If you look during the struggle at the beginning, it is quite obvious that George C. Scott didn't shoot the town kid, so why did he take responsibility? Perhaps he felt guilty, but he acted as though he thought he'd actually shot the kid. Any thoughts?
shareIt was his gun that shot him. I think before that when General Bache was heading out, he was debating on whether or not to have his gun loaded. Maybe he was uncomfortable bringing it at all.
He said that he didn't know there was a round in the chamber...maybe he did...but no one can excuse him for not checking.
It's just normal procedure to take people in for questioning. If General Bache had not had his heart attack, it probably would have taken a while, but after interviews with the General, the townies, and the cadets, he probably would not have been charged with murdre...maybe negligent homicide or something lke that since it was his gun and he was involved in the scuffle.
If you're innocent and you're a man of honor, you just hope and believe that things will turn out right in the end.
Anyone experienced with firearms should know better than to have a round chambered until youre ready to use it. IMHO
shareAnyone experienced with the 1911 Colt will tell you that it is perfectly safe to carry with a round in the chamber. In fact that is how many police who carried the gun in previous decades wold carry on the street. It takes a lot of pressure on the trigger(several pounds)to fire the weapon in that condition. This proves that the townie kid who fired the shot was squeezing the trigger hard in an attempt to kill the general.
shareIt has been explained to me at gun shops that a handgun for a LEO has a much stiffer trigger. So much so, they are not inclined to sell any to the general public for that reason. Their explanation is, when the officer squeezes the trigger, he has to be extra damn sure he wants to. No accidents allowed.
shareIt wasmy impression that the General Officers sidearm was a .32 caliber Colt Automatic pistol Issued to him when he gets his star.
This may have changed in the 20 some years since the film.
Same operation as the .45, grip and thumb safety. Hammerless and smaller caliber
would still have killed the kid though
I'd rather go hunting with Dick Cheney, than driving with Ted Kennedy
That makes no sense. A handgun for LEO is "safer" due to a stiffer trigger pull and they aren't sold to the public for this reason? I also don't buy the assertion that LEO handguns actually have stiffer trigger pulls. Having a trigger pull that is too stiff negatively affects accuracy. Would they rather have police officers miss thier targets, possibly hitting bystanders? Handguns used for competition have much lighter triggers than standard firearms, but they are strongly discouraged due to the reasons you state. LEO's buy the same firearms you can walk into your local gun shop and buy.
I don't have an opinion. The word "opinion" implies the possibility I'm wrong.
Military training is fairly standard--you DO NOT chamber a round until you're ready to use your sidearm. Police training is completely different. The theory is (in military training) that if it gets to the point that you have to use your sidearm, you should have plenty of time to put a round in the chamber. With police, you may not have time to chamber the round before you have to use it.
shareA signature said:
"It is not enough to like a film. You must like it for the right reasons."
- Pierre Rissient
I say:
It is enough to like a film. It is like a woman, reasons are dealt with later...
Actually, the trigger on a 1911 is lighter than many other pistols due to the fact that it is a single action. A "safe-action" pistol such as a Glock or a double action pistol such as a Sig 226 (with the hammer uncocked) have much, much higher trigger pull weights. The 1911 does have a grip safety though, which requires the pistol to be held in the proper position by the shooter. Very hard to "accidentally" discharge a 1911.
I don't have an opinion. The word "opinion" implies the possibility I'm wrong.
I disagree. Police, military, and average civilians with CCW permits almost always carry with a round in the chamber. If you actually need to use your firearm for defense, there will most likely not be enough time to chamber a round. Having said that, I have two issues with the film:
1. His pistol was for presentation purposes only. In that case, you would not carry it with a round in the chamber. In the film he state that he forgot it was loaded. Why have a loaded pistol laying around in it's presentation box?
2. He was carrying a 1911, which is a single action pistol. Not only must the chamber be loaded, but the hammer must be manually cocked back before the gun can fire. Why was the hammer cocked back, and why didn't he notice it when he placed it in the holster? Also, the 1911 has a manual safety. Why wasn't the safety engaged? Most people that carry a 1911 with the hammer cocked also engage the safety (i.e. "cocked and locked").
But again, this is Hollywood. Sew up the plot holes and you no longer have a basis for the movie.
I don't have an opinion. The word "opinion" implies the possibility I'm wrong.