View Full Version : Charles J. Whitman - A Half-Century of Time.
Old Dog New Trick
07-31-2016, 13:54
Tomorrow, August 1, 2016, (Austin, TX., August 1, 1966) will be the 50th Anniversary of the first "Active Shooter" in American history. What lessons have we learned from Charles Whitman, or better yet what lessons have not been learned since then?
First a YouTube clip from Full Metal Jacket: https://youtu.be/a5IWK9sRYTs
History: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/an-ex-marine-goes-on-a-killing-spree-at-the-university-of-texas
From this we could debate type of weapons used and whether the AR-15 is any better or worse than a hunting rifle or military rifle of the time? We could debate whether or not we have made adequate strides in mental health treatment and understanding of mental health issues.
Thinking of and about issues of the past five, ten, and twenty years...are we any better or worse off than we (the country) and the police were on that fateful day when it apparently all began?
One thing I want the readers to take away from this (if you don't know/read the history of this.) The citizens of Austin, TX were there with guns (rifles/pistols) assisting the police (out gunned at the time) and without them the police by themselves probably would never have stopped this at the 96th minute.
Sure our police are better equipped and better trained than back then but they are still minutes away when seconds count.
Last night in Austin, there was a shooting. One woman died others injured and as of now the shooter is on the loose. No motive or relationship is revealed at present.
Current threats against law enforcement by BLM and supporters with military experience make something like what Whitman did all the more important.
Your thoughts and opinions?
I had never heard this side of the story. http://m.amarillo.com/news/texas-news/2016-07-30/good-guy-gun-helped-stop-1966-ut-sniper-attack#
Old Dog New Trick
07-31-2016, 14:19
^^^Don't worry most people haven't. Thanks for posting that.
I know of the story and of the incident, especially after this scene from the movie Full Metal Jacket .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5IWK9sRYTs ...
but the one question I have, for those around at the time that it happened is, did the media play up the fact that Whitman was in the Marine Corps? Just like the media is playing up the fact that today's shooters were prior military, if not Islamic terrorists (which they're afraid to say) ...
I bring this up because after the recent Dallas shooting, all I saw leading the media's narrative, was that the shooter was a former soldier (USA).
Add to it, was there a media hysteria of the fact that Oswald was a prior Marine as well?
mark46th
07-31-2016, 15:04
I like that citizens joined in with the police in trying to shoot Whitman. It was in Texas and a lot of folks kept a rifle in their cars and trucks. Can you imagine if citizens joined in today?
Old Dog New Trick
07-31-2016, 15:24
I know of the story and of the incident, especially after this scene from the movie Full Metal Jacket .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5IWK9sRYTs ...
but the one question I have, for those around at the time that it happened is, did the media play up the fact that Whitman was in the Marine Corps? Just like the media is playing up the fact that today's shooters were prior military, if not Islamic terrorists (which they're afraid to say) ...
I bring this up because after the recent Dallas shooting, all I saw leading the media's narrative, was that the shooter was a former soldier (USA).
Add to it, was there a media hysteria of the fact that Oswald was a prior Marine as well?
IIRC in both cases it was played down, not inescapable but not as today's media are reporting or not reporting. However in Whitman's case it was played up that he was a trained sniper - not true. And in Oswalds' case he was a communist sympathizer trained in rifle marksmanship by the Russians - again TTBOMK not true.
It all comes down to who controls the media and what revisionist history is to be told.
Read this from San Antonio: https://www.google.com/amp/www.expressnews.com/news/texas/amp/AP-WAS-THERE-1966-University-of-Texas-clock-8844968.php?client=safari
What was it - slugs or a buck shot pellet between the eyes?
Team Sergeant
07-31-2016, 15:35
Charles J. Whitman was NOT a sniper, not even by a stretch.
Reporters, journalists and hollywood refers to anyone with a rifle as a "sniper".
Charles J. Whitman was a Marine "sharpshooter", nothing more nothing less.
And Charles J. Whitman is probably the very reason that active duty level one snipers receive and must pass psychological tests and interviews with a shrink.
If you pray, pray that a real sniper never loses it. So for it's never happened, that I'm aware of anyway.
Divemaster
07-31-2016, 17:01
Charles J. Whitman was NOT a sniper, not even by a stretch.
Reporters, journalists and hollywood refers to anyone with a rifle as a "sniper".
Charles J. Whitman was a Marine "sharpshooter", nothing more nothing less.
And Charles J. Whitman is probably the very reason that active duty level one snipers receive and must pass psychological tests and interviews with a shrink.
If you pray, pray that a real sniper never loses it. So for it's never happened, that I'm aware of anyway.
Yeah, the MMPI was a hoot.
mojaveman
07-31-2016, 17:16
The Remington 700 6mm rifle that CW used that day was actually sold at a gun auction a couple years ago. Don't know why anyone would want to buy it though. I think it would be cursed.
http://chron.com/news/houston-texas/texas/article/Rifle-reported-to-be-used-in-Charles-Whitman-5777479.php
Team Sergeant
08-01-2016, 08:35
The Remington 700 6mm rifle that CW used that day was actually sold at a gun auction a couple years ago. Don't know why anyone would want to buy it though. I think it would be cursed.
http://chron.com/news/houston-texas/texas/article/Rifle-reported-to-be-used-in-Charles-Whitman-5777479.php
Personally I'd buried Charles J. Whitman with that rifle stuck up his arse..........;)
The Remington 700 6mm rifle that CW used that day was actually sold at a gun auction a couple years ago. Don't know why anyone would want to buy it though. I think it would be cursed.
http://chron.com/news/houston-texas/texas/article/Rifle-reported-to-be-used-in-Charles-Whitman-5777479.php
People can be freaks. Look at how many people pay a lot of money for drawings, writings, etc. from convicted serial killers who are serving life or death sentences. Yep...that's what I want hanging on my walls. :rolleyes: