a little disconcerting (Page 2): Keep it in context kids. The picture was actually taken as troops were scouring Boston immediately after the bombings. I'm sure he was using his scope...

Ambrose Loc: North America

Keep it in context kids. The picture was actually taken as troops were scouring Boston immediately after the bombings. I'm sure he was using his scope to get a closer look - and yes possibly pull the trigger because they were looking for a terrorist on the loose. Geez.

dooragdragon Loc: Alma , Arkansas

Now if poster # 1 had stated it was Boston or where ever and they were searching for someone this confusion would not be here.
Granted any time you see police or armed forces going down the streets with weapons it's not a wise idea to peer out a window with a camera and start taking photo's without expecting to be seen and possibly shot by mistake, these guys are looking for someone who's very possibly armed and dangerous and intends to shoot at them.

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

Pepper wrote:

A gun is only relevant when it is loaded, an unloaded gun is irrelevant.

Point a gun at an elderly person with a heart condition...see if he/she thinks it's irrelevant. Oh and by the way...the officer in the vehicle, I wonder what he was thinking...there may be a gun trained on me, or perhaps is this my last day I got to see my kids...am I in someone's scope...one should be should be in a like situation, then make a been there done that comment.

rickerb Loc: utah

Who are you kidding? A lot of people get hurt or die from "unloaded guns". In Vietnam, I was aiming at nothing in particular and my weapon discharged. I immediately cleared the M16 and was visably shaken. My sargeant witnessed this and asked me if I was surprised. I admitted that I was and then he asked for my weapon. He then chambered a round and put the safety on and handed it back to me. His point being, if your gun is loaded it will be treated accordingly.

krgatlgm Loc: Las Vegas, Nv

Robert Graybeal wrote:

NO, we should not expect to see this.

BUT, if we don't soon stand up .... that is exactly what we will be seeing!

Have you or tramsey ever searched for an armed suspect as part of your job? How would you suggest it be done better?

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

rickerb wrote:

Who are you kidding? A lot of people get hurt or die from "unloaded guns". In Vietnam, I was aiming at nothing in particular and my weapon discharged. I immediately cleared the M16 and was visably shaken. My sargeant witnessed this and asked me if I was surprised. I admitted that I was and then he asked for my weapon. He then chambered a round and put the safety on and handed it back to me. His point being, if your gun is loaded it will be treated accordingly.

So then your gun was indeed LOADED. Someone give me one instance where an UNLOADED gun shot someone on purpose or by accident. I don't mean a gun someone THOUGHT was unloaded I'm talking an unloaded gun. This is just one more way the anti-gun crowd tries to frighten people who don't know any better. Once more an "UNLOADED" gun can NOT shoot anyone on purpose or by accident.

DougW Loc: SoCal

There is no such thing as an " unloaded " weapon, unless " YOU " unloaded it, and kept in YOUR hands.

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

DougW wrote:

There is no such thing as an " unloaded " weapon, unless " YOU " unloaded it, and kept in YOUR hands.

Just another stupid statement in an attempt to say something profound. Walk into any Fin & Feather or Bass Pro Shop and find a loaded gun.

DougW Loc: SoCal

Do you open the bolt and check the chamber?
If you don't you are dumber than you sound.

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

DougW wrote:

Do you open the bolt and check the chamber?
If you don't you are dumber than you sound.

Always, Im a strong advocate for gun safety. I keep my personal weapons unloaded and locked up with the ammunition locked up in a different location both totally inaccessible to anyone other than me, my wife and my two sons (one is 41 years old the other is 38).

PrairieSeasons Loc: Red River of the North

Pepper wrote:

Always, Im a strong advocate for gun safety. I keep my personal weapons unloaded and locked up with the ammunition locked up in a different location both totally inaccessible to anyone other than me, my wife and my two sons (one is 41 years old the other is 38).

I keep my bullet in my shirt pocket - just like Barney Fife.

tramsey Loc: Texas

How man people have been killed or wounded by a gund that the perpetrator thought was empty, my neighbor down the street for one. When I was a policeman I spent six years as a training officer when we got to weapon handling, my first statement was always,"You do not pull your weapon unless you intend to kill."

Graveman Loc: Indiana

An unloaded gun can get you trouble also. Years ago when I was a MP I stopped a guy to tell him his tail light was out, he decided to come out of the car with a shotgun.
After two two orders for him to drop it, he got shot. My Sgt said that was one request too many. Turns out it was unloaded. For the courious, I hit him in the shoulder, I was aiming for the center of his chest, but was a bit nervous. I didn't lose any sleep over it.

As for the picture, whoever took it is damn lucky the man behind the gun was well trained and in control of himself. Taking the picture was not a very bright idea.

krgatlgm Loc: Las Vegas, Nv

tramsey wrote:

How man people have been killed or wounded by a gund that the perpetrator thought was empty, my neighbor down the street for one. When I was a policeman I spent six years as a training officer when we got to weapon handling, my first statement was always,"You do not pull your weapon unless you intend to kill."

In all the time you were a policeman, did you ever search for an armed suspect with your weapon drawn?

sye Loc: The Old Dominion Near DC

Pepper wrote:

Just out of shear curiosity, please explain to me how a gun that is NOT LOADED could be a threat to anyone at that distance. :|

That's known as brandishing. Makes no difference whether you know if it's loaded or not. What does the person on the other end think. Agreed that he could be using it for better view at distance.