My article, "The JFK assassination - Could Oswald have made the shots?"

[Trebor]

Here's my latest Michigan Firearms Examiner article on the JFK assassination.

A look at the JFK assassination at 50 years - Could Oswald have made the shots?

"The assassination of President John F. Kennedy, 50 years ago today, continues to capture the imagination of the public. The details of that day have been researched, written about, and argued over from when the echoes of the shots faded in Dealey plaza to now, a half-century later.

The 50th Anniversary of the shooting is a good time to take a look at one belief seized upon by many conspiracy theorists: The idea that the identified assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald lacked the equipment, and more importantly the skill, to make the fatal shots.

Because practically every element of the assassination, and the investigation, has been disputed by some conspiracy theory or another we will limit the discussion to one topic. The question is this: Could Oswald have fired three shots with a Carcano carbine from the Texas Schoolbook Depository, and hit the President twice, at distances up to 81 meters, in the roughly 5 ¼ to 8 ½ seconds allowed by most estimates."

 

[jamesjames]

This is in pretty poor taste for today's remembrance

 

[Trebor]

"This is in pretty poor taste for today's remembrance"

I disagree. With the anniversary all the conspiracy theories are being dragged out and dusted off. I think it's important that people realize that it didn't take a "master sniper" or "magic bullet" and a deliberate, rational, look at the evidence was called for.

Now, I will agree, it could have been tacky, but I tried to actually underplay the sensationalism of it, if anything. The title does sum it up though: Was Oswald capable of the assassination with his tools and skill level? Many people argue that he wasn't, I try to show why he was.

 

[Robert]

It has been proven several times that even an average shooter with little training can make the shots.

 

[Matno]

This is in pretty poor taste for today's remembrance

Seems a little overly sensitive. Nobody in their right mind reveres JFK as a good president or even a good person. If we're not commemorating the scandal/questions surrounding his untimely death, then what are we commemorating? Personally, I doubt Oswald was that good of a shooter.

 

[savanahsdad]

I don't think he could , but he might have got lucky ,I have dropped 3 deer in 20sec 1 standing and 2 running , but none were head shots and 2 were close and one not , so maybe ??..................

 

[Ignition Override]

My questions will be recycled after midnight, when the timing is better on November 23rd....or on the 24th.

 

[David E]

It has been proven several times that even an average shooter with little training can make the shots.

Then why is it still debated so fervently?

.

 

[jamesjames]

I'm in my right mind, thank you very much. Have you no sense of decency?

 

[rcmodel]

Myself, and several other 5th. Army AMU rifle team champions / Vietnam snipers I served with didn't think he could have made the shots with the Carcano rifle, and off-set 3/4" .22 scope he used.

I also fail to understand how a head shot from the back with a FMJ military bullet blew out the back, and not the front of his head.


I didn't believe it then.
And I still don't believe it now!!

And yes, I agree this was a very poor choice of days to bring it up again!!

rc

 

[Ignition Override]

Either NPR or another station today played the first radio broadcasts made by CBS' Walter Cronkite when the assassination happened.
Maybe it was another FM station when I was south of Clarkesville TN.

That network considered the story's graphic physical details, which were part of the transmissions from Dallas' Parklane Hospital, to be ok at approx. 15:00 Central.

 

[David E]

This is in pretty poor taste for today's remembrance

Ok, are we not "in remembrance" of JFK being assassinated on this day 50 years ago?

If today was his birthday or Presidenrs Day, then you'd have a glimmer of a point.

.

 

[Ian]

Nice job with the article! You did a really thorough job addressing all the reasons that people use to argue that Oswald didn't do it.

I've also seen some slow-motion footage of a 6.5 Carcano round from the same batch as Oswald's fired into a block of ballistics gel from the same model of Carcano. It was part of a study done by a forensic examiner around here. Very interesting to watch - the bullet went through the gel block (it was something like 16" thick) in a nice straight line, and then began to tumble immediately upon exiting. Not what one would expect, but just like the assassination round did.

 

[David E]

Myself, and several other 5th. Army AMU rifle team champions / Vietnam snipers I served with didn't think he could have made the shots with the Carcano rifle, and off-set 3/4" .22 scope he used.

I also fail to understand how a head shot from the back with a FMJ military bullet blew out the back, and not the front of his head.


I didn't believe it then.
And I still don't believe it now!!

And yes, I agree this was a very poor choice of days to bring it up again!!

rc

The known facts don't support your position.

Would tomorrow have been a better day to bring it up?

I thought the article was well reasoned and presented.

 

[red04montels]

There's no way Oswald did it alone. No way. They showed that it was difficult enough to get 3 shots off in 5.60 seconds, not to mention a moving vehicle and small target.

Also, since we all know how velocity works, how did a piece of JFK's skull land behind him to the left, when the apparent shot came from behind him to the right? Must have been a random gust of wind.

 

[Red Wind]

Good article,Trebor. I agree on all points.Oswald,a good shot by Marine standards, though not a expert,212 sharpshooter, was capable of making the 2 shots, the last at about 80 yards, at a slow moving target going slightly downhill directly away from him at 11 to 15 MPH.

And the time was 8.5 seconds to get off 2 shots. The first shot missed. Not difficult for a good marksman.

 

[rcmodel]

The known facts don't support your position.

The only 'known facts' are the facts the government let be known.

The actual files, evidence, and witnesses that already hadn't already been 'disappeared' in the weeks and months following the shooting are sealed in the national archives.
And will not be released until after we are all dead.

If all of the facts are actually released then??

rc

 

[hso]

Done to death and conspiracy theory material isn't THR material anyway since it just leads to "Yes it does"/"No it doesn't" sorts of threads with people adhering to their long held personal beliefs.