The recent experiment at the Side X Side Ranch in Oklahoma challenges a key criticism of the Warren Commission’s findings in the JFK assassination. Critics have long questioned whether Lee Harvey Oswald could have fired three shots in the timeframe alleged, particularly with the grouping described. However, Glenn Beck and Scott Robertson attempted to recreate the scenario, demonstrating that a shooter could indeed land three tightly grouped shots from Oswald’s vantage point in the Texas School Book Depository. This suggests Oswald’s marksmanship may have been sufficient to accomplish the act.
### Key Findings from the Experiment:
– : The test confirmed that three shots from Oswald’s bolt-action rifle could be fired within the Commission’s estimated 8.3-second window, with a grouping close enough to strike Kennedy and Texas Governor John Connally.
– : The Warren Commission’s “single bullet theory” posits that one bullet caused seven wounds in Kennedy and Connally. Critics argue the bullet’s near-pristine condition contradicts this claim. However, ballistics experts have historically supported the theory, noting that copper-jacketed rounds can remain intact after passing through soft tissue.
### Why the Narrative Remains Disputed:
– : While the experiment addresses marksmanship, it does not fully resolve questions about the bullet’s path. Governor Connally consistently testified he was hit after Kennedy, contradicting the theory that one bullet caused both men’s injuries.
– : The Warren Commission’s reliance on FBI findings—later criticized as rushed and incomplete—left gaps in examining potential conspiracies. The 1979 House Select Committee on Assassinations later cited evidence of a fourth shot, suggesting a second shooter.
– : Tests in 1964 showed Oswald’s Carcano rifle was notoriously inaccurate, with experts struggling to replicate the shots under controlled conditions. Critics argue the rifle’s flaws undermine the lone-gunman conclusion.
### Conclusion:
The Side X Side Ranch test weakens arguments about Oswald’s ability to fire the shots but does not address broader inconsistencies in the “magic bullet” narrative or conspiracy theories. The Warren Commission’s findings, while officially endorsed, remain contested due to unresolved forensic and testimonial discrepancies. As historian Steve Gillon noted, “The debate persists because the assassination is a Rorschach test for how people view government and truth”.
