Pennsylvania Lawmaker: Troops Guarding Nuclear Plants With Unloaded Weapons

>>>There's a difference between having a full magazine in the weapon and having a round chambered.<<<

There's a difference between having a clip in the snapped belt pocket and a live round at the ready.
About a 3 second difference I'd say.

Relax, the Guard is just there for show.

Yes, accidents do happen, but you have to trust the people you've chosen to protect the citizenry. These Natl Guard troops aren't Special Forces, but they are trained troops. Having them perform a security function with loaded mags in their ammo pouched is absurd. At the very least, they should at least have a loaded mag inserted in the rifle.

Or pistol, as the case may be. Note though, that the Guardsman in this dreadful example was a military policeman, not up to the standards of either the special forces or other combat arms forces.

But he sure looked pretty in his little black beret.

-archy-/-

Sounds pretty typical of today's government. Those in office are in general incompetent. Incompetents issue incompetent orders.

Furthermore, it may be so bad that those in office actually fear giving loaded weapons to citizen soldiers?

I think that a simple show of force is usually sufficient to give pause to anyone thinking of trying something.

You forget who "they" are: well-practiced highly-motivated suicidal homicidal sociopaths. These are people who perceive guards with unloaded weapons for what they are: weak and ineffective. A "show of force" means NOTHING, and is in fact counterproductive, when the would-be attacker realizes it's just a bluff. Perhaps more guards can be armed and rallied in a few seconds...but a great deal can happen in those few seconds.

Of note is how these disarmed (for a guard holding an unloaded rifle merely holds a poor club) guards are typically standing OUTSIDE physically secured zones & checkpoints, thus permitting an attacker to bring a great deal of ready-to-go firepower to the scene. When at airports, I have marveled at how far someone can get into the vast lobbies, with access to thousands of customers, while wearing concealing coats and hauling many cubic feet of luggage, BEFORE reaching checkpoints. The theory that an attacker would be swarmed before taking a MG off a fallen guard (note that guard is already down and his weapon unsecured) belies ignorance of how much firepower the attacker can bring to that point. By the time other out-of-sight guards have figured out what is going on, loaded their weapons (a time-consuming act significant when the attack will be over in seconds), moved to the scene, forced through panicked non-guards, and figured out what is going on, one or more well-armed attackers can easily punch through the checkpoint, set up an ambush at that bottleneck, and some are well on their way to the next phase of the attack.

That "one second to get out a magazine" plus another second to load & chamber (assuming he doesn't drop the fool thing in the process of performing a fine-motor-skill task during a massive adrenaline rush) can very well make the difference between stopping an attack and getting killed by an attacker using an already-loaded weapon.

There is absolutely no f***ing excuse for armed guards at high-risk bottlenecks to leave their weapons unloaded. Safety on and finger off the trigger is enough - if it's not, the guard is too incompetent to do the job.

A "show of force" means NOTHING, and is in fact counterproductive, when the would-be attacker realizes it's just a bluff.

I was rethinking the idea of giving pilots weapons. I am all for it, but it is probably all but inevitable that someone will have an accident some day.

Pilots carrying weapons was quite common for most of the last century. Never heard of an accident, have you? Didn't even know they were armed, did you?

Remember: guns (especially modern ones) do not just go off - someone has to pull the trigger. As long as it's holstered, there is no risk. And when the pilot is flying, there is no reason to draw that gun unless there is a far greater risk. This "gee, a gun might go off some time" drivel is pure bunk, especially compared to 3000 dead on 9/11.

Pennsylvania National Guard troops have been patrolling the state's five nuclear power plants with unloaded weapons, according to a state lawmaker.. None of this surprises me. After I returned from active duty in the late 60's, I joined a National Guard unit. We were "Federalized" on two occasions (a blackout in the northeast and the U.S. Postal strike). I was on the streets with an empty weapon each time. It was a total joke. If we don't wake up soon, we are going to have more serious problems. No one is going to protect you except yourself. Take responsibility for yourself and your loved ones now and always!

I have certainly seen plenty of lone, bored, sleepy guards

So have I. I would not want one of those sleepy guards to stretch, and crack off a .223 round through a nearby savvy traveler in an Armani suit, and come to a stop in a child down the concourse. As you said, not pretty...

Another thing I'd like to know is why the guards are not at the Limerick, Pa. plant. The two towers are always going full steamahead there! It's relatively close to Philadelphia and the airport and it's in a somewhat densely populated surrounding area. It's densely populated with friends and relatives of mine! Also it's just up the road from King of Prussia where a huge shopping district is located. Politicians are sooooo dumb!

I was doing K-9 SAR training right next to Limerick on Saturday. We were training in the area that is so close, people had to move out of the houses. I have a great view of the towers when I was on top of this ridge. I DID NOT SEE ANYONE! I was close enought to hear the buzzing of the electricity. Two A-10s flew close by, but that was only once. I heard a couple of small aircraft while I was there too. Can anyone assure me that I shouldn't worry about this?

bump!

Sorry, Snowy, no assurances here. I can't fore the life of me figure out why these towers are not being guarded 24/7. YOu are correct, they are out in areas where you are close to civilization but far enough away that terrorists could easly get tot the towers without being noticed.