Mezzer wrote:
Ridiculous ...? Hardly!
If an investigation of that depth and scope can be completed in 16 months, there is no reason why a simple firearms incident can't be investigated, mitigated and communicated in a considerably shorter period than 12 months? As stated, this is all about perspective and response. The actual event doesn't matter (because it's already history), the trick is to prevent it happening again and as always, time is crucial.
Mezzer
Actually Mezzer I agree with the last statement, but it depends what will be achieved by the info and what resources you have available (and the potential impact on not putting the info out)
Investigations take as long as they need to take, particularly where other agencies are involved.
Whenever and wherever we have had an air incident in the past, if there was a sudden and unexplained failure (particularly one resulting in loss of life) the type involved was usually grounded. I remember when one of our Lynx lost a blade. The reaction to this was quite rightly instant and far reaching, complex, and costly.
The impact was obvious. A helicopter and crew (just dropped off 6 high ranking officers) loses a blade and piles in. We don't know why, but we have them in front line service in several countries across the world. we panic.
Now, I have no doubt if this had been a rifle using factory ammo, the ramifications would have been far reaching and have included the manufacturer, dealers, importers etc.
I am guessing that as the cause was not instantly obvious (and still not entirely certain) or likely to re occur across the sport, it was felt that nothing needed knee jerk recording and people warning, so don't panic, get your facts right and report accurately.
You also have to realise that those carrying out the investigations may only have one shot at it (or parts of it) and will by default be proportioning blame on others, so they need to get it as right as they can.
I think comparing investigation time scales of a non fatal firearm failure with a major oil rig disaster is a bit off to be fair. The imperative on preventing a whole oil field going up, massive loss off life, revenue, not to mention the ecological damage, of course they throw everything at that sort of accident, and they have the resources to do so.
Moreover, the piper alpha (and the deep water horizon) investigations rumbled on well after the initial findings.
I stand by my belief that the reporting chain needs to be better, but I don't believe that it needed to be done any quicker, and if it did, it would have been.
It is not even as though it is possible (or procedurally correct) to release info before an official investigation has concluded (in order to keep folk informed) as that in itself may prejudice any legally binding final conclusion.