I thought I was adding a relevant anecdote here, but I’ll withdraw it.
Smapti, Come on now, this is not on-topic. I will hide it and tell you to stay on-topic.
Moderating
The attendee that was killed was in the “white” bleachers behind Trump (underneath the word “snipers” in the picture.). It looks like the trajectory had to go over/through/past that seating area.
Late: I think. It’s possible someone was shot in the other bleacher “stage left” (under the word “bleachers” in picture) after a bullet missed Trump.
nm
~Max
I note that all of the media seem to be using that same image, taken of the empty location with the locations of the stage and bleachers marked in. Surely there was drone footage of the actual event? I’d expect the various media outlets to be operating drones, and even if those were disallowed for security reasons, the security forces should have had their own drones. Maybe the security forces just haven’t released their footage yet?
I’m wondering if the Secret Service snipers were bound by some sort of rules of engagement, to the point where even when they saw something as obvious as a gunman with a rifle pointed at the president, they still couldn’t shoot him until he actually opened fire.
It was supposed to be just another Trump rally in rural PA. At this point how many media resources do you think they should have dedicated? The big event was going to be tomorrow in Milwaukee, WI.
~Max
If nothing else, the local media would certainly have been covering it. And when a camera drone costs, what, $100, I’d expect every local media outlet to have one or two.
As pointed out above, the Secret Service would likely have nixed any drones overflying the venue during the event. But the news organizations could probably have flown some after the site was finally cleared – if it has been yet.
What would a secret service drone have done, though? Identification, right?
The shooter was identified early being on the roof as having a gun. Police were on the roof engaging before a shot was fired. It didn’t work.
I’m not saying don’t have it. But I’m not sure it would have changed the outcome. Preventing anyone from getting on the roof, either to watch or shoot or whatever, is the failure.
I will concede having “your” own secret service guy tell you x, y, z is better than having it filtered through local law enforcement.
Late: I might be unclear on the purpose of the drone you were discussing. Whether you meant media or secret service.
The FAA makes the area around the president no fly zones. Drones included. I don’t know if it’s still active.
Trump is not the president. He’s a candidate who hasn’t even been formally nominated. That’s not nothing, but I’m not sure his status rises to the level of presidential protection nowadays.
I’d be interested to know the limits of his protection due to that and the fact that he’s a former president. He can always hire private protection if he chooses. Many do.
IIRC Obama was afforded protection by the SS before being formally nominated because he is a black man and there was a legitimate concern for his safety.
I might be wrong…obviously that was some years ago now.
Trump, as a former president, gets SS protection no matter what he does.
I think you’re right on that point. I’m not saying Trump isn’t entitled to a lot of security protections, and what happened does appear to be a rather awful oversight.
Maybe he should stop inciting violence every chance he gets.
FWIW:
The U.S. Secret Service is investigating how a gunman armed with an AR-style rifle was able to get close enough to shoot and injure former President Donald Trump at a rally Saturday in Pennsylvania, a monumental failure of one the agency’s core duties.
Re: explosives found in the vehicle, mentioned way up thread.
I can’t imagine this dude thought he was going to be able to show up and get on the top of the building with his rifle. It must have been absolute dumb luck that he was able to do it.
Having a vehicle full of explosives seems like a much more likely way to cause chaos and have a better shot at taking out his target.
I… would expect the secret service to ban the use for drones around a presidential candidate who has risen to the level of presumptive nominee, perhaps even deploy some sort of anti-drone jammer technology at rallies.
Hence the scene in the TV Western miniseries “Lonesome Dove”: one of Blue Duck’s band taunts Gus McCrae thinking he’s safely out of range. Cue Gus adjusting his ladder sights waaay up…
The way this scenario plays out in Hollywood movies is that the explosives would be set off on the other side of the event as a distraction. All the Secret Service agents rush over that way and when they do, the real bad news comes in from the now-unprotected side. Having said that, I know the Secret Service has seen all of these movies (there are videos on Youtube of SS agents dunking on them) and they are not so easily fooled.
On the other hand, it seems like it is harder to stop someone who just goes balls out and scrambles up a ladder. I have seen former Special Forces on Youtube talk about speed, surprise and violence of action and it seems this dude might have seen a video or two along those lines as well.
You are kidding, right?