AP photo shows US troops with poor gun safety habits

AP photo ^ | 3/20/2003 | AP

[Atlas Sneezed]

Tank crews from the Alpha Company 4th Battalion 64 Armor Regiment waive their pistols and a tank shell in the air while performing a 'Seminole Indian war dance' before convoying to a position near the Iraqi border Wednesday, March 19, 2003. The commander of the 3rd Infantry Division Maj. Gen. Buford Blount III., ordered his troops to reposition to locations near the border as Predisent Bush's deadline for Saddam to leave Iraq approached.(AP Photo/John Moore)

Tank crews from the Alpha Company 4th Battalion 64 Armor Regiment perform a 'Seminole Indian war dance' before convoying to a position near the Iraqi border Wednesday, March 19, 2003. The commander of the 3rd Infantry Division Maj. Gen. Buford Blount III, ordered his troops to reposition to locations near the border as Predisent Bush's deadline for Saddam to leave Iraq approached.(AP Photo/John Moore)

[Atlas Sneezed]

I saw the lower photo in my morning paper. Two of six soldiers are displaying abysmal attention to a key rule of gun safety: keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target!

I suppose that it is unlikely that they have yet been issued ammo.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

In the upper picture you can see into one of the mag wells- which is empty. I'm sure they've loaded up when the went to jump off.

[xm177e2]

I suppose that it is unlikely that they have yet been issued ammo.

And it's a good thing, too, apparently

[RightWhale]

Two of six soldiers are displaying abysmal attention to a key rule of gun safety

They were peeling potatoes and scrubbing pots all night after this.

[Militiaman7]

geezzzzz....get a life will ya.

If not already in combat these guys soon will be.

[no-s]

Jeez, man, they're tankers! Give 'em a break! They don't go into battle screaming their fool heads off and slinging 9mm from the open hatches!

[stuartcr]

Perhaps it was a photo op, and not the way they really act.

[dfwgator]

Now this is an example of poor gun safety habits.

[org.whodat]

And it's a good thing, too, apparently

Get a grip,No clips.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Who's for turning in the Berreta 9mm for a .45 raise your hand?

[Fresh Wind]

Hmmm. I didn't know Al Gore was back in the service.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Bang

[jiggyboy]

The soldiers aren't the only ones with finger trouble. "Predisent" Bush? "waive" their guns? Where's that spell-checker upgrade disk?

[Thane_Banquo]

I'd be a heck of a lot more worried about that guy waving the artillery shell around everywhere.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

bumping and banging

[Fresh Wind]

What do you know. You think of Al Gore and he shows up. He's looking for that joint he hid so he wouldn't have to share it.

[skeeter]

If these were a bunch a yahoos out at the local shooting range I'd agree. They're not.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

The Gore M16, like the 9mm's in the pictures, has no clip.

[dfwgator]

What do you know. You think of Al Gore and he shows up. He's looking for that joint he hid so he wouldn't have to share it.

Looks to me like he was using the gun as a bong.

[w1andsodidwe]

Compare with the Al Gore VietNam photo this isn't so bad.