U.S. police get a gadget that will enable shooting around corners

The device breaks rule #1 and #4.

Replace my field of view with a 4" LCD screen? No thanks.

Yep, it won't be long before some robo-cop-wannabe shoot an innocent.

The more you make it like a video game the less likely you are to think before you pull the trigger.

High CDI factor

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Translation?

How do your argue that your life was in immediate danger when the BG can't see you?

Those things are retarded. You give up a tremendous amount of firepower and speed. It is a pistol on an extension with a video camera. You have a very small field of view and you lose the ability to react quickly if the situation changes.

Looks like extra crap to carry around and keep track of.

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No, you just go out and hire someone else, give them specialized training, and tax the sheep to support another sheepdog.

The Sturmgewehr 44 had a curved barrel for shooting around corners.

Not a new idea, really..

How do your argue that your life was in immediate danger when the BG can't see you?

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wrong rules of engagement - I assume the target market would be those engaging active shooters

I concur it's a gimmick that may never get used. We'll see. . . or maybe not - we rarely get the details of urban street fights in Iraq or Israel.

CDI = Chicks Dig It; i.e. "cool guy" stuff.

Sorry, I should have spelled it out or used something else.

Oh, and the MSRP is somewhere around $5,000, iirc.

Silly toy. So, I see it has a rail on the "inside" top--probably so you can straighten it out for 99.99% of it's usefulness and have a shoulder weapon that's not quite as good as a rifle, a highly gizmoed handgun with all kinds of junk likely to break at the wrong time, and a TV screen to light you up with its glare and wreck your night vision.

My money's on the BG.

ironvic

So, I have seen in on Future weapons and heard it talked about. Here is my theory.

1. If I got one for x-mas it would warrant a range trip.
2. I would not spend more than $100 on it not the 5k MSRP
3. I wonder what "side recoil" feels like
4. Seems like a dumb idea
5. I have no military experience so I might be missing usefulness.

It's for specialized use with entry teams. It is a niche weapon, to be used in very limited situations and with other people, armed with 'normal' weapons, positioned with the user. The problem of walls offering poor cover can be addressed with body bunkers and ballistic shielding. Essentially, it is a weapon for standoffs, and can actually be used to end the confrontation without bloodshed ("If you come around this corner, I'll shoot!" "Guess what? We don't have to come around the corner. Now, drop the gun and come out.").

I know it's advertised as a generalized building-clearing device, but I honestly don't know how useful it is in that role, due to the complexity/slowness of operation, the need to have multiple people up at the corner just hanging out while the gizmo works, and the lack of actual cover provided by most walls.

It most certainly is NOT a general-use sidearm.

Mike

Looks like a must-have for the modern, well-equiped Mall Ninja!

We in the US don't have the same police/tactical issues that the Israelis and European SWAT teams have. Those issues have prompted what we would consider "liberal" use-of-force policies that don't apply here. American cops are generally trying to apprehend criminals, rather than neutralizing them. This has changed somewhat in the post Columbine/post 9/11 world, but only somewhat.

I think this might be useful as a specialist weapon in a MOUT situation, like in Fallujah in 2004. There, walls are generally cover, not just concealment, and the use-of-force issues are strict enough to prevent the old grenade-and-spray-of-automatic-weapons-fire for fear of collateral damage, but liberal enough to smoke anyone who is not actively trying to surrender.

I think this is a perfect application for a Glock 18 or Beretta 93r. This would eliminate their deficiencies and allow for the cornershot application.

-John