Yep, I really feel good about these private armies.

[shooter503]

Guard opens fire outside Walter Reed

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070620...ed_shooting;_ylt=Ar0D7s0uCQMz3qDZOHlVwA5H2ocA

WASHINGTON - An armed security guard at Walter Reed Army Medical Center opened fire at another guard Wednesday outside a busy entrance to the hospital, police said. No one was injured.
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The guards had been arguing at about 8:30 a.m. when one of them fired as many as 10 shots, Lt. Jimmie Riley said.

The other guard, who was not hit, ran to a nearby house to call police, Riley said. The guard who fired the shots was taken into custody.

"We're very fortunate," Riley said. "It could've been tragic."

The guards are employed by a private security firm, which is under contract to Walter Reed.

Police did not immediately release the identities of the guards.

The hospital in Washington is the Army's premier center for treating injured soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan
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First of all I am amazed that they employ apparently unstable people.
Second, I am amazed, although grateful, he was not able to hit the other guard despite firing ten shots.
Third, why was he apparently taken into custody by the military, is this not a civil offense.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Can't shoot worth a damn

I'm not sure whether I'm more worried about the quality of their background checks or the quality of their training.

Ten shots?

Hits nothing?



And then . . . two guards arguing = shooting??



And the guards work for THE SAME COMPANY??



OMG!

 

[Titan6]

The military takes custody as he was on a military installation (Federal Property) at the time of the offense. They may transfer him over to the feds or a state agency later depending upon the local agreements.

If the other guard was running away it might have been difficult to hit him with a pistol unless the shooter was very well trained. Most of do not train to shoot at retreating targets but I can assure the farther and faster away someone gets the harder they are to hit.

 

[RPCVYemen]

Another successful privatization effort by our federal goverment. it sure makes me feel good to know the caliber of folks guarding our wounded vets.

 

[dmrodco]

you had better be more concerned WHO do you think is guarding the gates at the bases ?

 

[The Deer Hunter]

Well its probably over zealoused mall ninjas anyways.

Poor social skills+poor accuracy+private security firm=bad situation.

 

[Johannes_Paulsen]

Another successful privatization effort by our federal goverment. it sure makes me feel good to know the caliber of folks guarding our wounded vets.

Yep. 'Cause no one in the U.S. Army has ever shot at a brother solider in anger.

 

[ar10]

Hasn't anyone figured out yet the free enterprise is the wave of the future. And along with it is NAFTA. Pretty soon we'll have the Illegals guarding our bases and borders.

 

[atk]

This reminds me of a story my grandfather would tell. It was during WWII. He was stationed in MA. I don't know the base/camp he was at, but it was his job to patrol the beach (I think it was Nahant) for German submarines. It was a 2 man patrol, and would run 24 hours a day.

He and his buddy were armed with Springfield rifles, and 5 rounds of ammunition, apiece. If the Germans were to land, they figured they'd fire all 5 rounds, then start throwing rocks.

So, one night, there's my granddad and his buddy returning from their patrol. They're tired, and bored, and walking toward the guard post. At about 100 yards, the guard opens fire on them.

The patrol takes cover behind some rocks, and they holler at the guard, "Hey! Joe! It's us!" Joe didn't hear them - or maybe he did - and kept on shooting.

My grandfather didn't think he had much other choice, so the two man patrol shot back. My grandfather always said that they weren't trying to hit him, just get him to stop shooting. I suppose he may have said "hurt", not "hit", as hitting him would probably have worked

The shooting must have ended pretty quick, with 5 rounds per person.

The next day, my grandfather went to his platoon sergeant, and told him what happened. The platoon sergeant took my grandfather, and his patrol-mate to meet the guard. The plt sgt then proceeded to rip the guard a new one. No man in that platoon was allowed to have such terrible aim.

 

[Titan6]

XD- We already do. You didn't think all the mercanaires in Iraq were former SEALs did you?

 

[GRIZ22]

The military takes custody as he was on a military installation (Federal Property) at the time of the offense. They may transfer him over to the feds or a state agency later depending upon the local agreements.


Anyone can take custody but the military has no mechanism for prosecuting civilians. They will be prosecuted in a Federal Court unles the US Attorney wants to turn it over and they accept the case in a State Court.

 

[S.P.E.C.T.R.E.]

XD- We already do. You didn't think all the mercanaires in Iraq were former SEALs did you?

What the hell does this story have to do with Iraq?

Also, to the OP, I've worked as a security guard, and they attract the absolute worst of the worst. To get hired, all you needed was a clean criminal record and a high school diploma. That's it. We got all the laziest, most retarded assclowns that managed to stay out of jail. Maybe the gov't could increase the standards for their contract security, but when you pay a guy $9 an hour to stand a post, you get what you pay for.

 

[Dravur]

Wow..

I was wondering where Gecko45 ended up. They probably got into an argument over the 22lr and the tactical wheelbarrow.

 

[Correia]

How the hell do you get "private armies" out of this?

A security guard, who probably makes $10 an hour, screwed up.

I clicked on this link thinking it was about Blackwater or something, and I get Gecko45. Give me a break.

Wait 'till I tell Nightcrawler that he is part of a "private army". He'll think that is all sorts of cool.

But please, let's not let stuff like reality get in the way of a good internet whine session. I'm sure that this guy is tied to Haliburton, the War On Drugs, George Bush, Iraq, Nancy Pelosi, the militarization of law enforcement, psychotropic drugs, scientology, and the Reptoids of the Hollow Earth somehow too.