Newsweek is under fire for seemingly trivializing the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. The publication claims that Trump might have “only” been grazed by a bullet fragment traveling hundreds of miles per hour and not an intact round.
But let's be real: does it matter if it was a bullet or shrapnel? If the trajectory had shifted half an inch or if Trump hadn't tilted his head, the outcome would have been catastrophic. Yet, Newsweek's editors approved an article suggesting that Trump might not have been hit after all.
The evidence Newsweek cites comes from FBI Director Christopher Wray's testimony to the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. He stated, “…With respect to former President Trump, there's some question about whether or not it's a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear.”
Whether it was an bullet or a fragment, the distinction is meaningless to survivors of shootings, suicide bombings and similar tragedies. Shrapnel, just like intact rounds, can be deadly. It can tear through flesh, damage vital organs and cause fatal bleeding.
Breitbart's Awr Hawkins is helping to set the record straight:
For those of you who care about the meaning of the word, “shrapnel” is a piece of a bullet or, when on a battlefield, of the ordnance or other weapon deployed to kill or maim an enemy.
Merriam-Webster defines “shrapnel” as 1) “a projectile that consists of a case provided with a powder charge and a large number of usually lead balls and that is exploded in flight” and 2) “bomb, mine, or shell fragments.”
In other words, Trump was shot regardless of whether he was hit by an intact bullet or by pieces of that bullet, i.e., shrapnel.
The Real Danger
To downplay the danger Trump faced is not just irresponsible but disrespectful to anyone who has survived such violent attacks. In this instance, it also marginalizes a tragedy that took the life of Corey Comperatore and nearly killed David Dutch and James Copenhaver.
Shrapnel can kill just as effectively as a bullet can. It doesn't take a firearms expert to understand that a high-velocity fragment hitting the wrong spot can be just as lethal as a whole bullet.
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Perhaps, they should trivialize the death of the man, who was killed because the bullet meant for Trump missed it’s intended target. The attempted killing of any individual should never be taken lightly. The death of a loved one is important to everyone. When life ends we no longer have a person, who has value in our society.
But John Kerry was covered in Newsweek during the Vietnam war for receiving a Purple Heart. He got 4 Purple Hearts – one was for shrapnel. It does not matter if one is shot or hit by shrapnel –
FBI Dir Wray said: “…With respect to former President Trump, there’s some question about whether or not it’s a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear.”
Wray, and/or presumably some ballistics “expert” are implying that the (alleged 5.56×45 / Rem .223) bullet was somehow defective and simply fragmented or shed its jacket in flight along its trajectory or it passed through a barrier and fragmented, yet still flew true towards the target. Both occurrences are purely unprofessional speculation and are highly improbable. The projectile’s vapor trail in the photo indicates an intact projectile, not a series of fragments (aka shrapnel).
Update from my previous post regarding some specuation the Trump may ahve been simply wounded by :shrapnel”: There is available 5.56x45mm/.223 Remington (and other rifle calibers) ammunition with frangible projectiles. A Check of the perp’s unexpended ammo and/or bullets recovered from the other unfortunate individuals who were shot may confirm if that was the case. Frangible bullets are designed to disintegrate upon impact and breakup into small fragments to avoid over-penetration.
Thank you attempting to write a realistic piece, acknowledging the loss of life and other casualties in this divisive society. Unfortunately, the same people (if only through MSM?) that will ignore your fine article, are those that seek to trivialize calamity merely based upon politics.
For a bullet fired out of an AR-15 to fragment it would need to impact something fairly solid leaving a definite impact point that would be readily visible. Trump was hit by the first shot heard on the videos I’ve witnessed and any shooter who has practiced with his weapon as the assassin had would be unlikely to miss the head shot attempted at 130 yards by a large enough margin as to create shrapnel that would travel downrange and hit Trumps ear. I think we’re being gaslighted by a new generation of liberal “deniers”.
THE POLITICAL ELITE world wide wanted Trump dead. That way Joe could run and the turmoil would be on the Republicans, not the Democrats
So sick of the YEARS OF BEING LIED TO. You would need to be a moron to actually believe all the. Misinformation being fed to America. TRUTH WILL PREVAIL!