JFK

[Greg Beetham]

It's on again, another TV report/mini series covering all the happenings as it happened on 'that' day, and the various reports and commissions since. Hollywood has even made a movie..that I haven't seen as yet, but not sure I want too get confused by a movie that may tend to stray off the facts.
Didn't one investigation come up with a mystery bullet that did a dogleg as well as the proposed shot from the grassy knoll? Will this mystery ever be put to rest?
One thing I saw on some original footage was the way the investigators of the day handled evidence, quite amazing by todays standards, the telescoped rifle that was the supposed murder weapon being handled and passed around by numerous police/detectives (none of whom wore gloves), in front of the media and cameras.
Looking at the original footage of the way everyone of the day reacted, particularly the police and media, it was very fragmented and disorganized, like just about everyone was out of their depth and became overwhelmed by all sorts of rumours and false reports about the incident in the period shortly after it happened.
It still is not clear to me just how they decided it was L H Oswald that was the assassin. And how did he fire all those super accurate shots under pressure in incredibly quick time with a bolt action rifle? And witnesses report hearing two seperate shots almost together, that's not possible with a single bolt action rifle.
Greg

[bfitzgerald]

The trouble with this well know assassination is information! Or rather what is accurate and what is not.
Personally I have never subscribed to the Oswald lone nut gunman theory. I'm not even sure he fired a shot, seems hit fitted the profile and get nailed with it.

One thing is clear in that the investigation was bungled and a complete joke in just about ever area from forensics to statements and anything else you care to mention.

[pakodominguez]

probably Wikileaks will give us an answer?

I recall a dialogue on the 'Unforgiven" movie, where "English Bob" make fun of Americans because it is so easy to kill a President, Comparing to the respect the royalty impose...

[Dusty]

Having had several Carcano rifles, I can tell you that if you got a well used one, (they were usually sold here as "never fired and only dropped once") or spent the time to smooth out the action, it would fire as fast as any other good bolt action. Add to that that Oswald was a lefty - He fired with his left hand, and worked the bolt with his right, speeding up the process, while resting the rifle on the window ledge - and you get some really quick shots.

Contrary to popular belief, the Carcano can also be extremely accurate and has a very strong action.

However, the Carcano FMJ military load that he used had a 160 grain steel-clad bullet with unbelievable sectional density and penetrating power, and that blows apart the 'magic bullet' theory because, even though it could penetrate that much tissue, it would not have deflected on the dogleg path it had to for the theory to hold true.

Also, close examination of the Zapruder film show the President's head reacting consistent with a high velocity round entering the front of the skull and not a medium velocity (2400 ft/sec muzzle) round hitting the back of the skull.

Dusty

[bfitzgerald]

Also, close examination of the Zapruder film show the President's head reacting consistent with a high velocity round entering the front of the skull and not a medium velocity (2400 ft/sec muzzle) round hitting the back of the skull.

Dusty

That kinda bothered me too! If you shoot someone's head from behind it moves forward..his head went back and to the side. Other people reacting to gunshot sounds coming from "behind them" is another good sign.
At this stage I don't think there is much doubt that the killing round did not come from Oswald if indeed he even fired the other rifle.

Def 2 shooters on this.

I was watching a documentary on the assassination of his brother and the police even bungled that one. They didn't check the armed security guard's weapon after he was shot. They also showed it was possible for both to have killed him. The reason conspiracy theories turn up..if they had water tight investigations they'd wipe out the chatter.

[Greg Beetham]

I didn't mention the head reaction because I'm still in two minds about that; if you look at the red cloud that erupts, most of it is above his forehead, (I still get sick talking about JFK as a gunshot victim, I thought he was a great statesman), that would mean to me that the most plausable explanation was a shot from behind...BUT Jackie scrambled back over the rear of the car and retrieved a piece of his skull off the boot, and too me that is more consistant with a shot from the forward direction.
In any case over the years I played around with different guns a fair bit myself and did all sorts of tests, like shooting a 4lt can full of water (a new one each time of course) with various calibres and observing the results. There is quite a difference between 2400fps and 3200fps in impact damage and explosive shock, also between full patch military ball and hollow point projectiles as well.
So I tend to agree with Dusty's point that a military rifle shooting full patch projectiles at 2400fps doesn't seem too me to have the required explosive impact necessary to cause that amount of damage.
I have a sneaking suspicion that whoever is responsible for KFK's murder, is, or has, walked free all this time, and I agree with you Barry the investigation was a horror story from the start, maybe it was meant too be, maybe the patsy was already lined up long before.
Greg

[Dusty]

I think someone found out about what Oswald was up to and decided to make sure the job was "done right". We'll never know who he is, unless Arlen Specter (last surviving Warren Commission member) comes clean before he dies.

Dusty