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To shoot, or not to shoot? That is the question!

Discussion in 'Political Debate & Discussion' started by Bunyon, Nov 19, 2005.

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To shoot, or not to shoot? That is the question!

  1. I would not use the 50 cal and not violate the Genevia convention.

    5 vote(s)
    33.3%

  2. I would use the 50 cal. violating the genevia convention.

    10 vote(s)
    66.7%

  3. I would shoot or throw any thing I had to save my tail!

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
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  1. Bunyon

    Bunyon New Member

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    ""And it may seem a minor thing, but this quote is important as well: "if you see a guy with an AK-47, I expect you to hose him with a .50-calibre machine-gun." Using a .50-caliber machine gun on human targets is specifically forbidden by the Geneva Convention; it can be used on equipment. "U.S. soldiers are generally instructed either to call in an airstrike instead of using the .50-caliber (see Jarhead by Anthony Swofford) or told to claim that they were aiming at the person's canteen, belt-buckle, or other item of equipment. In saying openly that they should shoot people with the .50, what they are really saying is, "The Geneva Convention is out the window.""------------------------------------------------------------

    Folks still belive it, Anthoney Swoffard, whose book "Jarhead" is now a movie, apparently believed it. Any such inhibition on a soldier to not use something in his possesion to fight, win and survive, is silly and unworkable. That is the pont. This is what I was told 20 years ago. I thought it was silly then and I think it is silly now. I am glad it is apparently a myth.
     
    #21 Bunyon, Nov 20, 2005
  2. emeraldctyangel

    emeraldctyangel New Member

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    What page does the book "Jarhead" say that on? He was a sniper, not a 50 cal gunner. I am confused.
     
    #22 emeraldctyangel, Nov 21, 2005
  3. mioque

    mioque New Member

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    Apparently that 50 cal. 'rule' was made up by the US army in Vietnam mostly to combat a shortage in 50 cal. rounds.
    It has NOTHING to do with the Geneva Conventions Bunyon.
    It has NOTHING to do with the Geneva Conventions Bunyon.
    It has NOTHING to do with the Geneva Conventions Bunyon.
     
    #23 mioque, Nov 21, 2005
  4. guitarpreacher

    guitarpreacher New Member

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    Those rules are kinda like what they told us about riot batons. I was in Military Police and we use riot batons for crowd control. It was against the rules to strike someone in the head with a baton. So what they told us was to swing at the top of their shoulder, and if you miss, oh well, stuff happens. The point was, heros are the ones who come home and raise their families, so you do whatever it takes. They also told us it's better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6.
     
    #24 guitarpreacher, Nov 21, 2005
  5. Bunyon

    Bunyon New Member

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    It is not important emrald. I would not put much faith in anything he said anyhow. His movie makes a mockery out of our military form what I here. Any infantry man is trained in 50 cal. even if his is a sniper or mortar man or what else. Are you in acombat arms MOS .You should be able to find that account on the net. It is or was a widly held belife. I am glad it is a myth. Point is White phosporus is not banned either, but that did not stop our critics of and on and off this board from trying their best to say our troops had done something wrong.

    [ November 21, 2005, 09:35 AM: Message edited by: Bunyon ]
     
    #25 Bunyon, Nov 21, 2005
  6. Dragoon68

    Dragoon68 Active Member

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    I don't recall a chronic shortage of 50 cal. ammunintion during the Viet Nam war nor any specific rules of engagement limiting the use of a 50 cal. machine gun against enemy soldiers.

    This, of course, is my recollection based on my experiences during the times and places in which I served. Things varied during the time we actively fought that war and among the various units engaged in it.
     
    #26 Dragoon68, Nov 21, 2005
  7. fromtheright

    fromtheright <img src =/2844.JPG>

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    I can't figure out all of the apparent attacks on Bunyon's OP or info. He stated to begin with that he had doubts about whether the Geneva Convention forbids its use. Also just because the "Jarhead" author was a sniper doesn't mean that he would not have had some knowledge, information, or exposure to the 50 cal.

    And, BTW, Bunyon, guitarpreacher, and Dragoon (and ECA, did I understand correctly?), thanks very much for your service to our country.
     
    #27 fromtheright, Nov 21, 2005
  8. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    I asked my neighbor this question. He agrees. BTW, he served in Kuwait and Iraq last year.
     
    #28 Johnv, Nov 21, 2005
  9. Bunyon

    Bunyon New Member

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    I am glad it turns out to be a myth. I wold not have hesitated to use it in any case. That was the point of the pole.
     
    #29 Bunyon, Nov 21, 2005
  10. Hardsheller

    Hardsheller Active Member
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    In case anyone is interested, we (the USA) are deploying snipers nowadays with .50 Caliber Sniper Rifles. It's the same round as the .50 caliber machine gun.

    Barrett .50 Caliber Sniper Rifle

    Perfectly legal for you to buy one as well, that is if you've got $10,000 lying around.
     
    #30 Hardsheller, Nov 22, 2005
  11. Hardsheller

    Hardsheller Active Member
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    A .223 caliber bullet fired from an accurate rifle by an expert marksman can drop a man in his tracks at up to 300 yards with amazing consistency.

    A .30 caliber bullet fired from an accurate rifle by the same marksman can drop a man in his tracks at up to 1000 yards.

    A .50 caliber bullet fired from an accurate rifle by the same marksman can literally blow apart a man up to a mile away. Not only does the bullet take out one enemy combatant before he can get within range to engage friendly forces but it has a devastating and demoralizing psychological effect on those standing nearby who witness it.

    Fact: No enemy ever killed by a US Military Sniper has ever complained about the size of the bullet that killed him.
     
    #31 Hardsheller, Nov 22, 2005
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