The Front Page/HOME Gun Pics/GGPs Lists The Weekend Women

Wednesday, May 14, 2008


Recycling

Kim du Toit
May 14, 2008
9:04 AM CDT

So I read this article with increasing puzzlement:

Bombing ranges have become prime hunting grounds for so-called “scrappers,” who are motivated by soaring commodity prices to take greater risks in their quest for brass, copper and aluminum. The scavenging causes headaches for the military, which cannot patrol every inch of the remote bases where spent ammunition, shrapnel and unexploded ordnance are easy to find.

“This is not just some petty crime. This is dangerous business,” said Andy Chatelin, director of range management at Twentynine Palms, which at 932 square miles is the world’s largest Marine Corps base.

Illegal scavenging of military munitions has long been an issue at military bases. But as metal prices have climbed in the past two years, scavengers have become more numerous, more audacious and more sophisticated.

Look, I’m just a civilian here—but I was a soldier, once, and it occurred to me that it makes sense that the .mil should, as it were, police their brass on these ranges, just as they do on the rifle ranges.

Yeah, I know it’s time-consuming and all that; but when I think of how much time the .mil wastes on a daily basis anyway, it seems to me that this would be an excellent punishment for minor offences.

“SPC Slakka, your uniform is a disgrace! Field Punishment #25: Brass Pickup!” then issue a couple of defaulters a truck, and make them go out and not come back until the truck bed is full of expended shell casings.

Then on a weekly basis or whatever, have the shells delivered to various scrap metal dealers in the area, with the proceeds going towards the C.O.’s discretionary fund.

I know, it’s not as satisfying as this outcome:

In May 2007, two suspected scrappers removed a Vietnam-era missile from the Twentynine Palms base. It later exploded in their Barstow home, killing both men and destroying the apartment.

But at least some good can come of it, compared to the current situation, which benefits only criminals.





Page 1 of 1 pages

Total Entries: 6278
Total Comments: 66008
Most Recent Entry: 07/06/2008 07:06 am
Most Recent Comment on: 07/06/2008 02:05 pm
Total Members: 2429
Total Logged in members: 11
Total guests: 267
Total anonymous users: 0
Most Recent Visitor on: 07/06/2008 02:43 pm
The most visitors ever was 889 on 01/10/2007 04:01 pm

Current Logged-in Members:  44Magpie  Jeff Wood  Kampfy  LibraryGryffon  P229-357Sig  Patriot in Durban S.A  RightIsRight  rs76239  Rusty Raymond  Tasmanian Devil




StatCounter



Copyright 2002 - 2008 - theothersideofkim.com / Kim du Toit. All rights reserved.

E-mails and comments become the property of Kim du Toit
This site is private property. Limited access is granted by the site owner.
Intentionally circumventing software restrictions is trespassing.



Syndication:
RSS 2.0     Atom Feed