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I am not sure if this was posted in the past however,.this video seems to be a good example of this thread / subject. The point here is not to humiliate the officer, he has suffered more for this mistake than anyone. It does show that regardless of our professionalism, training and level of expertise, to error is being human, and being human should be compassion. Nobody else was hurt, yet no matter how careful and responsible we are, mistakes like this happens and can happen to anyone. Let’s learn from mistakes and do the best we can with lessons learned, but be careful, as soon as you turn around - mistskes can happen to you too; as biblical scripture reflects “he who thinks he stands, be careful - he can fall too (I Corinthians 10:12)”
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Based on your post, you did not actually watch the video. He was very explicit that he was the only one qualified to handle a firearm in that classroom, then proceeeded to not abide by the basic rules of firearm handling and then shot himself in the leg. He followed that by not acknowledging that he did that, and wanted to continue by showing them how to handle another firearm. He, at minimum, deserved the ridicule he received.
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“this is a Glock 40”…uh, no, no its not.
This gun is empty…Bang!
This AR is empty…why don’t they believe him..
Pride growth before a fall.
State trooper, local sheriff and me at the range today. No boasting, good drills, no issues. I love the gun culture here in WV. When guns are normalized it seems there’s less idiocy with them ime.
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I’m not too worried about the semantics that different organizations use in their description of the 3 to 10 basic safe firearm handling rules because they can be slightly different. Although, as pointed out above, I will no longer use the words “willing to destroy.”
The one problem I have is in the order in which the rules are written. I believe that rule #1 should be ALWAYS KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL READY TO SHOOT. Because, before you can point a firearm in a safe/unsafe direction you must first pick-it-up.
Over the years I’ve taken a number of first time shooters to the range. 100%, repeat 100% of them grab a firearm with their finger on the trigger! Even some people with firearm experience do that, OMG! That’s why before I take a person that I’m not sure of shooting, we practice handling and firearm safety before the range.
Another bit of training advice that I give people is, to practice not putting their finger on the trigger in their everyday life. Think about how many things have a trigger-like mechanism on them. Garden hose nozzle, spray bottle, infrared thermometer, circular saw, drill, nail gun, etc. etc. I’ve had novices come back and tell me how many things they caught themselves with their finger on the trigger/button/whatever before they were ready to use it. Problem cured!
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I was taught to treat every firearm as if it was loaded. Based on that alone, I keep my finger off the trigger until I’m ready to shoot, I will never point the muzzle at anything I do not want to destroy and I know my target and what is beyond.
One statement that I will take to my grave I learned at Gunsite Academy by one of the instructors Lew Gosnell - “What comes out of that barrel is DEATH”..
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I like to show off my little collection to my close friends and relatives, those I trust won’t panic at the sight of a firearm. Like you, I observe those that have no experience with them lack trigger discipline. I don’t let that teachable moment pass!
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Agreed. Same with training knives.
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Hi Dave17. Yes, I watched the entire video as well as followup documentaries. I completely understand the who, what why, where and how regarding all aspects of this incident. Simply expressing a consideration regarding a particular part of this situation does not preclude understanding all other considerations as well. This is why some criminal Investigations and court proceeding take so long so as to uncover and reveal all that is unknown at any particular moment in time.
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VIDEO: Off-duty police officer accidentally shoots himself in stomach | abc7ny.com VIDEO: Off-duty police officer accidentally shoots himself in stomach - ABC7 New York
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It appears this link is not good.
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Video shows off-duty cop accidentally shooting himself in elevator - YouTube https://share.google/j5qMh6Ef7KmsXiMn5
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This is a good link. So many well trained, professional and responsible gun owners, whose profession requires the use of firearms, experience these kinds of accidents, although they know, as well as we do The First 3 Rules of Gun Safety.
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So he ignored the not putting your finger on the trigger. As far as being well trained, just watch the video - clearly not! Who the F would be flipping around a fire so willy nilly, but an idiot?
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Except that you stated he should not be humiliated for his complete lack of firearm safety and his unrestrained arrogance. I don’t believe he was humiliated, but completely - justifiably - ridiculed. He may have felt humiliated, and he should at minimum feel that. He should have been fired. Not for the ND, but his disregard of the golden rules and his total lack of respect for others and his arrogance in his belief he knew how to properly handly firearms while putting everyone’s lives in danger.
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Good considerations. Former SA Lee Paige resigned. He was not fired however, upon resigning he did sue the DEA because it was his fellow agents who took it upon themselves to leak the video to the public. Instead of letting the DEA management handle the consequences for him internally which would have been more appropriate. The video was made by a parent, although DEA obtained that video prior to any copies made for an internal investigation and discipline. A Federal judge dismissed PAIGE’s lawsuit for only two reasons: 1) the person who leaked the video could not be identified & 2) Malice could not be proven. His fellow DEA agents covered their tracks. If these two elements could have been proven, then he would have won the lawsuit. As it stands now, with his identity compromised to the public, he suffers because he has found it impossible (for now) to work in the community he had always wanted to protect - especially children.
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Dear Michael2378, ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Bravo to his fellow DEA agents!!! This was a VERY PUBLIC training course where the teacher made a VERY serious mistake, accident, or plain incompetence, that could have killed someone. Those DEA agents would have been derelict of their duty NOT to inform the public. The public was directly involved and has the right to know.
And then to say that it would be “more appropriate” for the “DEA management handle the consequences.” This is exactly the type government secrecy that everyone on this forum firmly rejects. It’s the same secrecy that powerful people use to commit treasonous crimes and are able to get away with, which are destroying this country. How about total transparency?
I feel really bad for the guy. The years he spent training, his service, good works and whatever else, still, this potentially deadly incident cannot be ignored. We all have made mistakes and bad decisions that have permanent consequences that we have to live with. Sorry, it’s just the way it is with all of us.
Any empathy I had for the guy went out the window for filing a frivolous law suit. Instead of manning-up and taking responsibility for his mistake, he tried to deflect it to someone else. Just like so many do these days. Sadly, that shows his true character. Honestly now, would anyone go to his class after this?
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Very good point, especially when this incident took place in a community public setting, instead of an internal activity, such as training and qualification at the range day. An interesting note, SA Lee Paige was reassigned in the DEA for administrative job duties until he retired at 30 years of service.
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Many police officers who have outstanding careers for 10, 20, 30 years make mistakes. Yes we hold them to a higher standard for firearm safety and their are consequences for their mistakes - this is simply the reality we all live in - as Frances49 points out. Those consequences are often times life changing.
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