Posted on Oct 9, 2014
Does the Camp Lejeune death show we need to crack down on firearm safety?
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Yesterday, Marine Lance Cpl. Brandon Little was sentenced to two years behind bars for inadvertently shooting and killing a fellow Marine outside the Camp Lejeune main gate back in April. Little’s rank and pay were also reduced to E-1, and he will receive a dishonorable discharge.
Little said he had been absent-mindedly flicking the safety switch on his M4 service rifle from “safe” to “semi” while directing traffic at the end of a 12-hour shift. When he returned to the gate house he was about to unload his weapon, but didn’t check to make sure the safety was on. He pulled back the charging handle and accidentally chambered a round. When that happened, he stood up to try to correct it, but pulled the trigger in the process, shooting Lance Cpl. Mark Boterf who was in front of him.
The lead attorney for the government argued Little should get a five-year sentence with forfeiture of all pay and rank and a dishonorable discharge for violating all four of the Marines’ cardinal firearms safety rules. Would a tougher sentence have sent a more powerful message for all Marines and service members?
On the other hand, Little’s defense pointed out he had taken full responsibility for his actions and stressed he will endure a lifetime of guilt and torment for what happened. Since this is an isolated incident, should Little’s punishment be left at that?
This tragic case certainly brings attention to the importance of weapon safety and proper procedures. The Marine’s death was an accident, but it could have easily been prevented had Little not been messing around with his gun. Are some service members becoming too comfortable with carrying such powerful weapons that they forget safety measures?
What can be done to prevent these tragedies from happening? What are some mistakes you’ve seen fellow service members make with their firearms that go against proper safety measures?
Little said he had been absent-mindedly flicking the safety switch on his M4 service rifle from “safe” to “semi” while directing traffic at the end of a 12-hour shift. When he returned to the gate house he was about to unload his weapon, but didn’t check to make sure the safety was on. He pulled back the charging handle and accidentally chambered a round. When that happened, he stood up to try to correct it, but pulled the trigger in the process, shooting Lance Cpl. Mark Boterf who was in front of him.
The lead attorney for the government argued Little should get a five-year sentence with forfeiture of all pay and rank and a dishonorable discharge for violating all four of the Marines’ cardinal firearms safety rules. Would a tougher sentence have sent a more powerful message for all Marines and service members?
On the other hand, Little’s defense pointed out he had taken full responsibility for his actions and stressed he will endure a lifetime of guilt and torment for what happened. Since this is an isolated incident, should Little’s punishment be left at that?
This tragic case certainly brings attention to the importance of weapon safety and proper procedures. The Marine’s death was an accident, but it could have easily been prevented had Little not been messing around with his gun. Are some service members becoming too comfortable with carrying such powerful weapons that they forget safety measures?
What can be done to prevent these tragedies from happening? What are some mistakes you’ve seen fellow service members make with their firearms that go against proper safety measures?
Camp Lejeune
Marine Corps
Safety
Firearms and Guns
Command Post
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 75
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I haven't seen anything like this, but it does go to show, that even though we are trained over and over again, we are still human and still make mistakes, albeit, a grave mistake in this case. There is no excuse for what happened and I honestly do think that his punishment should have been more severe, we are taught from Day 1 of BCT, at least in the Army, how to handle a firearm, and to always keep your finger off of the trigger. PERIOD.
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SGT Criss M.
Accidents happen. Hasn't everyone had a split second brain fart but was lucky that no one was hurt or nothing became of it? I've seen where a round went off while double checking to see if your weapon was clear. Fortunately, .45 was aimed at the clearing bucket that was full of sand. Unfortunately, this time someone was killed. It was an accident.
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SFC Eric Williams
There appears to be a reality that may tell a different story than the defence.
I'm concidering the weapons training all branches of the military receive.
I'm concidering the weapons training all branches of the military receive.
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GySgt Charles Smith
1. Treat every weapon as if it was loaded.
2. Never point your weapon at anything that you do not intend to shoot.
3. Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you are ready to fire.
4. Keep the weapon on safe until you intend to fire.
I have been out for over a decade and not only can I still quote the 4 firearms safety rules from memory, but I know first-hand that every Marine before they get to the rifle range at recruit training can quote them. All four were violated in order for this unfortunate incident to occur and that is why ww dropped the term "accidental discharge" in favor of the more appropriate term "negligent discharge." This incident was the direct result of a Marine "neglecting" his duty to abide by those rules at all times.
2. Never point your weapon at anything that you do not intend to shoot.
3. Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you are ready to fire.
4. Keep the weapon on safe until you intend to fire.
I have been out for over a decade and not only can I still quote the 4 firearms safety rules from memory, but I know first-hand that every Marine before they get to the rifle range at recruit training can quote them. All four were violated in order for this unfortunate incident to occur and that is why ww dropped the term "accidental discharge" in favor of the more appropriate term "negligent discharge." This incident was the direct result of a Marine "neglecting" his duty to abide by those rules at all times.
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O.K. If I read this right, this was not a mistake. Sounds like he executed his fellow service member and came up with an excuse on how he shot him.
You do not accidentally pull back a charging handle on an M4. It takes a lot of effort, even when you are trying to do it on purpose. Secondly, even if a weapon is on safe, if you pull back a charging handle of an M4 that has a loaded magazine, it will chamber a round. One of the first things in clearing a weapon is making sure there is not a load magazine in the magazine well.
There are two many "perfect" events in this story to be true....accidentally "flick the safety on fire", did not realize a magazine was in the weapon; pulled the charging handle back and accidentally loaded a round, accidentally pointed the weapon at his partner that would cause a "kill shot" if a round went off, and then accidentally pulled the trigger killing his buddy.
You do not accidentally pull back a charging handle on an M4. It takes a lot of effort, even when you are trying to do it on purpose. Secondly, even if a weapon is on safe, if you pull back a charging handle of an M4 that has a loaded magazine, it will chamber a round. One of the first things in clearing a weapon is making sure there is not a load magazine in the magazine well.
There are two many "perfect" events in this story to be true....accidentally "flick the safety on fire", did not realize a magazine was in the weapon; pulled the charging handle back and accidentally loaded a round, accidentally pointed the weapon at his partner that would cause a "kill shot" if a round went off, and then accidentally pulled the trigger killing his buddy.
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Cpl Conrad Rogers
Makes a lot of sense, but we do not know if there was a history with the 2 Marines.
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SSG Ray Murphy
Cpl Conrad Rogers - Doesn't always have to have a history. It helps the story, but isn't required to murder someone.
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To be absent-mindedly flicking the safety switch on his M4 service rifle from “safe” to “semi” while directing traffic at the end of a 12-hour shift. And then pulling back the charging handle and accidentally chambering a round. What the hell do you mean accidentally, does he think that the good gun ferry would make it safe and stop the round. For gods sake that is asinine. You know he has received better training then that. It is totally inexcusable and should have been dealt with much harsher. I have no sympathy for this asinine idiot and hope the family of Lance Cpl. Mark Boterf can find some peace after this tragedy.
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