Why did Oswald go to the movies?

[Martin Weidmann]

Perhaps Lee Harvey Oswald considered the possibility of law-enforcement checking everyone who entered the TSBD. Lee would not like to be found to have a rifle "and" a hand-gun in a building on the President's motorcade route?

Oswald could have contemplated the possibility of being stopped from leaving the TSBD after he shot President Kennedy. If not for Truly vouching for Oswald, Officer Baker would have searched him.

It seems to me that Oswald carrying a revolver in the TSBD Friday morning would have been risky. He was shrewd enough to know that.

Perhaps Lee Harvey Oswald considered the possibility of law-enforcement checking everyone who entered the TSBD. Lee would not like to be found to have a rifle "and" a hand-gun in a building on the President's motorcade route?


So it wouldn't have mattered to Oswald if he was checked carrying only a rifle. It would only be a problem if he had a rifle and a revolver. Is that really what you are saying?

Oswald could have contemplated the possibility of being stopped from leaving the TSBD after he shot President Kennedy. If not for Truly vouching for Oswald, Officer Baker would have searched him.

How in the world would you even know what Baker would have done without the intervention of Truly?

And your logic seems contradictory. The purpose for carrying the revolver would be to defend himself against arrest, right? Yet you seem to claim that he didn't take the revolver to the TSBD because of the possibility of being stopped from leaving the TSBD. But isn't possibly being stopped the main reason for taking a revolver to aid him to get away?

It seems to me that Oswald carrying a revolver in the TSBD Friday morning would have been risky.

More risky than carrying a rifle?

He was shrewd enough to know that.

How do you know this? Did you know him personally?

[Martin Weidmann]

He had a CIA handler?
Oh, yeah a lot of people say that, don't they Martin...

Yes... a lot of people probably say that

[Ross Lidell]

It's fascinating the way people make up a narrative, attach the word "probably" to it and act like that's what actually happened.

John,

I (or anyone else) cannot read Oswald's mind with certainty. It's a possibility that Oswald (or any other shooter) might plan to shoot President Kennedy with one shot. Criminals are by nature optimistic about committing crimes successfully and not being apprehended.

I was conveying to Paul May my opinion; not making up a narrative to deceive. It's more honest to say "probably" than not. Perhaps you should use that "adverb" occasionally, John.

[Howard Gee]

Saint Patsy went to the movies because there was nothing of interest occurring that day.

He was bored and had a sudden craving for a bucket of buttered popcorn.

Throw in the added benefit of being able to window shop for shoes en route to the theater and it's a no-brainer.

[Ross Lidell]

Perhaps Lee Harvey Oswald considered the possibility of law-enforcement checking everyone who entered the TSBD. Lee would not like to be found to have a rifle "and" a hand-gun in a building on the President's motorcade route?


So it wouldn't have mattered to Oswald if he was checked carrying only a rifle. It would only be a problem if he had a rifle and a revolver. Is that really what you are saying?

Oswald could have contemplated the possibility of being stopped from leaving the TSBD after he shot President Kennedy. If not for Truly vouching for Oswald, Officer Baker would have searched him.

How in the world would you even know what Baker would have done without the intervention of Truly?

And your logic seems contradictory. The purpose for carrying the revolver would be to defend himself against arrest, right? Yet you seem to claim that he didn't take the revolver to the TSBD because of the possibility of being stopped from leaving the TSBD. But isn't possibly being stopped the main reason for taking a revolver to aid him to get away?

It seems to me that Oswald carrying a revolver in the TSBD Friday morning would have been risky.

More risky than carrying a rifle?

He was shrewd enough to know that.

How do you know this? Did you know him personally?

Martin,

It's worse to have two firearms than one. Oswald could have claimed that he was taking the disassembled rifle to a gun-shop for repair. Two guns has an aura of "armed-to-the-teeth". Not a good look when the President was going to drive by the TSBD later in the day.

It's reasonable to surmise what Officer Baker would have done if he (minus Truly) encountered Oswald "moving away from him" in the 2nd floor lunchroom. Frisk the suspect for a weapon is standard Police practice. Agree?

Oswald may have declined to take the revolver to work on Friday 22 November 1963 because of the "previous day" logistics that would be necessary to do that. Taking the S&W revolver to the Paine's on Thursday afternoon meant a risk of Marina spotting the handgun and being suspicious of the reason for him carrying the weapon. You know: Walker, Nixon (the vice-president) etc.

Oswald'd past life demonstrates his shrewdness.
-- Conning Soviet officials into letting him stay in the USSR.
-- His calm though deceptive performance on Radio in New Orleans.

[Jerry Freeman]

He was bored and had a sudden craving for a bucket of buttered popcorn.

These investigative contributions are invaluable. By all means continue with this tremendously dedicated research.
 
 

[Howard Gee]

These investigative contributions are invaluable. By all means continue with this tremendously dedicated research.
 

What ?  You have a problem with my research ?  What did I get wrong ?

Saint Patsy didn't like butter on his popcorn ?

[Steve Howsley]

Throw in the added benefit of being able to window shop for shoes en route to the theater and it's a no-brainer.

Yep. He told Marina that morning and again the following day to buy June new shoes but didn't mention that he'd been looking at shoes for June when Brewer spotted him. It was all a misunderstanding.