Seventeen people, including a child left in a critical condition, were injured when soldiers fired live bullets instead of blanks during an open day display in Carcassone, France.
Fifteen civilians and two soldiers were injured in the incident, of which the details remained unclear, involving a demonstration by members of a marines parachute regiment of hostage liberation exercises, the regional authority said.
Four of the 17 were seriously injured, with two described as critical following “incomprehensible” scenes at the barracks near Carcassone, in the country’s south-west.
According to local authorities, five children were among the injured.
This is more than an “Oops!”. Combat weapons used on the audience during an exercise require a major screwup.
The French Military can fire blanks without the blank firing adaptors on their rifles or pistols? Wow! Either way, talk about lack of accountability. That’s very irresponsible of whoever was in charge should get their ass in the slammer!
I guess those red berets were on TOO TIGHTLY and the Parachutists could’nt think straight !!! The Bulging Eyeballs should have been a clue !!! But then, they are French !!!
#1 – Very true on all accounts.
The AFP in reporting the shots were fired from one soldier. They are saying it was unintentional, but even if he didn’t have tracer rounds he shot two members of his own team. One would think all weapons would of been checked before being issued to the marines. Great idea using civilians in these type of exercises. SWAT teams have done similar training exercises at public schools during a regular school day. One would think their is plenty of targets to point guns at that they wouldn’t need to do such things.
Good thing guns don’t kill
I have done my 10 month military service in the French Airforce Army a few ( well, not so few..) years ago.
This kind of accident is very surprising, and clearly breaks a number of army regulations.
We “non-professionals” have never had the right to use the real FAMAS ( standard French Assault rifle) out of the firing range. When used in a parade, the weapons were all neutralized. I never used a real bullet out of the firing range, and then with great precaution. The military are usually VERY conscious of the danger of a firearm, I’d say even more than in the US, where having a weapon is more commonplace. So here, with non-military public, it’s shocking that such an accident could have happened. You can be sure that SEVERAL people will first go in jail, and then be fired from the army.
I have done my 10 month military service in the French Airforce Army a few years ago.
This kind of accident is very surprising, and clearly breaks a number of army regulations.
We “non-professionals” have never had the right to use the real FAMAS ( standard French Assault rifle) out of the firing range. When used in a parade, the weapons were all neutralized. I never used a real bullet out of the firing range, and then with great precaution. The military are usually VERY conscious of the danger of a firearm, I’d say even more than in the US, where having a weapon is more commonplace. So here, with non-military public, it’s shocking that such an accident could have happened. You can be sure that SEVERAL people will first go in jail, and then be fired from the army.
Oh those crazy French!
#6 – Canucklehead
>>Good thing guns don’t kill
They don’t. It’s the imbeciles that wield them who do.
#5, actually, the 4th safety rule is to keep your weapon on safe until you intend to fire.
#4- There and Have. Look up the definitions.
#5, 10, well at least that is what they are teaching for marksmanship in the Marine Corps. Google search shows me there is a discrepancy.
#10 MM — so are you saying that if these dopes had say, batons, there would have been the same damage?
another thought — was this a terror event? France has been having problems with some of their “citizens” over the years. It seems this may have been one rogue soldier.
#5 is correct. Never, EVER point your weapon at something you do not want destroyed.
#9 MM — so are you saying that if these dopes had say, batons, there would have been the same damage?
No, but if guns kill people, then so do cars. In fact, cars kill more people than guns.
#16, Calin,
if guns kill people, then so do cars. In fact, cars kill more people than guns.
Only when cars are used correctly they are very safe, whereas when guns are used as intended, they are very deadly.
#16 Calin — agreed, that’s why owning a car in D.C. is a privilege, not a right.
#18, think you are confused. Owning property is a right, operating it on a public road is a privilege.
#19 – I stand corrected.
Driving a car in D.C. is so dangerous to the public, that is a privilege.
Owning a handgun in D.C. is so benign to the public, that it is a right.
#20, well, at least you understand the concepts now. Cookie?
What kind of soldier doesnt know if he’s carrying live rounds? Idiot army.
Owning a gun is benign. I’ve owned guns since I was 12. In my neck of the woods, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t own a gun. That being said, I’ve never met anyone who has been shot outside of a war zone (or police action zone in the case of my Uncle the ‘Nam vet).
#22, I think the point is that he did know that he was using live ammunition. Otherwise, he would have also been using a BFA (blank firing adapter).
>>MM — so are you saying that if these dopes had say,
>>batons, there would have been the same damage?
Not in this case, no.
But hey, it’s a dangerous world we live in. Guns, cars, WMDs, Ginsu knives, M-80 firecrackers, televisions dropped from a high-rise apartment building, whatever.
When an imbecile gets control of one of these weapons of destruction, mayhem may result.
If the goal is a completely safe world, where nothing can do anyone any harm, no matter how demented the person wielding an item, good luck.
And, for the record, guns don’t kill unless someone picks them up, points them at another person, and pulls the trigger.
Seems like we’d be better off getting rid of people. Better chance of success.
23 Calin — it’s great that you don’t know anyone who’s been shot, despite being surrounded by gun owners.
Unfortunately we can’t all say the same thing. 🙁
#26 – Canucklehead
>>Unfortunately we can’t all say the same thing. 🙁
Maybe if your acquaintance owned a gun, he wouldn’t have been shot.
You know what they say, if guns are banned, only criminals will have guns.
And then you’re prime meat for any gun totin’ savage who wants to rob, rape, pillage, and kill.
I’d just as soon have the criminals think that law-abiding citizens MAY have guns, and may blow their balls off if they start dicking around.
Good deterrent.
I think the more interesting issue is in placing blame/responsibility?
Of course the Army/Government should pay for all damages but what of the soldier(s) involved?
The lack of common sense is so extreme I think the person(s) involved should be removed from service due to overwhelming stupidity. What would the defense of them ever be in some second incident==kinda like McCain crashing his third airplane?
#27 MM — Maybe if your acquaintance owned a gun, he wouldn’t have been shot.
I wish it were that simple. No it was two friends playing around, trying to be cool I guess. They were teenagers at the time.
I just keep seeing the endless statistics. If owning a gun made one safe, the U.S. would be the safest place in the western world. The facts don’t seem to bear that out.
[Comment deleted – Violation of Posting Guidelines. – ed.]