Mike
1 May 2000, 14:41
from http://www.mrc.com
> 3) Did the INS SWAT team member caught in action in the infamous AP photo, as he held an MP-5 while reaching for Elian,
have the safety on the gun in the "on" or "off" position. "On" according to ABC News. And "off" according to ABC News. MRC
analyst Jessica Anderson caught conflicting information reported by ABC News on April 22 and then five days later.
-- ABC News reporter John Miller on the April 22 World News Tonight, the day of the raid:
"This was a very standard, dynamic entry, is what they would call it professionally, and that of course, if you look at that photo, that is the photo opportunity that the U.S. Department of
Justice wanted to avoid, the ninja-suited SWAT member tearing the child away from the loving surrogate family. But if you look at
the photo closely, you see the safety is in the off position, that means the gun is ready to fire -- that is normal during a dynamic entry -- the finger is not on the trigger, it's outside the trigger guard -- that is how those teams are trained -- and the gun is pointed down and to the right of the two subjects in the photo, which shows that that SWAT team member is using caution in that entry."
-- ABC News reporter Chris Bury on the April 27 Nightline:
"In explaining that frightening photograph, the INS officials make a couple of points. One, that the finger of the border patrol tactical officer is not on the trigger. Two, that the safety switch on the gun, known as an MP-5, is on the safe position. The agents tell us they were under orders, because of the extreme volatility of the situation, to have their safety mechanisms on. Nightline has shown the photograph to an independent firearms
expert and editor at James Infantry Weapons and he confirms what the INS says, that the safety is on."
> 3) Did the INS SWAT team member caught in action in the infamous AP photo, as he held an MP-5 while reaching for Elian,
have the safety on the gun in the "on" or "off" position. "On" according to ABC News. And "off" according to ABC News. MRC
analyst Jessica Anderson caught conflicting information reported by ABC News on April 22 and then five days later.
-- ABC News reporter John Miller on the April 22 World News Tonight, the day of the raid:
"This was a very standard, dynamic entry, is what they would call it professionally, and that of course, if you look at that photo, that is the photo opportunity that the U.S. Department of
Justice wanted to avoid, the ninja-suited SWAT member tearing the child away from the loving surrogate family. But if you look at
the photo closely, you see the safety is in the off position, that means the gun is ready to fire -- that is normal during a dynamic entry -- the finger is not on the trigger, it's outside the trigger guard -- that is how those teams are trained -- and the gun is pointed down and to the right of the two subjects in the photo, which shows that that SWAT team member is using caution in that entry."
-- ABC News reporter Chris Bury on the April 27 Nightline:
"In explaining that frightening photograph, the INS officials make a couple of points. One, that the finger of the border patrol tactical officer is not on the trigger. Two, that the safety switch on the gun, known as an MP-5, is on the safe position. The agents tell us they were under orders, because of the extreme volatility of the situation, to have their safety mechanisms on. Nightline has shown the photograph to an independent firearms
expert and editor at James Infantry Weapons and he confirms what the INS says, that the safety is on."