Danger from soldier’s rifle

THE EDITOR: Once again, the State, short of a permanent answer to crime, has thrust the Army into aiding the police in keeping bandits out of the shopping areas and thus ensuring the safety of shoppers and citizens.

Whereas this move could bring relief to many, its inherent danger lurks in the choice of weaponry these soldiers are armed with. True, the menacing looks combined with the formidable assault rifles they carry while on patrol would deter any criminal from tangling with these warriors. However a powerful soldier’s rifle poses a danger to the public even if the projectile shot at a bandit hits the target. The tremendous muzzle velocity almost certainly ensures that the projectile not only hits and perhaps kills the bandit it is aimed at, but indeed also passes through this person and still possesses enough velocity to strike some innocent person beyond the target. Some army marksmen are able to hit targets 1000 yards away with arms similar to those in the possession of our soldiers on patrol.

The State began putting soldiers to guard post offices during the late 1970s after a spate of robberies. At that time they were armed with long barreled and very powerful SLR rifles which can kill up to a mile away. MTS has since taken up this duty armed with side arms which are far more appropriate. Surely the soldiers who are put on these patrols know that they cannot use their powerful rifles on a crowded street without injuring or killing innocent people. The thing to do is to properly arm them with side arms if they are to be effective.

MC DONALD JAMES
Couva