Yes, they went ahead and held their life-fire artillery show for JD Vance at Camp Pendleton on Saturday, causing the closure of 17 ,miles of the I-5 freeway.
JD Vance’s spokesperson had said that Gavin Newsom’s objections to the exercise were foolish:
![Gavin Newsom’s objections to the exercise were foolish:](http://<img src="https://www.chp.ca.gov/contentassets/f0b409596bfd430ebaaebf6411c07d05/p2.jpeg" alt="CHP PRODUCES INCIDENT REPORT AFTER ARTILLERY ROUND FROM CAMP PENDLETON PREMATURELY DETONATED MIDFLIGHT WITH DEBRIS STRIKING PATROL VEHICLE"/>){kind=link}
“Gavin Newsom wants people to think this exercise is dangerous,” William Martin, Vance’s communications director, told The New York Times. “The Marine Corps says it’s an established and safe practice. Newsom wants people to think this is an absurd show of force. The Marine Corps says it’s part of routine training at Camp Pendleton.”
Guess what happened:
A U.S. Marine Corps artillery round prematurely detonated over Interstate 5 on Saturday sending metal shrapnel onto a California Highway Patrol (CHP) vehicle during a live-fire training demonstration, according to an internal report released Sunday by the agency. No injuries were reported.
The exercise took place over a section of I-5 near Camp Pendleton, which had been closed to traffic at the direction of California Gov. Gavin Newsom. The governor had previously voiced concerns about the safety of firing artillery shells over a freeway used daily by tens of thousands of motorists.
CHP officers were on the scene supporting a traffic break when the round detonated. “This was an unusual and concerning situation,” said CHP Border Division Chief Tony Coronado. “It is highly uncommon for any live-fire or explosive training activity to occur over an active freeway. As a Marine myself, I have tremendous respect for our military partners, but my foremost responsibility is ensuring the safety of the people of California and the officers who protect them.”
According to the report, officers immediately notified the Marine Corps, prompting the cancellation of additional live ordnance over the freeway. The area was then checked for debris and evaluated to ensure public safety.
It wasn’t just any CHP vehicle. The artillery hit the Vice President’s motorcade!
A 155-millimeter shell fired during a live-fire demonstration for the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton on Saturday prematurely detonated, dropping fragments of the shell on a California Highway Patrol vehicle and motorcycle that were part of Vice President JD Vance’s protective detail, according to a patrol report
No word from Vance on this. I’m sure he’ll say it was just the Marines joking around as young boys do.
If something had happened to the VP (or anyone for that matter) it would have been quite something to see them find a way to blame the left. I’m sure they would have done it though.
What a ridiculous situation. Have you heard much about this? I hadn’t. Seems like it should be a story.