US military weapons training provides a set of “rules” for safe handling and use of firearms.
Army, Marines, Navy, etc., they’re all very similar.
Here are 5 of the most important:
Rule 1: Treat every weapon as if it were loaded.
Rule 2: Never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot.
Rule 3: Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you’re ready to fire.
Rule 4: Keep the weapon on “safe” until you intend to fire.
Rule 5: Know your target and what is beyond it.
Seems from these photos, the Capitol Police Lieutenant on the left violated Rules 2, 3, and 5 – the guys in front of him were lucky he didn’t inadvertently shoot them.
Anybody with weapons experience knows you never put your finger on a trigger until you are in the proper combat stance (e.g., Weaver, Isosceles), cleared the area near the target, engaged the target, and are about to shoot.
At least the guy on the bottom had his finger in the proper position as required under Rule 3 – OFF the trigger.
Question remains: was he really planning to shoot unarmed trespassers?
Given the number of weapons drawn at this point, were these bozos really planning to shoot unaramed trespassers while behind locked doors and not at immediate risk of harm? If that was not their intent, why the drawn weapons?
Sure seems like they had the mindset to take a shot.
Econophysics2020 