The Grey Gods and Exploding Targets

Last week, I told you that a Pennsylvania State Trooper is the person who was responsible for a series of three explosions in Upper Mount Bethel Township on March 18. He confessed that he was responsible the next day, and said it would never happen again. Upper Mount Bethel Chair John Bermingham has acknowledged on his Facebook page that someone confessed, and that someone is a state trooper. I reached out to this trooper, but he never returned my call. Instead, I received comments that attempt to trivialize what had happened, like "He didn't break any laws, moron." This matter was initially reported to the state police. They had "no information" concerning it. Yet across the river, in New Jersey, the Blairstown Police Department strangely knew all about it, calling it a series of "three controlled explosions" in Upper Mount Bethel. Nothing to see here. Move along.

A Northampton County Grand Jury has condemned a state police policy that allows it to investigate itself. Its 4,000 troopers are "not above the law," at least in Northampton County. The grey gods, as they are sometimes called, even attempted unsuccessfully to shut down a grand jury that criticized their arrogance. This opinion is shared by numerous local officers. They do acknowledge that the state police have superior resources.

What happened in Upper Mount Bethel on March 18 was three uncontrolled explosions that scared people to death and did shatter a few windows. Things could have turned out far worse.

"It was like nothing I ever heard," one resident tells me. The first explosion rattled resident's windows and popped ears. The third, and biggest explosion "sounded like a 747 landing on the house. We thought something hit our house."

This was all the handiwork of Trooper Daniel Jones, who admitted his involvement to township officials. He is described by some as arrogant. It is said that when he starts drinking, he likes to shoot. Nice combination. I gave him ample opportunity to respond to me and give me his side of the story. He never did. But he apparently is telling others that he was training.

I am aware of no law enforcement agency that uses exploding targets.

Under Pennsylvania law, a person is guilty of the third degree felony of risking a catastrophe if he creates a risk of catastrophe through the use of explosives. Given that 30 pounds of tannerite (a binary explosive) ere used, this person created the risk of setting off a fire that could have spread to people's homes.

Wildfire Today has documented several instances in which exploding targets have caused fires and injured or killed firefighters and others.

In Pennsylvania, State Rep. Dom Costa, Pittsburgh's former police chief, has authored a bill to ban the possession, transportation, and sale of exploding targets. He notes that the residue of binary explosives has been found at terrorist bomb sites. An FBI memo warns that "…exploding targets can easily be converted into improvised explosive devices (known as IED's)."

They've been banned in Maryland.

The NRA lists exploding targets as one of the seven ways children can have fun at the firing range. "These are on the top of the 'fun' list. The resounding 'BOOM' and puff of smoke is fun to see, hear and smell.