Some people are still confused about Oswald and the three shots he fired.

[shockey80]

Some people have a hard time believing Oswald could fire three shots with a bolt action rifle in a certain amount of seconds. I believe it was around eight-seconds. It you remember this simple fact you will no longer be confused.

The first shot starts the clock. In reality Oswald had eight-seconds to fire two shots. That can be done.

Here is another fact about Oswald. Oliver Stone lied about this in his movie JFK. Oswald was a marine and he qualified as an expert. I believe he hit 49 out 50 targets.

[Not Ruth]

1. Quite a few Marines qualify as expert

It is roughly equivalent to getting 88%+ on a test; i.e. an A grade.

I could not find the 49/50 reference, but at some point, Oswald was a pretty poor shot.


"In December 1956, after “a very intensive 3 weeks’ training period” (Warren Commission Hearings, vol.11, p.302), Oswald scored 212: two marks above the minimum for a ‘sharpshooter’.
In May 1959, he scored 191: one mark above the minimum for a ‘marksman’."


If you do not qualify at least as marksman, you are screwed in the Marines, you will not complete basic training.

[shockey80]

2. I saw a copy of his scorecard on the history channel.

When I was in basic training I was having a very hard time on the rifle range. A drill sergeant gave me some very simple advice and after that I became an expert shot.

Oswald used a scope. I have no doubt he could make those shots.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. Would it be fair to say he was a generally good shot who got lucky* that day ?

That's my understanding.



*lucky in a sad and perverse way.

[NutmegYankee]

3. People that don't believe it can be done have probably never fired a bolt action rifle.

Or they just can't accept that such a pathetic man could kill someone so powerful, despite Garfield and McKinley being assassinated by lone gunmen.

[shockey80]

5. I recently learned this about Jack Ruby.

When he killed Oswald thats what started all the conspiracy theories. He was at western union minutes before he shot Oswald. He mailed some money to one of his strippers. He had his dog with him in the car. The western union was near the police station. He saw a lot of commotion at the police station. He left his dog in the car and walked down into the parking garage. At that moment Oswald was led into the parking garage.

That does not sound like a planned killing. If Ruby planned to kill Oswald why would he bring his dog and leave the dog in the car?