Why Don't the Survivors Loot the Tanks Outside the CDC Building in The Walking Dead?

When watching The Walking Dead, one might wonder why the survivors don't just pick up the weapons and loot the tanks located outside the CDC building. This article explores the various reasons why the group chooses to leave these military assets untouched, focusing on safety concerns, lack of training, resource management, storytelling focus, and character development.

Safety Concerns

The immediate area around the CDC building is fraught with danger, and approaching military vehicles could expose the group to significant risks. The surrounding area is likely to be overrun with zombies (walkers), and moving close to the vehicles could attract more of these undead creatures, putting everyone in immediate danger. This fear of attracting more walkers is a critical concern for the survivors, who are already living in a highly hazardous environment.

Lack of Training

Another reason why the survivors refrain from looting the tanks is the lack of training in handling military-grade weapons and vehicles. Many of the group members are not trained in the use of these sophisticated weapons or how to operate military vehicles safely. If they were to access these resources, they might not be able to use them effectively, posing a significant risk to their safety. Safe and ethical use of these tools requires proper training, which the survivors may not have.

Resource Management

Survival in a post-apocalyptic world often comes with numerous pressing needs, such as food, shelter, and medical supplies. The group's resource management is often focused on meeting these immediate survival needs rather than acquiring more weapons. Even if the tanks and weapons are present, the survivors might not see them as a priority at that moment, as other basic survival needs take precedence.

Storytelling Focus

The Walking Dead is a show that emphasizes the human struggle and the moral dilemmas faced by its characters. Engaging with military hardware could detract from the emotional and character-driven stories that the series aims to tell. The show often prioritizes the personal journey of each survivor and their growth as individuals facing unique ethical challenges in a chaotic world. The decision not to loot military resources underscores these themes of humanity and the struggle to maintain morality in the face of constant threat.

Character Development

Survivor's choices reflect their values and the ethical dilemmas they face in a post-apocalyptic world. Not looting the military assets highlights the values of the group, such as humanity, integrity, and the enduring moral code even in the face of overwhelming danger. This choice serves to develop the characters further, showing that they are more than just combatants but rather individuals with complex moral frameworks.

Contrast with Usage in the Show

Despite the reasons above, some scenes in The Walking Dead do depict survivors taking weapons. However, there is a notable discrepancy in the portrayal of automatic weapons, particularly the AK-47. Many of the military vehicles used in the show, such as M4 and related variants, make sense when one considers the involvement of law enforcement, SWAT teams, and military personnel. However, the frequent depiction of full-auto AK-47s is inconsistent with real-world data. According to the National Firearms Act (NFA) registry, full-auto AKs are extremely rare in America. It is plausible in places like Afghanistan, but not in the typical American setting depicted on the show. This discrepancy can be attributed to the show's dramatic license to enhance the chaos and spread of weapons in a post-apocalyptic scenario.

Overall, the survivors in The Walking Dead make logical and character-driven decisions to leave the military assets untouched, which adds depth to the narrative and aligns with their moral principles and the show's core themes of survival and morality in a dangerous world.