Leave it to the French... "Shooting demo uses real bullets, injures 16"

[Guest Verbal Kint]

Shooting demo uses real bullets, injures 16

Link: CNN

PARIS, France (AP) -- A military shooting demonstration in southeast France on Sunday left 16 people wounded, including children, when real bullets were used instead of blank ones, officials said.

Four of the wounded were in serious condition, including a 3-year-old child, Bernard Lemaire, chief of the regional administration in Aude, said on France-3 television. Fifteen of the injured were civilians.

A Defense Ministry official said the incident occurred during a demonstration of hostage-freeing techniques at the Laperrine military barracks. The official said investigators will look into why real bullets were used.

No information was immediately available about what kind of weapon was used.

The soldier who fired the shots has been detained, Lemaire said. He said the injuries were likely an accident but that it could have been a "criminal act."

In a statement, President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed his "horror" at Sunday's incident at the base, which houses the 3rd marine infantry parachute regiment.

The injured were taken to nearby hospitals, with the most seriously wounded taken to Toulouse.

[nightrunner]

umm wow......

[TripleDigitRide]

Obviously firearm safety is overrated in France.

[Guest tokarev]

Well?

What's the rest of the story?

Did France surrender?

[Guest dwrd]

Well?

What's the rest of the story?

Did France surrender?

Yes. They heard the fireworks at Eurodisney and threw down their arms.

[The Rabbi]

I presume each soldier had to load his magazine and chamber a round. How in the heck do you not realize it's live ammo??

[Daniel]

maybe he did.

[Guest Verbal Kint]

maybe he did.

+1

Sounds like this is the case, to me, as well.

[Guest bkelm18]

Well perhaps its been so long since they've had to use ammo they forgot how to tell the difference? But I'm willing to bet it was intentional.

[Guest slothful1]

Let's look on the bright side -- 16 casualties makes this the greatest French military accomplishment in over a century.

[GhostDog]

16 hurt but none killed... which in this case is a good thing.

[Guest jackdog]

incredible, find it hard to believe this was an accident.

[skipsfirearms]

Well perhaps its been so long since they've had to use ammo they forgot how to tell the difference? But I'm willing to bet it was intentional.

FUNNY!

[molonlabetn]

France's first military victory?

I do hope that the injured recovery quickly, and reconsider their citizenship. I'm just glad it didn't turn out worse.

[Guest nj.piney]

you think he might have noticed that his weapon was working automaticaly without a blank adapter. sounds strange to me .

[Guest ProguninTN]

Charles de Gaulle must be throwing a fit in his grave. Zut!!!

[bukowski548]

you think he might have noticed that his weapon was working automaticaly without a blank adapter. sounds strange to me .

You would also think he might consider it odd that everyone he was firing at kept falling down!!!! I don't think it would have taken me 16 people hitting the floor to start wondering what was going on.

I'm voting on intentional too.

buk

[Guest nraforlife]

Sad, but the military knows how to use firearms and can be trusted can't they,

[Marswolf]

Sad, but the military knows how to use firearms and can be trusted can't they,

Just like civilians with little to no training.

[Guest db99wj]

Sad, but the military knows how to use firearms and can be trusted can't they,

French and military..... The term Jumbo Shrimp has always amazed me. What is a Jumbo Shrimp? I mean, it's like Military Intelligence- the words don't go together.....

Anyone recognize that quote?

[Guest bkelm18]

French and military..... The term Jumbo Shrimp has always amazed me. What is a Jumbo Shrimp? I mean, it's like Military Intelligence- the words don't go together.....

Anyone recognize that quote?

The great George Carlin.

[Guest db99wj]

Yep! On a side note, NBC replayed the very first episode of Saturday Night Live, George Carlin as the host. It was great.

[Marswolf]

The term Jumbo Shrimp has always amazed me. What is a Jumbo Shrimp? I mean, it's like Military Intelligence- the words don't go together.....

FYI, Jumbo Shrimp are shrimp served on the "Jumbo" a restaurant at Aberdeen, a municipality on Hong Kong Island. The place has delicious food, if way overpriced because of its tourist patronage.

[Marswolf]

Yep! On a side note, NBC replayed the very first episode of Saturday Night Live, George Carlin as the host. It was great.

Of course it was great. He was high on cocaine (no kidding).

Much of the humor in SNL was drug related in the early years.

[Guest db99wj]

Of course it was great. He was high on cocaine (no kidding).

Much of the humor in SNL was drug related in the early years.

No kidding, they did have at least a 5 minute segment with Jim Henson's Muppets, which was different and a little strange.