The Rifle Lee Harvey Oswald Never Brought to the Theater

The infamous event that occurred on November 22, 1963, involved Lee Harvey Oswald's movements in the immediate aftermath of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Many questions remain about Oswald's actions and the object he carried during his escape route. The central question often revisited is: why did Lee Harvey Oswald bring a rifle to the Texas Theater, or did he?

Background and Context

On that fateful day, Lee Harvey Oswald assassinated President John F. Kennedy in Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas. After the assassination, Oswald quickly fled the scene. As he moved through several locations, including the Texas Theater, the questions surrounding the object he carried and its intended purpose have been a point of contention for decades.

Did Oswald Bring a Rifle to the Theater?

The evidence strongly suggests that Oswald did not bring a rifle to the theater. Initial reports and discussions around the event often mistakenly claim that Oswald brought a rifle with him to the Texas Theater. However, the facts reveal a different sequence of events.

Assessment of the Rifle Claim

Lee Harvey Oswald brought a 6.5mm Carcano rifle to the scene of the assassination itself, which he used to shoot President Kennedy. After the shooting, Oswald left the rifle at the Texas Book Depository and then fled to the Texas Theater.

At the theater, Oswald was apprehended by police. However, the rifle he was allegedly looking for was never found at the theater. Instead, Oswald had a revolver with him, which he retrieved from his room at the boarding house.

Simon's Argument

According to the research by authors and observers who have delved into the case in meticulous detail, Oswald did not bring a rifle to the theater. In fact, a package he brought contained a revolver, not a rifle. This raising the question of why he took a smaller, less lethal weapon to a place where he might potentially come under police scrutiny.

One compelling theory suggests that Oswald knew he had been set up and was meeting his handler at the theater. This hypothesis adds an element of complexity to the narrative, suggesting that Oswald's actions were premeditated and possibly under someone else's direction.

Evidence and Analysis

Their evidence for this claim is robust. Oswald’s rifle was found at the Texas Book Depository, and not at the theater. Evidence from witnesses and physical evidence suggest that instead of a rifle, Oswald was armed with a .38 caliber revolver, which he used to shoot a Dallas police officer before being apprehended.

The evidence also shows that the package Oswald took from his boarding house was 4 inches shorter than the rifle he had used in the assassination. Additionally, the firing pin had been replaced in the revolver, indicating its use in a different crime.

The analysis of photographs and archival evidence further support this conclusion. A series of photographs from the theater show Oswald in several locations, but none of them depict him carrying a rifle. Instead, he is often seen holding or closely beside a revolver.

Conclusion

The rifle that Lee Harvey Oswald brought to the theater did not exist. His immediate weapon at the theater was a revolver, which he had acquired from his boarding house. These revelations challenge the conventional narrative and invite further examination of the events leading up to and following the assassination.

While the true motivations behind Oswald's actions remain subject to debate, this reexamination of the evidence helps to shed light on a critical moment in American history. As we continue to explore the complexities of this case, the discrepancy between the reported rifle and the revolver found at the theater becomes a significant piece of the puzzle.