Coast Guard’s plans for live-weapons training went

[Alan]

The Coast Guard was seeking to establish 34 safety zones in the Great Lakes where it would conduct weapons training, using boat-mounted machine guns. But environmentalists and other groups, citing safety and environmental concerns, protested the plans.  Rear Adm. John Crowley Jr., commander of the Ninth Coast Guard District, says the plan was dropped Monday following internal reviews and a series of public meetings. More than 880 comments were submitted to the federal docket concerning the proposal. Crowley says he will pursue environmentally friendly alternatives. “We will not conduct live-fire training on the Great Lakes to satisfy non-emergency training requirements unless we publish a rule, and I intend to reconsider the number, frequency of use and location of water training areas as well as other concerns raised by the public,” Crowley said in a statement.

 

[Terry Cox]

FWIW, I fully expect the environmentalists and...

other groups to next meet with the various terrorists to express their concerns regarding the toxic goo that resulted from the twin tower attacks. I'm sure the terrorists will listen only to insist that the environmentalists leave their heads behind on their way back home.

 

[jimq26]

Thought the Great Lakes was a no arms zone.

After the war of 1812 (when the US attempted to invade Canada) there was a treaty to end the war (signed in 1814) that stated neither country would again bear arms on the Great Lakes. That was the Treaty of Ghent.

 

[Fred Ficarra]

Hey Terry!

"FWIW, I fully expect the environmentalists and... other groups to next meet with the various terrorists to express their concerns regarding the toxic goo that resulted from the twin tower attacks. I'm sure the terrorists will listen only to insist that the environmentalists leave their heads behind on their way back home."Let me try re-wording your post slightly:  FWIW, I fully expect the industrialists and... other profit oriented groups to next meet with the various terrorists to express their concerns regarding the toxic goo that resulted from the twin tower attacks to find ways to insure increased pollution next time. I'm sure the terrorists will listen only to insist that the industrialist share part of their windfalls profits with them on their way back home. That word game the 'right' uses can be played both ways. Kinda like 'support our troops'. Using them as canon fodder is supporting them?

 

[newly anonymous]

Treaty of Ghent

For what it's worth, that treaty, signed on Christmas Eve of 1814, also called for both countries to work toward the abolution of the slave trade AND called for the United States to cease all hostilities with Native American Tribes. We initiated a war on the Seminole tribe shortly after signing the treaty.

 

[Benny]

180 year old treaty holding water?

You have to be kidding. We have some good land for sale in the Everglades. If terrorists intend to use our borders to attack our country the Tomahawks will fly and not the ones used in 1812.

 

[Stu Jackson]

They're idiots

unless they were making this proposal to show how stupid the idea really is.The trick, folks, is to move the bloody trainees to ONE place where they can practice, not to have them stay on their own boats and do so all over the Great Lakes.The water is arguably as bumpy anywhere else as it is on the Lakes, so instead of using 34 places to randomly shoot at commercial and recreational vessels, they could use ONE place and bring the gunners there.Idiots.

 

[Jim11084]

some people do not know of what they speak

It is sorry to see ppeople speak who have no idea of waht they are speaking about. One should never to be quick to label anyone idiots without first looking in the miror.

 

[r.w.landau]

My friend, Time to take this to politics..

Sorry. Just because you say so does not make people idiots.A Coast Guard ( US Military) supporter.r.w.landau

 

[Ross]

The US government made treaties with my ancestors.

Go ahead and ask me about treaties made with the US government.

 

[Bill Roosa]

What is the big deal?

We have these on the Chesapeake Bay and they are no problem at all. And we are talking jets dropping bombs too not just small arms fire.They schedule this stuff for Tuesday mornings at 0500-0800 when there is absolutely nobody except the crabbers out on the water so the impact is minimal.Another poster suggested that we take all the trainees and put them in one place. Well we already do that to a great extent but what about training once you get to your duty station. You know the once a year refresher stuff or better yet the crew served weapon on a ship that you really want to train on as a team member and with YOUR team. This is best done on YOUR ship and it is not that easy to get some of those things relocated just for training.And clearly you cant use a 5 inch gun on land as there is not that much land anymore where you can shoot one of the things. Well out in the high desert of CA maybe but getting boat out there would be kinda hard I suspect.