A D at my range, --ABSOLUTE-- stupidity

[gray wolf]

yes that's correct, ABSOLUTE stupidity.

Julie and I were enjoying doing nothing a few afternoons ago when the scanner gave a call (( accidental shooting )) my ears perked up and and he called out my area, I said Hm, then he said the name of the road it happened on and I new it was my range 10 miles away.

As I continued to listen: it went like this, older guy in his late 40,s shot himself in the hand. No cell coverage right at the range, (dirt road and all ) and they didn't know they could hook up 800 feet up the road. So these guys called from the road and said he was bandaged up and they were going to meet the Para Medics at the sport shop in Town.

The Para medics called for a Life flight to meet them at our local L Z no Airport, just a clearing. We have an airport but out here it's like you go to the closest place you can land the Bird. So off he went to Maine Medical on his 12 to 15,000 $$$ Helicopter ride.

Now here is thew story:
This guy was shooting with some friends, standing at the bench he loaded his 1911 45 ACP turned on his Lazer light, and with his his finger on the trigger proceeded to wave the little red dot across his left palm, he proceeded to pull the trigger sending a 230 gr. ball Ammo 45 through the lower portion of his left palm, and through the top of the bench.

Brain fade ?? dumb ?? stupid ?? not sure what went through his mind but the slug went through his hand.

I went to the seen the next day and the bullet hit the bench at a 45* angle,
so the pistol was not even pointed down range.

I new this would happen eventually from all the ignorant gun owners that I have seen shooting. I try very hard to educate everyone I can, some listen and some do not. Most think they know everything that is to be known.

What a shame.

[DeanWinchester]

Stupidity should be painful. In this case, it is.

This is the reason I go to my range EARLY Sunday morning before the fools wake up from their Saturday night hangover.

[Love Life]

Pain retains.

[Ickisrulz]

"older guy in his late 40's"? Am I an older guy now?? I thought older guys were 60+!

[Bullshop]

"older guy in his late 40's"? Am I an older guy now?? I thought older guys were 60+!
Hey watchit fella!!! I aint no older guy. Everyone knows that older guys are over a hunert.

[Love Life]

I always figured older guys were those guys older than 30. Geez, starting to smell like brute aftershave in here!

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I always say I'm an old man (now at 49). I will not speak for anyone else.

[dragon813gt]

There is an over abundance of Darwin Awards that haven't been handed out. Society has been protecting the stupid for far to long. It's time to start handing them out again.

[lefty o]

at least the doofus did it to himself, and did not shoot an innocent bystander.

[KAF]

I am thinking the dumazz will now file suit against the gun manufacturer because they didn't tell him not to check his red dot by running his hand across the muzzle with a round in the chamber and finger on the trigger.......Just watch.

[cbrick]

Yeah but Mr. Wolf, you didn't say . . . Is the bench alright? :coffeecom

Rick

[Kevinakaq]

Hopefully that bench is well stained. Would make a good intro for an impromptu safety lesson if the need arises....

[monadnock#5]

"There are no useless members of society, especially when they can be made to serve as bad examples for everyone else."

I still haven't embraced "old" as a concept. It all depends on the application.:-D

[shooterg]

Paint a yellow outline of the hand on the bullet hole. And another hand adjacent.
Signage should read "This is your hand. This is a hand on .45's ."

[NewbieDave007]

Inquiring minds want to know....

How close did the bullet hit to the spot projected by the laser?

PB

I don't care who you are (except the idiot), but that's funny right there.

[OptimusPanda]

Money says he'll pepper spray himself next week examining the nozzle.

[shoot-n-lead]

I find it interesting that many people are killed or injured everyday in all manner of accidents, from automobiles, to motorcycles, to airplanes, to tractor trailers, to tractors, and most anything that you can imagine. People kill themselves, family members or entire families, bystanders and all manner of folks. And, all of these happen due to someone failing at one of the safety rules that is imperative to safe operation of the respective equipment...yet seldom do I hear anyone call the victims of these accidents idiots, dumbazz's, morons or any other derogatory name.

Yet, only idiots, dumbazz's, morons and the like have firearms accidents.

How is a firearm accident any different than other accidents?

[NewbieDave007]

A person that runs themself over with there car is an idiot. You get hit by someone being and idiot, then you are a victim and in my eyes not likely to be called an idiot by me. There's the difference for me.

Btw, the word accident implies that nothing could be done to avoid it. There is always something that could be done, but people like to shift blame so it is an "accident".

[shoot-n-lead]

Btw, the word accident implies that nothing could be done to avoid it. There is always something that could be done, but people like to shift blame so it is an "accident".

By this standard...NO one should ever be injured or killed, because there is always something that could be done to prevent it...so, what word should we apply to all of these events that happen EVERY day that result in injury and death.

Just like falling when you were riding your bike...you should have had complete control...but you didn't.

[NewbieDave007]

I honestly don't care but it shouldn't be something that naturally people go "Oh well" and then go about their business. The use of that word has made it so the general public can discard the either stupidity or tragedy that has happened and not learn from it.

[gkainz]

Not an AD in my opinion, rather a ND. Pure negligence.

[Plate plinker]

How many firearms safety rules did the man break? Thinking at least four us some range rules too.

I'm always concerned when the red dot thing comes into play. It seems many of the fellers want the easy way to shoot, not the hard work of practicing with a open sight.

[FISH4BUGS]

It DOES happen. I shot myself in the leg with an old Ruger RST4 when the gun was EMPTY. No kidding! I KNEW it was empty. Dropped the clip out.....nada....empty gun, right? WRONG.
This was before a magazine cutoff safety was installed. One left in the chamber, and I was reloading the clip and touched the trigger.
I stiil have the bullet in my leg......for 40 years. Stupid? Yes. Careless? Yes. Unsafe? Yes. But it DOES happen. Totally my fault.
But boy did I learn my lesson THAT day.

[500MAG]

I know a local LEO who went to clean his glock, while on duty, at the station. Removed the magazine and thought the chamber was clear stuck it to his palm and pulled the trigger. My buddy, a lieutenant on the force, said his hand looked like you could drop a quarter through it.

[Garyshome]

Hope the guy recovers!

[crappie-hunter]

My grandson came to visit the other day, he's 16 and says to me pappaw, you know there is no vaccine for stupid. I had to laugh, so since we can't fix stupid ,this kind of stupidity will continue.

[jakharath]

Shooting is kinda like driving. If you do it enough you'll have an accident.

Everybody makes mistakes. Everybody is an idiot for some part of the day.

[ole 5 hole group]

Shooting is kinda like driving. If you do it enough you'll have an accident.

Everybody makes mistakes. Everybody is an idiot for some part of the day.

I'll have to go along with that statement - just add, some are lucky and for some, if they didn't have bad luck, they wouldn't have any luck at all !!

[schutzen]

Well, no one else has commented on this so I guess I will. Evacuation by Air Ambulance? That sounds a little extreme for a gunshot to the hand. I have good insurance, but I suspect they would balk at paying for an air ambulance unless it was really out in the out back. I live 20 miles from the nearest hospital and very rarely does anyone get evacuated by air unless they are going on to a more advanced care hospital (very critical injuries).

[mozeppa]

"older guy in his late 40's"? Am I an older guy now?? I thought older guys were 60+!

hey wait just a dad burned minute! i'm 60!

but i think like a 25 year old!

aw ****! ..........i'm old now:( :not listening::not listening:

[MrWolf]

Yeah but Mr. Wolf, you didn't say . . . Is the bench alright? :coffeecom

Rick

I had to do a double take after your post. Thought I was getting more senile than I already am :veryconfu

[mold maker]

Well Yeah, I'm getting there (old), but it sure took way more than 40 years.
Come to think of it, I'm darn close to double that standard. Does that make me VINTAGE, as that is worth more.
If you've never had a brain fa-t, just wait, your time is coming soon.

[youngmman]

Good example of why I don't go to ranges at all and haven't for years. I drive a little less than 100 miles to the wilderness so I won't chance being around idiots with guns.


"life is tough and it's even tougher if you're stupid".........John Wayne

[Dale in Louisiana]

I find it interesting that many people are killed or injured everyday in all manner of accidents, from automobiles, to motorcycles, to airplanes, to tractor trailers, to tractors, and most anything that you can imagine. People kill themselves, family members or entire families, bystanders and all manner of folks. And, all of these happen due to someone failing at one of the safety rules that is imperative to safe operation of the respective equipment...yet seldom do I hear anyone call the victims of these accidents idiots, dumbazz's, morons or any other derogatory name.

Yet, only idiots, dumbazz's, morons and the like have firearms accidents.

How is a firearm accident any different than other accidents?

Wrong...

I frequently have to give safety talks at work, usually about my specialty - industrial electricity - but sometimes I get to read reports from accidents.

It is not good form to read an accident report and then ask your class, "Now what did this dumba** do wrong?" Everybody is thinking, it, though.

Examples?

Recent vehicle accident: Precipitating event was when the driver stopped, his spit cup fell over. when he was distracted by that event, he drove over something expensive.

Recent event: Worker was at a dig site, got a cellphone call, was talking on the cellphone and got hit in the head by the bucket of the backhoe.

There are several varieties of idiots, dumbazzes, and morons in the world. some of them are only inthose states for short periods of time, during which they become the subjects of safety meetings.

Dale in Louisiana

[popper]

Antique is >20, vintage is mostly applied to wine & restored old cars. Accident has been re-defined an a non-intentional event. Mistake is 'I thought I was right but now know I'm not'. Sure glad the newer cars have sensor brains to tell you when your inattentiveness is about to cause damage to someone or something. Yes, I've had more than my share of stupid moments.

[gandydancer]

Whats that saying? oh yeah. Stuff Happens.

[gray wolf]

Well, no one else has commented on this so I guess I will. Evacuation by Air Ambulance? That sounds a little extreme for a gunshot to the hand. I have good insurance, but I suspect they would balk at paying for an air ambulance unless it was really out in the out back. I live 20 miles from the nearest hospital and very rarely does anyone get evacuated by air unless they are going on to a more advanced care hospital (very critical injuries).

Well Sir, allow me to bring you up to speed,

I live 20 miles from the nearest hospital,
Good for you, we do not, -- 20 Miles ? heck you would be expected to walk there up here.
One hospital is 40 miles, one is 60 miles and the other two are 1 1/2 hour drive.
When Julie had her stroke last year she was air lifted to Maine Medical, one of the two stroke centers, a 20 minute flight, I would say better than an 80 mile drive, would you not agree ? And that was at the cost of about $11,000
Not all of our hospitals are complete treatment centers, you go to the one that can best treat your problem, and they have a protocol they deal with.

Let me add that Life flight comes from Lewiston Maine, they are not parked in town, they take 20 minutes to get here WHEN ! they can fly and IF, they are available.

Let me make a correction, Julie just informed me this guy went to Portland Maine and not Lewiston Maine, and that is an even longer distance.

We do not live in a city and it would be nice if some folks did not judge others by how they live, what they have, and what is available to them.

Let me also say that your post ticks me off a little, not a lot, cause I am well aware that folks that think like you do indeed exist.

Air evacuation is a very common occurrence here in Wester Maine. It saves many lives every year from falls, snowmobile accidents, hunting accident, car accidents, burns,
and many other unfortunate things,

Oh !! and yes even gun shots to the hand.
So perhaps some people should know what they are talking about before they open there mouth.

[cbrick]

I had to do a double take after your post. Thought I was getting more senile than I already am :veryconfu

Yes, I had some concern over a perfectly good (and completely innocent) shooting bench.

As for the guy that blew a hole in his hand and those there that watched him do it without stopping him . . . Not so much.

Loading a gun, turning on the red dot, placing your finger on the trigger, pointing the red dot and muzzle at your hand is very little different than getting your car up to 60, pointing it at a brick wall, setting the cruise control and then picking up the morning paper to get in a little reading while your passenger watched you do it and relaxed to enjoy the ride . . . What could possibly go wrong in either scenario?

Rick

[MrWolf]

cbrick, my post was sort of tounge in cheek in you responded to grey wolf as Mr. Wolf (that's me) :mrgreen:

[cbrick]

cbrick, my post was sort of tounge in cheek in you responded to grey wolf as Mr. Wolf (that's me) :mrgreen:

Oh yeah huh? I do call Grey Wolf Mr. Wolf, didn't occur to me at the time that we have two Mr. Wolf's. :mrgreen:

Rick

[blackthorn]

An "old" guy is anyone older than me! Presently that would be anyone 76 and up.

[garym1a2]

If it was me i would want the Air ambulance or fastest route to the hodpital. That 20 minutes may cost you $10K but it could also save your hand.


Well, no one else has commented on this so I guess I will. Evacuation by Air Ambulance? That sounds a little extreme for a gunshot to the hand. I have good insurance, but I suspect they would balk at paying for an air ambulance unless it was really out in the out back. I live 20 miles from the nearest hospital and very rarely does anyone get evacuated by air unless they are going on to a more advanced care hospital (very critical injuries).

[TXGunNut]

If it was me i would want the Air ambulance or fastest route to the hodpital. That 20 minutes may cost you $10K but it could also save your hand.


They probably just patched him up and referred him to an orthopod for bone grafts and/or tendon repair. If a critical patient had needed an air ambulance while it was tied up with this guy it could have been a long wait for the next available air ambulance.

[Rooster]

Hard lesson best lesson.

[cbrick]

cbrick, my post was sort of tounge in cheek in you responded to grey wolf as Mr. Wolf (that's me) :mrgreen:

And besides, with no slight to you intended I've been calling grey wolf Mr. Wolf on this forum for several years now. Guess I'll have to call you "Grumpy" for your avatar huh? :mrgreen:

Rick

[dlbarr]

"older guy in his late 40's"? Am I an older guy now?? I thought older guys were 60+!

That WAS NOT necessary.

[7br]

Hmmm, I posted about talking to a young lady about this very thing. Some one on the board was thinking that range masters were over bearing idiots that only were fit to be turned loose on the shotgun range. If it only affected the moron, it would not be a big deal. My club leases land from the county. As a service to the county, we have days open to the public. One discharge like this could end our lease. Now, if he would have killed himself, his heirs would come after the club officers and they could very well lose their homes.

[cbrick]

Now, if he would have killed himself, his heirs would come after the club officers and they could very well lose their homes.

Look into incorporation. I'm no lawyer but I believe if the club is incorporated any law suits can only go after the club and any possible club assets such as buildings, ins, equipment etc. Not that expensive and it could save the club officers.

Rick

[M-Tecs]

Shooting is kinda like driving. If you do it enough you'll have an accident.

Everybody makes mistakes. Everybody is an idiot for some part of the day.

Not if you follow the fundamentals of safe firearm handling. In 45 years of handling firearms almost daily they have never let me down.

[MrWolf]

And besides, with no slight to you intended I've been calling grey wolf Mr. Wolf on this forum for several years now. Guess I'll have to call you "Grumpy" for your avatar huh? :mrgreen:

Rick

I never even thought their was any slight intended just made me do a double take. A woman at my old trap club had Grumpy put on a shirt I won after a shoot. I always wore a Grumpy shirt at competitions, so no problems with answering to it :popcorn:

[gandydancer]

I have lived in south west Virginia many years now. I was born in Montana and raised in Maine & Canada. Here in Virginia they call me the cranky Yankee. No big deal, I had been called a Yankee all my school years by the Canadians. and I am OLD in years. and when someone younger calls me OLD MAN. I tell them. older? yes. and that means I have made it this far. and there is no guarantee that you will. and if you keep mouthing off your not going to. lol