Gun & Game

Doglips · 04-30-2004, 11:19 AM

Federal Agent Shoots Himself During Gun Safety Course

POSTED: 10:38 am EDT April 30, 2004
UPDATED: 10:43 am EDT April 30, 2004

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A federal drug agent shot himself in the leg during a gun safety presentation to children and his bosses are investigating.
The Drug Enforcement Administration agent, whose name was not released, was giving a gun safety presentation to about 50 adults and students organized by the Orlando Minority Youth Golf Association, witnesses and police said.

He drew his .40-caliber duty weapon and removed the magazine, according to the police report. Then he pulled back the slide and asked someone in the audience to look inside the gun and confirm it wasn't loaded, the report said.

Witnesses said the gun was pointed at the floor and when he released the slide, one shot fired into the top of his left thigh.

"The kids screamed and started to cry," said Vivian Farmer, who attended the presentation with her 13-year-old nephew.

"Everyone was pretty shaken up," Farmer said. "But the point of gun safety hit home. Unfortunately, the agent had to get shot. But after seeing that, my nephew doesn't want to have anything to do with guns."

The agent was treated at Orlando Regional Medical Center after the April 9 shooting and returned to work, DEA special agent Joe Kilmer said.

Police ruled the shooting was an accident, but the DEA headquarters in Washington was still investigating, Kilmer said.
Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Mandy · 04-30-2004, 12:27 PM

:assult: :assult: :assult: :assult: :assult:

That's proof that even the most experienced gun handlers can have mishaps.

That incident makes clear that whenever handling a gun, care should be taken 'cause even the smallest of errors can lead to a unintentional fatality.

Allways check and double check your gun before handling it to someone else.

I was reading last week a gun magazine and found an article about gunsite. It stated the 4 basic rules of gun handling:

1) all guns are loaded all the time. (even after unloading)
2) never point a gun at something you're not willing to destroy.
3) never put your finger in the trigger until you've dicided to shoot.
4) make sure you've positively identified your target and backstop before shooting.

Another point to see is that the gun may have been malfunctioning, 'cause it isn't suposed to fire when the slide is released into battery.

As all mechanical things, it can fail at any time, so care should be taken all the time to avoid a potential fatal situation.

:nod: :nod: :nod: :nod: :nod:

Dale · 04-30-2004, 01:54 PM

Can we see some posts about how the everyday 'Joe' messes up?

No, wait!

Posting tidbits about how our elite civil servants make a mistake is far more tantilizing.

Post edit: there are a few guys (or gals, for all I know) on the High Road forum that like to crucify LEO any time they get the chance.

I, for one, dislike anyone taking jabs at them just because 'we can.'

'nuff said from me...yepper...fer sure.

Doglips · 04-30-2004, 02:04 PM

I posted this not as a jab...ok Orlando Florida has had some serious problems lately but thats a diffrent story.....but like someone said..it shows that even experts can make mistakes...and that proper handeling of a firearm is the key to safty.....I would have posted this if Al Gore..the NRA firearms instructor....or anyone elxe had done it..... Dale the news generaly dont report the average unknown person does something stupid....its not news...and they would have to follow too many morons...so when a public official...or other spotlighteed person messes up..yep the news is there...not fair..just life.

Shaun · 04-30-2004, 03:05 PM

This is good to see that the better than now Fed Agents have no regard for gun safety -- I wish it would have been an ATF agent that would have really made this even better -- they vilify our side when a mistake is made but how dare we do it when they mishandle.