Armalite Rifle

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31118, 22 July 1966, Page 10

Armalite Rifle

Sir, —Like the people In other countries of the world, we in New Zealand have become so inured to the use of grossly inhuman weapons, such as napalm, in war, that to protest against the issue to New Zealand troops of the American Armalite rifle may appear to demonstrate an abnormal degree of sensitivity in such matters. The bullet from this rifle may become unstable in flight and so

cause frightful, but not necessarily lethal, wounds, and (your report) “a hit on the hand would break bones all the way up a man's arm.” There is little we can do to restrain American atrocity, but I feel strongly that a Government which permits its military to use such vindictive weapons against courageous, but wretchedly equipped, Vietnamese peasants, should be removed from power at the earliest opportunity.— Yours, etc., DEREK LAWDEN. July 21, 1966.

Sir. —I read with considerable revulsion and anger this morning the report that some of our troops had been issued with the Armalite rifle for experimental purposes. The duty of an infantryman is to put the enemy out of action, but to put him out of action by great gaping wounds caused by a tumbling bullet is nothing less than barbarous. If the enemy is to be incapacitated it should be done as humanely as possible. 1 hope the people of this country -vill stop the use of this form of weapon before we descend to the savagery of the Middle Ages.—Yours, etc., S. F. SHUTTLEWORTH. July 21, 1966.