--H.L. Mencken, The Baltimore Evening Sun, July 26, 1920
Posted on 04/23/2012 9:16:12 PM PDT by Perseverando
A firearms safety course went awry in Bedford County (VA) Saturday when a man shot himself in the hand with a .45-caliber handgun and the bullet passed through his hand and struck his wife, seated nearby, in the leg.
Shot were Michael L. Deel, 54, and Michelle K. Deel, 49, both of Roanoke. Emergency dispatchers in Bedford County received a call at 12:25 p.m. reporting a shooting on Chapel Woods Drive. The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office said county rescue units and deputies responded.
The Deels were attending a firearms safety class being taught and hosted by Thomas F. Starke, 57, according to the department.
The sheriff’s office said Starke told deputies that he had left the room, heard a shot and returned to find the Deels had been shot.
The couple was taken by ambulance to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
The shooting remains under investigation.
You know the adage “You’re not a real biker, until you crash once?”
Well...
Man Mistakes his Girlfriend for a Hog, Accidentally Shoots Her
It may be your right, but you are the wrong kind to own the gun, son.
“Oops! Sorry dear.” If I were him and didn’t have a nice comfortable couch - I’d go out and buy one ... ;-)”
--H.L. Mencken, The Baltimore Evening Sun, July 26, 1920
I cannot be discounted that he only thought the hog was his girlfriend.
Only when the classroom training was complete, and the students were properly trained in safety and firearm handling, did the participants move to a firing range.
The people running this class don't know what they are doing.
Glock racing stripes...
That there's whatcha call a two-fer.
Think Mr. Thomas F. Starke should review his teaching lessons, I mean really, really review them, particularly the part about loaded pistols in class with people who need a gun safety class.
I never chamber a round unless I am preparing to shoot. Every LE type has an inadvertant discharge tale to tell. Too much can go wrong.
He violated the very first rule of gun safety -
Always treat a gun as if it is loaded even if you think it isn’t.
[Note to those not acquainted with the M1911: this pistol has four safety devices: (1) Thumb Safety — locks trigger, hammer, and slide when applied; (2) Grip Safety — prevents firing if the pistol is not firmly gripped by the hand; (3) Half Cock Safety — prevents firing if the hammer slips while being lowered on a live round; (4) Disconnector Safety — prevents firing if the slide is not fully forward and locked. Item (3) is not a safe carry safety and item (4) is a mechanical check done during maintenance, but does not affect carry of the pistol.]
Nice sentiment, but if this happened, someone wasn’t paying attention to the part about pointing in a safe direction, and treating every gun like it is loaded. I get nervous anytime i see people swinging barrels around, and will excuse myself from such gatherings.
Firearms instructor Starke went stark raving mad when da shooting started.
True, in 1967 I was in the ER of a rural hospital for shooting myself in the leg. The county sheriff took the report and was berating me about safety training, when his deputy walked in with a finger blown off while handling a derringer.
I believe they ‘failed’ that class with flying colors(and Tissue).
Must have been sleeping or texting/playing Angry Birds during that critical part of the class where they speak of not touching that damn trigger until READY TO FIRE.
First thing established at any class I teach:
“If you are carrying, or have any ammunition, please remove it from the classroom now”
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