Coast Guard fires at shark to protect crew swimming in the ocean

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Aunt Marg

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To, Pecos, FastTrax, and any/all other military vets.

Would love for you to weigh-in on this for me.

I can understand a cool-down, but I don't like seeing the rounds being directed so closely to the swimmers.

Pecos. I recall a story you shared related to your experience while swimming in the Suez Canal with a sharp-shooter stationed above.

 

WOW. Man oh man. Spear guns and bang sticks aside If I were swimming around in that water I don't know who I would have feared more, the shark or the USCG officer blasting away. I'm not former military but it appears that the shark was moving rather slow and from what I interpret I presume once the shark is spotted at a fair distance from the swimmers he should have turned that area into lead foam. In deference to the situation I know full well that the closer one is to the waterline the glare of the sun will obscure your vision rendering an exact fix on a moving object much less then the persons on the higher deck of the pleasure boat. To bad somebody who's skilled in long arms on the pleasure boat didn't have a gun because this situation would have been over in one or two shots. Just my humble opinion but the swimmers and the USCG officer was extremely lucky that he didn't wind up shooting a swimmer.
 

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I will probably get slammed for this and I understand that but humans go swimming in the natural habitat of the sharks and the USCG has to shoot at the sharks. I understand the reasoning for the shooting at the shark but still seem wrong to me.
 
Aunt Marg said:
To, Pecos, FastTrax, and any/all other military vets.

Would love for you to weigh-in on this for me.

I can understand a cool-down, but I don't like seeing the rounds being directed so closely to the swimmers.

Pecos. I recall a story you shared related to your experience while swimming in the Suez Canal with a sharp-shooter stationed above.

Click to expand...

StarSong said:
Well done by the Coast Guard sharpshooter!
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MarkinPhx said:
I will probably get slammed for this and I understand that but humans go swimming in the natural habitat of the sharks and the USCG has to shoot at the sharks. I understand the reasoning for the shooting at the shark but still seem wrong to me.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't worry about getting slammed because I would presume that the members here fully understand that this is what Senior forums is all about. The fair exchange of informative dialog, opinions, ideas and to debate in a fair and forthright manner. No flaming, trolling or inappropriate remarks. Take care and GOD Bless.
 
The sharp shooter knew what he was doing. By the way, when a bullet hits the water, it is slowed to a non lethal trajectory. This was something many WWII airmen and sailors were grateful for during WWII when they were stranded in lifeboats at sea and surrounded by sharks. Those who were in the South Pacific water for days or weeks at a time needed to cool down and would go in the water, while those who had guns would shoot at the sharks or even grapple with them by hitting them with fists or oars. Louis Zamperini's life raft was strafed by a Zero several times and he got into the water and it saved him. Miraculously, they did not sink.
 
I don’t know the Coast Guard mission but is it immaterial I guess when human life is endangered. The CoastGuard Officer is probably experienced with multiple firearms.
Were it me in the water and sharks are swimming near by. I would welcome the action
taken. So from me, here’s a hearty well done.
 
I commend Aunti M. for posting this and like, StarSong, MarkinPhx and me she didn't know the full story and even if she did I will stand by her comment. Lewkat having been in the military fully understood and advised us what actually happened by his own personal experience. Thanks Lewkat. I just found the story on Fox News. Everybody in the video were USCG members. another video shows the entire incident. The big boat was a cutter and the little boat was one of those fast attack boats that I see all the time patrolling harbors. I'll post it here in a bit unless somebody else post it.
 
Thank you to everyone for dropping-by to check it out and voice your take on it.

I'm glad no sharks were harmed in the video.

Very interesting about the rounds being reduced to a non-lethal category once they hit the water.

I've come across similar footage of military personnel swimming in open water, and the thought of sharks never failed to cross my mind.
 

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