TTAG’s Armed Intelligentsia has already discussed the necessity of keeping a “hot gun” on your person while you’re home, home on the range. (Psycho killer, qu’est-ce que c’est?) There’s another, less discussed danger on the firing line: stupid people in firearms classes. As I’m sure the AI will testify, you meet all kinds of Bozos during firearms instruction, from dim-wits to the congenitally clumsy to know-it-alls to students who are so gung-ho they forget safety in the pursuit of tactical wikkid pissa-ness. Here’s one I prepared earlier . . .
“A United Nations firearms instructor from France accidentally shot himself during recertification training at Smith & Wesson late Thursday morning,” wwlp.com reports. “Springfield Police Sgt. John Delaney said the man, who is not being publicly identified, shot himself in the thigh during the class.”
Good thing he shot himself and not some poor bystander. Or even a rich one, Rosie. There’s three simple ways to avoid ending-up like the U.N. guy’s thigh.
First, speak up. If you see unsafe behavior, tell the instructor. Provided the instructor conducts a proper intervention, second, get as far away from the doofus as possible. Third, if the instructor just rolls his or her eyes or otherwise fails to deal with the issue, leave the course.
As Lord Humongus told the tribe guarding the juice, as Robert Gordon sang, just walk away. Shake off the whole respect the alpha go-with-the-flow mindset that training entails and get your ass out of there.
Refund reschmund. Remember: one bullet can ruin your whole day.
[h/t to NeonCat for the link]