsman say..

With the seconds it would take to remove the magazine from their belt and insert it into the pistol, "we couldn't protect ourselves," Lawrence said.

 

[SyahM]

This is ridiculous! So, are they going to load then draw the weapon or just draw the unloaded weapon and praying that the situation will not get worse?

 

[Brutuskend]

That reminds me of the time my USMC group stood honor guard for Pres. Nixon down in southern Cal.

They not only didn't give us ammo, they took the firing pins out of our M14's.

They did however leave up our bayonetts...I guess we could have charged his lying ass..

 

[exp]

*sigh* Why am I not surprised?

 

[tweakmm]

Originally posted by: NccOps
Which politician's dumb idea was that?

please, the National Guard was only for show, it was to make people feel safe at the airports. What terrorists are going to have a direct confrontation with the a US armed force? Having guards with loaded weapons before Sep. 11 wouldn't have made a bit of differense in the hijacking.

 

[ChefJoe]

Suppose little johnny loves GI Joe 6 year old runs up behind a national guardsman on airport duty and tries climbing on the lifesize GI Joe. Do you want that weapon loaded?

 

[wnied]

I got news for you bub, it wasnt just in Philadelphia Pa. They were unloaded throughout the U.S.

I live in West Palm Beach Florida and they werent loaded here either.
~wnied~

 

[911paramedic]

Remember when that truck loaded with explosives rammed the gate and killed all the marines a while back??

The marines had empty weapons too. I remember a show when they interviewed the guard at the gate, he said he was scrambling to put a magazine in as he watched the guy bust through the gates.

WTF politicians are thinking is beyond me.

 

[kgraeme]

This was actually a very good practice. Having the Guard there is a readiness action. Having their guns unloaded is a safety precaution. It prevents them from accidentally getting jumpy and shooting someone. The time it takes to load the cartridge is enough time to act as a safeguard. These are basically kids on their first assignment, working in a high-civilian density area. I want them to have to think twice before shooting in that environment. In all likelyhood any situation is going to unfold either too quickly (unknown bomb exploding) or with enough time to assess the situation (ranting nutjob making demands and/or taking a hostage). A significant bonus is that it prevents their guns being grabbed used against them or others.

 

[BD2003]

Definitely a good idea. The post implies they have no bullets whatsoever, but theyre only about 2 seconds away from being loaded in reality.

Like was said, prevents accidents, itchy trigger fingers etc...

Airports are not warzones, and their presence was enough. Seeing one of them with their rifles at an airport knocking on my window asking me to move my car defintely got the point across, loaded or not.

I want one.

 

[Maetryx]

Its silly. It's not like there are tons of stories coming out of Israel (where civilians can and do routinely carry UZIs in public places) where they all keep shooting each other on accident or when its not warranted or whatever.

A saftey switch on the rifle is adequate protection, or simply not chambering a round. These guys don't walk around with their fingers on the triggers, in spite of what you may have seen in a Hollywood crime drama.

 

[PsychoAndy]

Originally posted by: 911paramedic
Remember when that truck loaded with explosives rammed the gate and killed all the marines a while back??

The marines had empty weapons too. I remember a show when they interviewed the guard at the gate, he said he was scrambling to put a magazine in as he watched the guy bust through the gates.

WTF politicians are thinking is beyond me.

Go to most US military bases pre 9-11 and you'd find the same thing, guards with unloaded m-16s.

 

[XZeroII]

This would be a good idea if stupid journalists wouldn't spread the word around. Now there is no point in even having the guards there.

 

[kgraeme]

Originally posted by: XZeroII
This would be a good idea if stupid journalists wouldn't spread the word around. Now there is no point in even having the guards there.

There is still just as much benefit as there was before. Not having them there means they can't respond at all. Having them there three seconds from loaded, is a little faster wouldn't you say?

(Of course, now the media is going to go on about our soldiers being all loaded )

 

[Lucky]

Originally posted by: Maetryx
Its silly. It's not like there are tons of stories coming out of Israel (where civilians can and do routinely carry UZIs in public places) where they all keep shooting each other on accident or when its not warranted or whatever.

A saftey switch on the rifle is adequate protection, or simply not chambering a round. These guys don't walk around with their fingers on the triggers, in spite of what you may have seen in a Hollywood crime drama.

 

[Ramsnake]

Originally posted by: BigDee2003
Definitely a good idea. The post implies they have no bullets whatsoever, but theyre only about 2 seconds away from being loaded in reality.

Like was said, prevents accidents, itchy trigger fingers etc...

Airports are not warzones, and their presence was enough. Seeing one of them with their rifles at an airport knocking on my window asking me to move my car defintely got the point across, loaded or not.

I want one.

Originally posted by: kgraeme
This was actually a very good practice. Having the Guard there is a readiness action. Having their guns unloaded is a safety precaution. It prevents them from accidentally getting jumpy and shooting someone. The time it takes to load the cartridge is enough time to act as a safeguard. These are basically kids on their first assignment, working in a high-civilian density area. I want them to have to think twice before shooting in that environment. In all likelyhood any situation is going to unfold either too quickly (unknown bomb exploding) or with enough time to assess the situation (ranting nutjob making demands and/or taking a hostage). A significant bonus is that it prevents their guns being grabbed used against them or others.

These two excellent posts say it all.....we are better off with those gunmen with unloaded guns. i guess u dont care about life,in the event of accident , i guess u would say they are casualties of "war" . and then there would be the other boatload of people pissed at the accident. the airport authority is doing the right thing.

 

[thebestMAX]

This is NEWS?????

Ask anybody who has ever been in the military. Most of the time, weapons are issued with no ammo or marked ammo so if fired, user would have been in a lot of trouble!!!

I carried nuclear weapons missile launch codes and a sidearm. Loaded or unloaded???

 

[Rainsford]

Newsies are just looking for something to complain about. If they were loaded they would be complaining too. Pay attention next time you watch the news, it's all about how some group of people is doing something the reporters don't think they should be doing. Remember, it's the job of the media to get people worried about something.

Edit: Tonight, an I-Team investigation reveals the deadly secret behind a common household cleaner. Are YOU at risk? Be watching, tonight at 10.

 

[thebestMAX]

GTG! Later

 

[narzy]

our guards at our airport were loaded, I know this because one put a hole in a wall as a warning shot for a VERY unruly passanger. the guy froze up like a stiff rock, then they came in with the pepper spray and shackels and took his ass out.