[Sherman Logan]

I looked it up myself. Apparently the weapons of the Old Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns are unloaded. This is supposedly as a mark of respect, and has been, I believe the policy since the beginning.

FWIW, the practice of issuing live ammo only for specific reasons goes way back in the military, as in centuries.

Might be time to reexamine it.

[riverrunner]

The powers to be are more worried about unintentional discharges, suicides, solider on solider violent.

Then protecting a few.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

“Might be time to reexamine it.”

You got that right. Criminals and terrorists don’t respect the law, so it’s insane for the law to hamstring peace-loving citizens and honorable public servants.

[TalonDJ]

This is supposedly as a mark of respect,

Which makes no sense whatsoever. Respect? Guarding someone while unarmed? Nuts!

[Reaganite Republican]

A guy dressed up in a N American urban center like that is just a sitting duck for terrorists... what if he had ammo in that rifle?

Could have been a lot different outcome- you are right, reexamine it