See Chief Judge Kozinski’s concurrence in Bull v. San Francisco — and it’s as a hypothetical, not just because the case happened to involve such a weapon. The weapon was once mentioned as “Carl Gustaf” in an unpublished case, State v. Gustafson, 2003 WL 1566493 (Mont. 2003) (no apparent relation).
UPDATE: Thread winner from commenter Roscoe:
Typical liberal Ninth Circuit opinion. When Judge K reached for the heavy weapons he could have gone with the Javelin or TOW. But no, it had to be something made in Sweden.
CDU says:
Interesting, but his reference is a bit ambiguous. Is he referring to the Carl Gustav recoilless rifle, or the Carl Gustav M/45 submachinegun?
Not that it would make any difference in the context of the opinion, of course.
February 9, 2010, 3:04 pmcelticdragonchick says:
I was going to ask the same thing. The Carl Gustav nitro hunting rifle, the Carl Gustav Mauser…or the 84 mm recoilless rifle???
I want the recoilless rifle… ;)
February 9, 2010, 3:16 pmLongwalker says:
As a one-time “reckless rifleman” (c. 1956) I also want it to be the Carl Gustav recoiless rifle, celticdragonchick. Of course, I am dating myself. When a “reckless” spoke, people listened.
February 9, 2010, 3:27 pmMenshevik says:
Triva: the M45 was produced under license by Egypt as the “Port Said” submachine gun.
February 9, 2010, 4:00 pmSF Alpha Geek says:
We used the Carl Gustav in Afghanistan as late as 2004.
And I’m glad I read the opinion – from reading the two entries on the home page, it looked like the issue might be a Carl Gustav found in a body cavity search – that would be one motivated detainee . . .
February 9, 2010, 4:05 pmJust Dropping By says:
In re the next paragraph of the concurrence, are “Smack” and “Crack” now brand names or something? I can’t see any reason to capitalize them otherwise.
February 9, 2010, 5:29 pmRoscoe says:
Typical liberal Ninth Circuit opinion. When Judge K reached for the heavy weapons he could have gone with the Javelin or TOW. But no, it had to be something made in Sweden.
February 9, 2010, 7:32 pmCarl Gustav (the Weapon, Not Jung or the King) Makes Its First Appearance in a Published Case | Liberal Whoppers says:
[...] this article: Carl Gustav (the Weapon, Not Jung or the King) Makes Its First Appearance in a Published Case [...]
February 9, 2010, 8:50 pmThatGuy says:
Charlie G isn’t bad, but I like the SMAW with thermobaric rounds myself.
February 10, 2010, 2:23 amRich Rostrom says:
I don’t think Kozinski is referring to any of the Swedish weapons mentioned; I think he means these monsters, which some have lumped together (I know I did at one time).
Which serves the intended hyperbole better: a 9mm submachine gun, an 84mm recoilless rifle, or a 60 cm or 80 cm artillery piece?
February 10, 2010, 3:27 am