What is a 3-8?

[enwar3]

So this one guy is trapped and dying and he asks his sarge for a 3-8. He gets permission and then he pulls out a gun and shoots it. I thought he was going to kill himself but he didn't look like he was pointing it at himself. Does anybody know what a 3-8 is?

 

[destrekor]

.38? as in 38 caliber?
one might pronounce it a three eight

 

[enwar3]

I guess that would make sense. Then he killed himself?

 

[FDF12389]

Clip of scene?

 

[pontifex]

the only thing that makes sense in the context given is suicide to end his suffering.

 

[enwar3]

Can't find one. Oh well. I guess I'll just never know.

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: pontifex
the only thing that makes sense in the context given is suicide to end his suffering.

That's what I'm thinking. Maybe legs and body crushed and just wanted to end the suffering.

Though, there might be something in the whole 'the firearm didn't seem to be pointed at himself' part - maybe he was using it to knock away from debris or something? But thinking of that, I cannot see how that could be at all helpful, so back to leaning on the suicide to end suffering.

 

[amdhunter]

You sure he wasn't asking for a V8? Those things taste pretty good.

 

[xanis]

Originally posted by: amdhunter
You sure he wasn't asking for a V8? Those things taste pretty good.

If he didn't have a V8, he should have.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Probably cop language. Notice how they always talk in numbers? Probably means something, but what, I don't know so I'm not much help.

I think I recall which movie you're talking about, but was he shooting upwards in hope people on surface hear it? That's what I remember anyway. Might be confusing another movie.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: destrekor

Originally posted by: pontifex
the only thing that makes sense in the context given is suicide to end his suffering.

That's what I'm thinking. Maybe legs and body crushed and just wanted to end the suffering.

Though, there might be something in the whole 'the firearm didn't seem to be pointed at himself' part - maybe he was using it to knock away from debris or something? But thinking of that, I cannot see how that could be at all helpful, so back to leaning on the suicide to end suffering.

i thought maybe it was permission to discharge his firearm but like you said, there seems to be no reason to do this.

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: RedSquirrel
Probably cop language. Notice how they always talk in numbers? Probably means something, but what, I don't know so I'm not much help.

I think I recall which movie you're talking about, but was he shooting upwards in hope people on surface hear it? That's what I remember anyway. Might be confusing another movie.

OH. OH.

Hah, I totally missed that this was the WTC movie. I was thinking it was just some clip from all the media coverage of WTC.

Hmm, armed with that knowledge:
yes, the point of firing the gun was to try and get anyone to notice they are down there, thus helping anyone on the surface to know their location.
Been forever since I've seen the movie, so that might be wrong, but if I remember the scene that is indeed what they were doing.

Or, now that I'm thinking, it might be a different scene, and in which my original thought was right: the gun was used to end the suffering of a severely injured man.

 

[DayLaPaul]

It's CB code, 38 means you need an ambulance.

 

[enwar3]

I'm pretty sure he was shooting up. I just didn't know why. And I didn't know why he'd need permission to do so, but I guess you need permission to discharge a firearm? It seems now like he was trying to make noise.

 

[theblackbox]

in some places, 3-8 means either officer down or officer in trouble.
code 3 is usually office in trouble or needs help.