30 Nov 00

The loudest gun?

I had a conversation today with a colleague who is a well known homicide investigator. He talked about interviews he has had with homicide witnesses:

"In the minds of typical bystanders, the weak "pop" of mouse guns is not particularly frightening. In fact, it engenders perilous curiosity in the minds of many. I've talked with numerous witnesses who indicated that there were actually drawn to the sound of what turned out to be gunfire, but what they thought was firecrackers.

Interestingly, when high-powered handguns, shotguns, or rifles are involved, bystanders typically run away and/or dive for cover! In a number of cases I've investigated, the first few rounds fired were from mouse guns, and people started to gather around to see what was happening. When a high-powered pistol started returning fire (41Mg in one case, a 357Mg in another), everyone ran away."

Lesson: At the turn of the 20th Century, the World's armies resisted incorporating machine guns and rapid-fire, rotary Gatling Guns into their inventory, complaining that the supply system could never keep them in ammunition. Machine guns eventually sold, not on the basis of their destructive potential, but because they made a lot of noise! For centuries, military commanders have looked at ways to make a lot of noise on the battlefield, knowing that it demoralized the enemy. From Zulu warriors beating on their shields and stomping, in unison, on the ground, to entire brass bands marching into battle playing their instruments for all they were worth, noise has been an important military tool.

On an individual level, there may be something to be said for high-pressure, hyper-velocity pistol bullets, such as is made by Cor-Bon. I would never discount the important of accuracy and sound personal tactics, but a defending blast from one's pistol may command attention from those who are otherwise difficult to impress!

/John