 Editor in Chief Bill   | 23 Jan 2019 8:57 p.m. PST |
I recently read a book about Marine snipers – TMP link – and the subject of warning shots came up. In an urban warfare environment, when a sniper takes out a target, the weapon and other equipment is still on the battlefield. Obviously, if another insurgent tries to recover the weapon, he becomes a military target. However, civilians may also desire to loot the body to recover anything they can sell – including weapons. But how can you distinguish between thieves and insurgents? At one point in the book, one of the snipers mentions that they were directed to fire a warning shot at anyone who got too close to discarded weapons (such as a car where the insurgent driver had been shot and killed). An interesting wrinkle is that warning shots were mistaken for missed shots, giving more confidence to the insurgents/thieves… but the second shot would kill. |
| Thresher01 | 23 Jan 2019 10:35 p.m. PST |
Does there really NEED to be ANY differentiation? |
| Lion in the Stars | 24 Jan 2019 3:24 a.m. PST |
If they pick up a weapon, they just became a combatant. |
ZULUPAUL  | 24 Jan 2019 3:51 a.m. PST |
Waste of ammo to give a warning shot. Obviously picking up a weapon from someone who was just shot by a sniper is silly. |
 Legion 4  | 24 Jan 2019 9:08 a.m. PST |
No warning shots … Grunts are not LEOs. "One Shot, One Kill" was one was of our Bn sayings in the ROK. And started by the Bn Cdr himself. The only warning shot should be in the center of the target. Then repeated on other visible targets. The warning is they are next, but if done properly they won't have much time to think about. Until it's their "turn" … |
| Editor in Chief Bill | 24 Jan 2019 12:19 p.m. PST |
Obviously picking up a weapon from someone who was just shot by a sniper is silly. Could be hours or days later. |
| Dynaman8789 | 24 Jan 2019 1:42 p.m. PST |
Could be a kid picking it up too. The kid might or might not have been told to pick it up by an adult as well… (and by kid I mean toddler) |
| Wolfhag | 24 Jan 2019 1:48 p.m. PST |
Bill,
Not to worry, the sniper will be waiting patiently. The CYA proper way to fire a warning shot while on guard:
Sentry shouts, "Stop, who goes there" then "Bang". First shot center mass then a few seconds later, "Bang" second shot fired into the air as a miss on purpose. Wolfhag |
| Legion 4 | 24 Jan 2019 3:02 p.m. PST |
Not to worry, the sniper will be waiting patiently.  |
| Zephyr1 | 24 Jan 2019 10:34 p.m. PST |
I imagine that if the sniper could fire a warning shot, they can also direct that shot at the discarded weapon. At the least, it could be rendered inoperable, but if it went <BOOM> when hit, then oh well… |
| goragrad | 25 Jan 2019 12:13 a.m. PST |
One presumes warning shots were fired in an attempt to not turn non-insurgents (or their surviving relatives) into insurgents. |
| Walking Sailor | 25 Jan 2019 8:08 a.m. PST |
Anyone that picks up a weapon does so to use it, or to sell it to someone who will use it. Either way – valid target. |
| Legion 4 | 25 Jan 2019 9:09 a.m. PST |
I imagine that if the sniper could fire a warning shot, they can also direct that shot at the discarded weapon. At the least, it could be rendered inoperable, but if it went <BOOM> when hit, then oh well… Snipers can usually call in fires from Mortars, FA, CAS, etc. But it may be denied if collateral damage, etc. may occur. But that is very much situational. One presumes warning shots were fired in an attempt to not turn non-insurgents (or their surviving relatives) into insurgents. Chances are unless you can read minds … you have to be careful who you think is a "good guy" or "bad guy" … A conundrum with Guerrilla/Insurgent/Partisan Warfare for a very, very long time.
Anyone that picks up a weapon does so to use it, or to sell it to someone who will use it. Either way – valid target. Bingo ! |
| goragrad | 25 Jan 2019 9:08 p.m. PST |
Actually, I would expect that quite a few people in a region with an active insurgency might wish to have weapons without actually being insurgents. Particularly in regions with multiple factions. And i some of those regions people have long memories. |
| Lion in the Stars | 25 Jan 2019 9:16 p.m. PST |
Yes, but the US discussion point on that was "by all means, keep an AK for your house. But out on the streets, let the US soldiers deal with it." |
| Legion 4 | 26 Jan 2019 11:01 a.m. PST |
Actually, I would expect that quite a few people in a region with an active insurgency might wish to have weapons without actually being insurgents.
Particularly in regions with multiple factions.
i some of those regions people have long memories. Yes, as I said, in insurgencies, it always has been hard to tell who is who. Especially in that region, with all the various religious, tribal, ethnic, etc. affiliations, etc. Yes we all know they have a long memory. Some still refer to the US and West in general as Crusaders. And when was the last Crusade, about 500-600 years ago ? That appears to be one of the big problems in the region and places like A'stan etc. Many have not really moved into the 20th, let alone the 21st Century. And it seems like some/many have no intentions to do so any time soon.
Hearts & minds is all well and good, and has it's place, etc. Unless it costs you, i.e. … You or your comrades die trying to sort out who is who when bullets start flying around in your direction. If they can't "fix" it, you certainly are not in matter of seconds when coming under fire, AFAIK.
Again, unless one can read minds …
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