View Full Version : Soldier Killed In Game Of "Quick Draw"
"Quick Draw" with loaded M9s - stupid is as stupid does...
Falmouth Soldier Slain In Deadly 'Game'
CapeCodTimes, 18 Dec 2011
A game of "quick-draw" between two soldiers in Iraq went horribly wrong, leaving Falmouth Army Sgt. Matthew Gallagher dead and his roommate facing possible murder charges, court testimony revealed Saturday.
The five-hour pretrial hearing explained how Gallagher, 22, was shot in the head and killed on June 26, 2011 by his roommate Army Sgt. Brent McBride, 25, during a game where both men would see how fast they could draw and aim their 9 mm pistols at each other.
Prosecutors said McBride held his gun to Gallagher's head and pulled the trigger. The two soldiers were deployed in Iraq as part of the 1st Cavalry Division out of Fort Hood.
(cont'd) http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111218/NEWS/112180320/-1/NEWS01
And so it goes...
Richard :munchin
Is this "game" something that is common among soldiers?
His defense is that he saw the deceased load both guns, but then was unaware his was loaded :confused::mad:
Streck-Fu
12-20-2011, 08:51
The Marines had a rash of issues with a game called "Do you trust me" where they would clear their sidearm and point it at someone and ask that question.
More than a few did not clear their weapons....:mad:
Team Sergeant
12-20-2011, 08:55
Not the first time this has happened....... I can think of a few politicians I'd like to play "quick draw" with......:munchin
Utah Bob
12-20-2011, 12:37
Stupid and senseless.:mad:
greenberetTFS
12-20-2011, 13:14
Stupid and senseless.:mad:
I completely concur.........:(
Big Teddy :munchin
Buffalobob
12-20-2011, 14:03
Similar story of an idiot allowed to handle a firearm.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2011/12/amish-girl-buggy-shooting-freak-accident/
Team Sergeant
12-20-2011, 14:16
Similar story of an idiot allowed to handle a firearm.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2011/12/amish-girl-buggy-shooting-freak-accident/
Concur, I've never actually met anyone that had an "accident" while "cleaning" a firearm. From a mile away that bullet had to be on an almost 45 degree angle.
Five bucks says the guy has a "shooting bruise" from that shot......
Accident my ass.
Concur, I've never actually met anyone that had an "accident" while "cleaning" a firearm. From a mile away that bullet had to be on an almost 45 degree angle.
Five bucks says the guy has a "shooting bruise" from that shot......
Accident my ass.
Yup. No doubt he was cleaning his muzzle loader. I'll bet that he found out that it was loaded and then decided to "clear" it the easy way.
wmaousley
12-21-2011, 00:46
What really astounds me is the fact the Army Times stated in their article that the soldiers didnt know there weapons were loaded...........
LongWire
12-21-2011, 01:10
Pretty stupid.......usually doesn't end with positive results. Damn waste......stupid kids!!!!
mdpatterson
12-21-2011, 04:37
Can't decide which guy is the bigger idiot:
1) The PFC pointing his M4 directly at his buddy.
2) The PFC who allows this and actually looks down the barrel.
3) The guy who filmed it and put it on Youtube.
http://youtu.be/rtyX3iX0f6k
While I'm guessing none of these guys will ever be SF, they are definitely all "Special" :eek:
The natural consequence of two unhealthy conditions: the stupidity of those soldiers and the complete failure to follow the first three rules of safe handling of a fire arm.
Some might call it an accident but I like to think of it as assisted natural selection.
cant hardly
12-21-2011, 11:14
.
Ret10Echo
12-21-2011, 11:20
What really astounds me is the fact the Army Times stated in their article that the soldiers didnt know there weapons were loaded...........
Lack of familiarity. We have bred a generation of soldiers that do not carry rounds routinely (let alone loaded weapons) and therfore do not have the awareness necessary to operate in such an environment. Not an excuse for stupid...just an observation.
YOMV
Sonic03svtCobra
12-21-2011, 13:52
What a bunch of idiots, time to tighten up the enlistment standards.
alright4u
12-22-2011, 06:48
I completely concur.........:(
Big Teddy :munchin
This is past stupid.
Lack of familiarity. We have bred a generation of soldiers that do not carry rounds routinely (let alone loaded weapons) and therfore do not have the awareness necessary to operate in such an environment. Not an excuse for stupid...just an observation.
YOMV
Agreed. The Army only lets these guys load and chamber when leaving the wire, but are required to carry their weapons at all times. This leads to joe and jane not respecting their weapon and treating it as an inconvinience.
How many guys AD outside the wire? Few if any.
If the Army went the other route and had everyone carry hot at all times, with one test fire a day, I bet you'd a total elimination of this kind of jackassery.
The Reaper
12-22-2011, 15:36
I disagree.
We have more soldiers now who have carried loaded weapons in and out of combat than ever before.
Maybe they are getting a little too complacent about it, but ultimately, you just can't fix stupid.
TR
alright4u
12-22-2011, 19:57
I disagree.
We have more soldiers now who have carried loaded weapons in and out of combat than ever before.
Maybe they are getting a little too complacent about it, but ultimately, you just can't fix stupid.
TR
I would think on a total force concept of Active, Reserves and Guard, more men and women from all components have served in a combat zone then at any time in our nation's history as a percentage based on the size of the total force.
Dozer523
12-22-2011, 22:37
I would think on a total force concept of Active, Reserves and Guard, more men and women from all components have served in a combat zone then at any time in our nation's history as a percentage based on the size of the total force. Read today there have been more then 487,000 National Guard deploments since 9-11
x SF med
12-23-2011, 13:05
Wow, I must really be old... I still believe you never point any firearm at anything unless you intend to destroy/kill it... and you don't pull the trigger unless you are absolutely sure that you intend to kill it.
These idiots deserved the "cleanup on aisle 7"...:rolleyes:
longrange1947
12-23-2011, 14:35
I disagree.
We have more soldiers now who have carried loaded weapons in and out of combat than ever before.
Maybe they are getting a little too complacent about it, but ultimately, you just can't fix stupid.
TR
I agree with this, the guys are carrieing all the time and become complacent. They no longer have the respect for the weapon as they have become familliar with them.
Now add young stupid decision making processes and you get this type of horse play.
Reminds me of an El Sal incident where an El Sal NCO told his young private that if he could load his weapon faster than the recruit he would shoot the recruit. You can guess how this went when the recruit loaded first. :eek:
Dozer523
12-23-2011, 17:59
Are you sure this is complacentcy?
They knew EXACTLY what they were doing. They thought about the "game" before they chose to play it. They pointed the weapons and thought about it before they pulled the triggers. This is not a negligent discharge (which is a lot more like an accident then THIS is).
This is manslaughter, and neglignt leadership and a crappy command climate all the way to at least the Bn level.
Line em up and mow some careers. "You are responsible for everything that happens or fails to happen in your command (especially if it happened before).