We spoke the other day about the proposed domestic deployment of 20,000 troops. A question has been posed to me via email about this photo from the MSNBC story:
Notice the green banding on the weapon of the soldier (a woman?) at the left? Now maybe that just has to do with the sling mounts - but I've also seen those types of markings on unloaded weapons - specifically there so one would know they were unloaded.
Maybe someone else would know more on this - but it led me to wonder if she was just out standing there like a scarecrow?
Anyone who can educate us on this, please do so.
10 comments:
I think that the green bands are some sort of velcro sling mount. Zahal.org has something that looks like that under "rifle accessories."
Havin served under various GFWs(gun fearing wussies) in the Army, a colored tape, sometimes green or blue, was prominently displayed on weapons after the soldiers were searched by officers and NCOs. The weapons then being triple checked to make sure they were clear and empty, and often checked again, during the operation, usually a demonstration of a unit or individual movement to contact, in either cities or bush.They usually had us do this when civilian officials were present, and once when a 3 star showed up. I was once sent out to look for a Bieder Meinhof member, spotted near my kaserne, armed with an unloaded M-16. I armed my platoon with my private stock(ahem) and my lieutenant never batted an eye.When I policed up the ammo after the operation(zippo found), LT breathed into my ear, nice going, hide that shit, and I don't want to know where. Recall if you will, the hundreds of Marines dead in Beirut because the sentrys, three layers of them, carried unloaded weapons. Anyway, I have no doubt the morons stationed here will participate in the same farce, at least until the first real dust-up.
that particular setup in the photo looks like a sling setup.
Dont get me wrong, it is NOT unusual for the Military to Disarm its members around civilians (anyone remember the NG units walking around airports after 9-11 with either empty mags, or NO MAG in the weapon... very scray, give the guy a bat instead.
Anyway, as you can see by the photo its OLD. Old BDU uniform instead of ACU, and an older m16 (a2 looks like). The new slings clip behind the pistol grip in front of the stock. This sling is to keep the weapon in front of you, but looks like it has been taped and probably is hard to get to the shoulder and track targets with.
This photo was taken back in 2003, before the current explosion in geardo toys and quad rails etc...
Sometimes soldiers would rig up thier own patrol type slings by taping stuff to the rifle to allow it to hang in the "cool guy M4/16 pose". More comfortable for patrols, but not as ready as port arms. That particular color of tape is what GSA sometimes sends you instead of the real OD green "100MPH".
As to the possibility of them not having loaded mags. Oh yes, highly likely.
Scout34
About 12 years or so ago I toured the Cheyenne right after it was commissioned at the submarine base in Norfolk. All of the guards, ones in the shack and ones posted at the ramp and tower of each submarine had pistols. Every guard I saw had no magazine in his pistol. Maybe they had loaded magazines on them somewhere, but I don't recall seeing any.
I only ever did guard duty once (a two month assignment) at MCAS(H) New River, but we had loaded Rem 870's and 1911's.
Must have been different then.
After 9/11 the Guard patrolling SFO and the GG Bridge had no magazines at all. Still, Bay-Aryan GFW's petitioned that they be removed from those locales because they were scarin' the peeps...
I saw something similar about 2 years ago trucking across the Verazano Bridge into Brooklyn.
The guns had clips in them. Who knows if they were loaded.
I used to haul Bulk Tank Flour into all 5 Bouroughs,and was stopped to see "whad I had in da tanker."
The "soldiers" never looked at me,just NYPD.
My thought then was,see you on the battlefield somewhere.
CIII
David, it looks like a regular sling rig to me. I had one a little like that in Kosovo last year... Until I got issued my M9.
After 9-11 the National Guard troops at airports carried unloaded firearms. I'm sure someone in the group has loaded clips ready to pass out should the need come about.
My hunch is they want to make sure they don't have another Kent State.
Keep in mind, the cops do not believe the GI's are equal to them and more than likely want them disarmed so they can be, "the only ones".
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