Happy Independance Day.... Ouch

John Canuck · Jul 5, 2012

Every year about this time, I read the same nonsense from myth-busters about rounds fired in the air not having sufficient energy to cause damage from some self-appointed physics expert. Then, I read about some brain dead schmuck who decided to try his hand at it, so he blasts a few up into the air and goes on about his drunken way.

Well, here is the story of a guy who apparently did not see the myth-busters episode. How would you like to get shot in the face, while watching some fireworks?

http://www.wtsp.com/news/topstories/art ... ing-bullet

11B3XCIB · Jul 5, 2012

I know first hand that rounds fired into the air have plenty of power left to do damage to a person. When I was overseas during OIF, Iraqis (military, insurgent, civilian) would participate in celebratory gunfire for just about any occasion, the most common of which would be Iraq winning a professional soccer game. A guy in my battalion was hit in the trapezius muscle from a falling 7.62x39mm round. It entered, penetrated, and exited the shoulder piece of his interceptor body armor and made it's way into his back. Had he not been wearing the IBA, he might have suffered some serious, if not fatal, damage. If he'd been hit directly in the head, there's no doubt it would have killed him. This was even on the FOB between mission. He was walking about 6 paces in front of me...we were heading to the aid station for immunizations.

Midnight Raver · Jul 5, 2012

People now are mostly hi-tech/low mentallity. Besides, I don't think they teach kids about gravity any more, so it is basically taken for granted.

Around here, we can hardly tell the fireworks from gunfire any more. :?

Paco · Jul 6, 2012

The Myth Busters episode said they only go non-ballistic if they are fired perfectly vertical, as the round then begins to tumble on its way back down, and that all other shots are ballistic.

urbancommandox · Jul 6, 2012

Remember the guy shooting steel with the fifty. It hit the steel flew up in the air and came down on his shoulder or his head?

Or even newer while not a shot in the air. The kid killed by an Amish man's musket ball from over a mile away.

John Canuck · Jul 8, 2012

2 recovering after being struck by falling bullets

What is wrong with people in Tampa?

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/07/08/2 ... truck.html

Midnight Raver · Jul 8, 2012

They're about as sharp as a sack of wet mice. :roll:

Schultz · Jul 8, 2012

John Canuck said:
What is wrong with people in Tampa?

From someone who unfortunately used to live there Do ya want the long version or the short. Actually I still have a few friends there but for the majority let's just say there are a lot of lights on in vacant heads.