A firearms instructor accidentally shooting a student is just about the definition of irony. But, that’s exactly what happened during an Ohio concealed carry class this past weekend. The instructor was holding what he thought was an unloaded Ruger .357 revolver. Unfortunately, it had a full 5 shot cylinder of .38 special rounds. He accidentally fired the gun during instruction, the bullet ricocheted off a desk, and struck a student in the upper arm. Fortunately for the student, there were three registered nurses attending the class and they helped tend the wound until the student was transported to the hospital. He was discharged the same day, bullet still inside his arm.
This unsettling story carries with it a few lessons for all shooters:
1. Complacency Is Dangerous.
The first is just how dangerous complacency is when dealing with firearms. When those who have handled firearms without incident, a comfort with their operation arises. Getting familiar with firearms isn’t in and of itself a problem—on the contrary, someone more familiar with their guns is apt to be a better shooter than those who are less familiar. The issue is when that “comfort” with firearms fosters a lack of vigilance with firearms safety. Lapses in diligent gun safety is when accidents happen.
2. Trigger Discipline Is Crucial.
As with the negligent discharge discussed recently, maintaining trigger discipline, that is, keeping your finger off the trigger and out of the trigger guard until you’ve made the decision to shoot, is key. Keeping your finger away from the trigger like that is the last “mental” line of defense against a negligent discharge. The man in the concealed carry class survived, but the round that embedded itself into his arm could just have easily struck somewhere more vital.
3. All Guns Are Loaded.
As the first rule of safe firearms handling teaches us, there is no such thing as an unloaded gun. I’ve personally witnessed someone safety checking a shotgun, and handing it off, as a cleared gun, to another shooter… who then accidentally fired a round. When someone hands us a “cleared firearm” how can we know if they haven’t just gone through the motions of clearing through rote habit without paying attention to what they saw? Or what if they’re tired? Distracted? Because we can’t share another’s mind, it is our responsibility as firearms owners and operators to verify the safety conditions of a gun put into our hands—every time. In the case of firearms classes, such as the one in this news story, it’s important to have more than one person verify the safety condition of any of the guns in the room to better ensure everyone’s safety.
It’s sad but true that familiarity CAN breed complacency. Part of creating VIGILANT familiarity is “habituation”. If you DRILL and HABITUALLY train with trigger discipline and “load checks”, and those habits become an ingrained part of your familiarity, you will be ingraining vigilance INTO your familiarity, and ultimately reduce the likelihood of accidents!
This is just nuts……. Ever see the video of the ATF guy who shoots a handgun in a classroom full of kids? Scary.
This is just nuts……. Ever see the video of the ATF guy who shoots a handgun in a classroom full of kids? Scary.
True shame as this should NEVER occur among those allegedly experienced with guns (unfortunately this is an all too frequent occurrence among “inexperienced” individuals). Destinee is obviously ‘hitting the bullseye’ with 1,2.3–If these steps are followed (not asking a lot…?) then our Community will not suffer the embarrassment of the Left which always pounces on stories like these. Great to hear the victim is doing well (or as “well” as someone can be doing with a slug in their arm).
Even instructors should follow gun safety rules!
The most dangerous guys at the range are usually the experienced older gentlemen who don’t think the rules apply to them anymore.
shooten The “experienced older gentlemen” you speak of probably never did follow the rules. Any responsible gun owner never forgets the safety rules of shooting and always follows them. That’s why it’s called a “negligent discharge!”
I have a background as a flying instructor and a firearms instructor.
In the flying business we have a saying – “There are two types of pilots; those who have landed wheels up, and those who have yet to!”
By extension, there are two types of shooters “Those who have had an AD/ND, and those who have yet to”.
It can happen to any of us – so learn from others mistakes.
AussieWombat1 Great comment. I too have taught both flying and firearms (and guitar, but I suppose that is irrelevant). I currently make my living as a corporate pilot. Isn’t it interesting how many pilots shoot (or shooters fly).
But on to my point. In aviation we also learn that you cannot eliminate risk, only manage and mitigate it, and the way you mitigate it is by careful situational awareness and strict adherence to safety procedures. Recognition of the risk is the first and most important step. Complacency kills.
AussieWombat1 Great comment. I too have taught both flying and firearms (and guitar, but I suppose that is irrelevant). I currently make my living as a corporate pilot. Isn’t it interesting how many pilots shoot (or shooters fly).
But on to my point. In aviation we also learn that you cannot eliminate risk, only manage and mitigate it, and the way you mitigate it is by careful situational awareness and strict adherence to safety procedures. Recognition of the risk is the first and most important step. Complacency kills.
My first job on leaving the Australian Air Force was with the Australian CAA (= FAA) in risk identification/management and airspace design. I agree totally with your comments on risk management. As instructors we should be setting examples (in both flying and firearms), not injuring our students through poor behaviour and lack of safety awareness.
What’s your current ride?
My first job on leaving the Australian Air Force was with the Australian CAA (= FAA) in risk identification/management and airspace design. I agree totally with your comments on risk management. As instructors we should be setting examples (in both flying and firearms), not injuring our students through poor behaviour and lack of safety awareness.
What’s your current ride?
AussieWombat1 Looks like you have an impressive resume.
A Beechjet 400a. Are you still managing to “slip the surly bonds” now and again?
Nice jet. I spent 5 years pushing a Super KingAir around and doing check and training. Now I just sit back in RPT and let others do the work whilst I drink and eat.
Not sure how one mistakes a loaded revolver for an unloaded one… Actually, my revolver can use moon clips; so I keep one set of moon clips with the safety cap rounds in it. When I unload the gun, I put the moon clip in- with the safety cap rounds. The safety rounds are the red anodized ones. The other rounds are loaded with speed loaders- not moon clips.
I’ve had the how should I say, less than desirable experience of being at an indoor range and upon turning around, I find some guys wife messing around with a gun while hubby is on the line. Was it loaded or not, I’ll never know because I didn’t hang around long enough to find out. I did complain to management but I’m not sure it did any good. Needless to say, now when I go to an indoor range ( and I have not been back to the aforementioned range) I always wait for an end lane, so I can see what’s going on to my open side.
I always try to be as safety conscious as possible. Destinee is spot on with her three tips. Eat safety, sleep safety, and live to see another day safety. Complacency will hurt you or someone you love. If someone makes a comment that I’m so anal that does not offend me
I recently attended a local gun show and I lost count of the amount of times I saw the vendor behind the table explaining a firearm with the muzzle pointed towards someone, and the same went for the inquirer. Scary does not describe the feeling.
This is a fantastic site with knowledgable people and I have learned a lot in the short time I’ve been here. keep up the good work.
sNw9 <blockuote>I recently attended a local gun show and I lost count of the amount of
times I saw the vendor behind the table explaining a firearm with the
muzzle pointed towards someone</blockquote>
Open breech or not? That makes a lot of difference.