Coast Guard cancels live-fire plans

Safety and environmental concerns have caused the U.S. Coast Guard to abandon plans to use live ammunition during training exercises on the Great Lakes.

[Lance Winslow]

There would have been no problem had they proposed live fire 20 miles south west of Florida Keys.

[Anonymous]

Everyone is so concerned about the practicing of Live-Fire exercises BUT then when the day comes that we need it and the Coast Guard is unable to do the job BECAUSE they did not train or heaven forbid accidentally shoots the wrong person because tensions get too high in a situation that could have been prepared for......then and of course then all of you same people who are speaking out against them practicing Live-Fire exercises will be the first to condemn them for not being able to perform their job. The Coast Guard has always been a life saving service and has a great safety record....I just hope the best for all of you up in the Great Lakes that time doesn't come.

[Just An Observer]

Why can't they use rubber bullets or something fabricated from another "environmentally friendly" substance? Didn't a soldier just get killed last week during one of these exercises?

[Anonymous]

There are rubber bullets but these are used for less than lethal measures and not compatible with the armament in question. No Coast Guardsman has ever been killed in one of these exercises. The Coast Guard has many many safety procedures that are maintained during live-fire exercises to prevent the accidental discharge or firing of the weapon at any live target. In fact security zones are established that are much larger than the ammunition can travel. There are people assigned to watch the radar and the area visually to ensure no one accidentally enters the zone (part of these exercises are to train people how and when to aim the weapon so as not to put innocents in danger). It will be interesting to see what they come up with now, hopefully they can find some medium as it is dangerous enough to use any machinery you are not familiar with or trained on. Imagine what it would be like to have to use a large machine gun for the first time in a "real" situation with no practice other than at a no-stress range if that is even available.

[Anonymous]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/wisc...

I find it very interesting that the Canadian (and U.S) Mayors around the Great Lakes made such a stink about the pollution a few small bullets would make if the U.S. Coast Guard had Live-Fire Exercises on the Great Lakes but that little is being said about storing Nuclear Waste so close to the same resource.(See above link for story)