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The first Winter Invictus Games are due to take place at the Whistler ski resort in British Columbia, Canada early next month. In addition to snowboarding, curling, and alpine and Nordic skiing, the games will feature a biathlon event.
In a January 21 post on X, game organizers announced that competitors will be using “Ecoaim optic (infrared beam) rifles” for the biathalon’s shooting portion, instead of the traditional rifles and live ammunition. “As a Games legacy, future users can experience Biathlon without the safety risks and environmental impact associated with live fire ammo,” it reads. A spokesperson for the Invictus Foundation apparently advised the Daily Mail that the “principal reason for the lasers is inclusivity. [They] can be used by a wide range of those with disabilities.”
However, an American biathalon competitor, U.S. Army veteran Christopher Bryde, points to some serious problems. “After having some time shooting the guns on the range, I can see several disadvantages. We had a couple of issues with the cold and some of the guns just not working. Also, snow seemed to obstruct some of the targets, so for example, I shot perfectly for five laps, and then one lap I only hit one target. And then we checked out the gun and there was a bit of snow …covering the… laser thing.” As for the reason for the switch to optic guns, in a Facebook page comment Bryde confirmed that it’s due to “inclusivity.” “The explanation I was given was that certain countries do not allow disabled people to use firearms or air rifles, and they wanted to allow them to compete… Still think real guns are better though…”
This begs the question: Why wouldn’t “inclusivity” be best served by making the optic rifles available to those who wanted them, while allowing others, who trained with and felt best competing with real guns, to use those firearms instead.
Regardless of the reason, the situation gives some insight into the dishonesty behind moves to restrict and ban so-called “assault weapons,” and firearms more generally.
It’s been a standard talking point of many in the anti-gun community that untrained “civilians” shouldn’t have access to firearms. Canada’s Liberal government, for instance, justified its 2020 “assault style firearms” ban and confiscation law, which has prohibited (so far) around 1,800 makes, models of guns, devices, and their “variants,” by describing the “newly prescribed firearms [as] primarily designed for military or paramilitary purposes with the capability of injuring, immobilizing or killing humans in large numbers within a short period of time.”
The extravagant rhetoric that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his ministers employed in announcing the ban and confiscation measures was even more extreme. The banned “military grade assault weapons” were “designed for one purpose and one purpose only, to kill the largest number of people in the shortest amount of time,” and were “guns that were designed for soldiers to kill other soldiers … guns that belong on a battlefield and not on our streets.” (At the same time, a government document on the ban admitted that “[w]hile some of these newly prohibited firearms were previously used by individuals for hunting or sporting purposes, it is the view of the Government that those firearms are unreasonable and disproportionate for such purposes. The significant risk that these firearms pose to the public’s safety outweighs any justification for their continued use and availability within Canada.”)
It’s entirely possible that the switch to optic rifles allowed game organizers to avoid dealing with potential headaches over Canadian firearms laws and what is or isn’t a banned gun or “variant” under those edicts. Yet Invictus competitors are active duty or former servicemen and women. According to the logic of Justin Trudeau and his ilk, this is precisely the class of individuals best or exclusively qualified to use firearms, those presumably familiar with the use of “weapons of war.” It’s also more than a little strange that the January 20 Invictus X post describes trained athletes like Christopher Bryde as mostly “novices” who will benefit from a “big range safety advantage” that the optic rifles offer, without the risks “associated with live fire ammo.”
Unfortunately, the decision’s implication is that even combat veterans can’t be relied on to act responsibly with actual firearms and ammunition. The “Games legacy” is really the message that no one can or should be trusted with firearms.
—Courtesy of NRA-ILA
Today’s Gun Control mentality circles back to the Discrimination that prevented Blacks, Jews and others from having firearms. History repeats itself when ignorant people cannot smell a Rat.
Inclusivity is always Harrison Bergeron style. Handicap everyone down to an artificially created lowest common denominator and punish anyone who rises above.
Schoolyard bullies eventually become adult bullies. Some of those bullies end up being policy makers or lawmakers. Bullies love antagonizing people, and attaining the position of policy maker or law maker means those bullies get a job where the job actually pays them to “officially” antagonize people under the guise of good policy or law.
Any time a policy maker or lawmaker enacts new policy or law, you would be wise to view that new policy/law with incredible skepticism.
Most of the politicians I have seen are weak people who were bullied, and now want revenge.
Are these “games” still connected with little Harry Markle? Weenie rules for the eunuch I see
It was not his idea, this is a purely liberal policy imposed by Canada, and that seems to be the goal of the IOC as well. Once upon a time, biathalons used actual bolt action military rifles, just as the Finns did against the Russians.
Gayyyyy
They need to change the name to Insipid Games.
While they are at it, readjust the scoring so everyone scores the same. Can’t have any winners or losers because of self esteem.
Bunch of idiots
Elections of socialists have consequences.
Untrained “civilians” (said with a sneer)? When we used to compete with the military we had to up skill them to OUR standards. Their handling was so sloppy I’m surprised they didn’t have more accidents.
I have instructed complete beginners to a basic level within an hour at most. You don’t have to be a SEAL SWAT SAS FBI-HRT Green Beret combined to handle a firearm safely and competently. My first rule is to forget everything they’ve seen on movies and TV.
One should assume that biathlon athletes are not mere “civilians,” but highly trained in both cross-country skiing and shooting in adverse circumstances.
Why historically the Nordic countries used to do well in biathlon. Probably a fun afternoon for them.
Originally the shooting stage was 300m using service rifles. Swedish Mausers were popular in this event.
I understand that these people think laser rifles are “safer”, but the fact is a laser is not subject to the same types of variables as a .22LR. Lasers are not affected by wind or inconsistencies in the rounds fired, etc. Unless the battery packs are limited to five “rounds,” the shooter does not have to fumble with reloads.
This is just the Elites making sure that they always remain the Elites.
Well, maybe, until they run into some of the unwashed who still have real guns…
That’s just gay, like the ATF.
With lasers, you don’t have to worry about the wind. However, how are the beams effected by rain or snow?
“how are the beams effected by rain or snow?“
Read the article:
“U.S. Army veteran Christopher Bryde, points to some serious problems. “After having some time shooting the guns on the range, I can see several disadvantages. We had a couple of issues with the cold and some of the guns just not working. Also, snow seemed to obstruct some of the targets, so for example, I shot perfectly for five laps, and then one lap I only hit one target. And then we checked out the gun and there was a bit of snow …covering the… laser thing.”
And the fact this United States Army veteran does not understand how lasers work is rather chilling, given the fact that laser technology is an essential part of the modern battlefield.
Has he never used a AN/PEQ-1?
Electing Sokialists has consequences.
Justine Trudeau, but of course.