Shotguns and the Geneva Convention

Ironduke

Ironduke

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I was under the impression that shotguns were banned for use in combat by the Geneva Convention, but an Iraq vet in one of my courses said otherwise. So what's the scoop, are they banned or not? What other types of guns are banned by the GC?
 
I was under the impression that all guns were legal so long as the bullets did not expand, the old "no dum-dum bullets" rule, to use an antiquated term. The shotgun does not fire expanding projectiles, just a bunch of them at once.

I know the shotgun was used in Vietnam for short-ranged brush-fighting, and guards over POWs certainly carried them, so it has been around for a while.

My thoughts - if flame-throwers are legal, shotguns are no worse! Wouldn't want to get hit by either.
 
I don't know, wouldn't a short range shotgun blast pretty much be lights out? A flamethrower would leave you alive for a minute or so. Not that I'd want to test it out;).
 
Ironduke said:
I was under the impression that shotguns were banned for use in combat by the Geneva Convention, but an Iraq vet in one of my courses said otherwise. So what's the scoop, are they banned or not? What other types of guns are banned by the GC?
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Shotguns are fine. I'm not sure if there is specific shotgun ammo that is banned, but you'd have to be purchasing outside the normal procurement system to potentially get illegal ammo.
 
Shotguns are used quite often in Iraq and Afghanistan, but often as more of a breaching tool than as a weapon. Most guys would still prefer to carry a rifle because of the versatility. You often see Soldiers in a breach team carrying shotguns in addition to their primary weapon (e.g. M4).

I believe both OO buckshot and slugs are available through the Army supply system, as well as non-lethal rounds such as bean bags and rubber bullets.

Dave
 
Ironduke said:
I was under the impression that shotguns were banned for use in combat by the Geneva Convention, but an Iraq vet in one of my courses said otherwise. So what's the scoop, are they banned or not? What other types of guns are banned by the GC?
Click to expand...

not shotguns but flechettes most likely what is banned
 
omon said:
not shotguns but flechettes most likely what is banned
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Flechette rounds are fine.

Most rules concerning small arms deal with using proper ammo. Cannot target people with AP rounds. That type of stuff.

Shotguns are also great for guarding ammo storage sites. Less chance of a errant round penetrating something that will make a big boom:biggrin:
 
The Geneva Convention does not cover the use of weapons in war, I believe these are covered by the Hague Convention; and if I remember my History the Germans during World War 1 complained to the Hague Commission about the US using Shotguns. It was thrown out. The Germans gave a directive that any enemy soldier caught with a shotgun will be executed, I think the first was a US GI.

The use of Gases and Biological Weapons is covered under the Geneva Protocol.
 
Does anyone know if Slug rounds on Shotguns are banned from being used in warfare under the Geneva Convention?
 
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