Will the ones that don't survive be used for pork chops?

Or bacon?

Do PETA understand what an army does?

Pigs are not people, the sense of urgency is not there.
Do they really care if the pig dies like they would if a human did?

They have to take the pig as a pet for a few months before the exercise.

"So if I save this pig's life then we're eating tofu tonight? But if it dies...?"

At the very least it will be a good lesson in prioritising.

Simple solution:

Use child rapists instead of pigs.

Win-win all around.

The Army is basically a giant killing machine (which is fine by me) and PETA is only concerned with the death of some anesthetized pigs?

When will PeTA learn that simulations are only as good as the info programmers put into it? They cannot simulate random, freak of nature things. Not all gunshots happen the same way. Pigs are NOT equal to humans. THIS is why I oppose PeTA and everything they do.

The only PETA I subscribe to is "People Eating Tasty Animals".

I worked in a research facility that did animal research. We called pigs "horizontal humans" because their anatomy closely approximates human anatomy.

There are physiologic processes that differ. For example, pigs' blood clots REALLY well. We were testing bandages to stop bleeding for the Army (funded by your dollars and mine, thank you very much), and it was impossible to make pigs bleed like people. At best, pigs offer an approximation of human physiology, but they are the best there is.

There truly is no substitute for animal studies. Animal lover that I am, I agree 100% that models cannot approximate the complexity of human (or animal) physiology.

I don't know, this does sound like outdated crap. Why not breed monkeys and use them? They're the most like us that there is. Maybe because it's wacky? Better yet, poor children. They're unlikely to change their lot and so they end up being a drag on the economy and increase the crime rate. It's vital to national security. Riiiiiight. Better yet, how about your mother.

That it's teaching anyone anything is highly unlikely. Theoretically, I see where the army is coming from, but I've known tons of military folk, and not one of them has said to me, "Dear god, that pig shooting training saved my life. If I hadn't gotten to shoot a pig, those (fill in the blank with name of other people with guns) would've killed me for sure. God bless America."

The army's reasoning strikes me as being right up there with not wanting homosexuals or women in the military because it "feminizes the war machine." As long as they claim national security, they have free reign.

And for those people making wack anti-animal rights arguments, please, get a clue.

Ever been bitten by a monkey? Me either, thank dog.

I wanna know what this picture of a pig jumping off a diving board at a zoo has to do with this story other than it involving a pig?!

*oblivious*

Why does the army want to shoot pigs at the enemy ? Don't they have tanks for that ?

*blinks*

Who said they were anesthetized? That would greatly affect the outcome. The soldiers are not drugged, so then the test subject cannot be.

Being drugged affects breathing, heart rate, reactions and such. The study wouldn't be true to life if the test subjects were subjected to things the soldiers were not.

Wounded animals are difficult to get near. I am a hunter. I was a vet tech too....and DEALT with injured animals...

When I dealt with wounded animals, we had to protect ourselves, first. We many times had to restrain those animals, too. I wonder how effective the outcome and results will be when you throw into the mix that the animals have to be held down, or muzzled to be treated.

If they are in shock and are muzzled they are not getting the same sort of air intake that a wounded soldier might get and oxygen is a major factor in tissue life and overall life of the patient in question.

Take them to a level one trauma center in an inner city. This is uncalled for.

*Ahem* :D

Honestly, I read and re-read that whole thing and didn't see that.

I still make my cause though.

How can a study be accurate if one group is asleep and the other is awake to feel the pain? How can they prove that their methods will work?

Drunk drivers usually suffer less injuries as they are basically numbed to pain that makes US cringe when we see it coming. What should kill your or I, usually leaves them without even a scratch! It boggles my mind.

For that matter, I have SEEN military ballistics training on pigs. They tie them up, and by the top of the snout on one end and the back leg on the other and shoot them fully awake to see how the projectile and victim connect and the damage that is done.

Just cause they say they are knocked out, I don't believe it. It would be more soothing for the public though.

That's why it's good to be an alcoholic :-)