The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Hazcat on May 20, 2008, 05:06:16 PM
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By Brian Fraga
Standard-Times staff writer
May 20, 2008 6:00 AM
Do as I say, not as I do.
That could be the lesson from Maj. Donald Lamar, a firearms instructor for the Bristol County Sheriff's Department, who was teaching a class on weapons safety last week when he accidentally fired the weapon while placing it into his holster. The bullet ripped through Maj. Lamar's pants leg and lodged in the floor, but amazingly missed his leg and foot.
Just days earlier, a Marshfield police recruit accidentally shot himself in the leg while attempting to holster his weapon during a training session at the New Bedford Police Department's shooting range in Dartmouth. That bullet entered the recruit's upper thigh and lodged in his lower leg, but his injuries were not life-threatening.
Maj. Lamar made reference to the Dartmouth accident in a demonstration to deputy sheriffs last Wednesday. He held his Glock handgun, showed his students how to put it away, then slid the weapon into his holster — his finger still on the trigger.
BANG!
The weapon discharged, startling the classroom, said Bristol County Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson.
Maj. Lamar, a certified firearms instructor since 2005, had shown a "gross error in judgment" in not checking to make sure his pistol was empty, Sheriff Hodgson said.
"He didn't clear his weapon before he went in the classroom, which is something he did every day," Sheriff Hodgson said. "In fact, he would often show students while in class that his weapon was clear.
"Fortunately, nobody was hurt, but it was certainly an embarrassment," the sheriff said. "It's a stark reminder that rules have to be followed when handling a weapon."
Sheriff Hodgson said an internal affairs investigation will determine how Maj. Lamar deviated from his normal training procedures.
"I can't surmise what happened for him not to have cleared his weapon. Maybe he might not have been thinking about it, had something else on his mind and didn't realize the weapon was loaded.
"He feels very embarrassed about it."
Sheriff Hodgson said, Maj. Lamar has been transferred to the department's traffic division pending the outcome of the investigation.
He is not carrying a firearm.
Link http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080520/NEWS/805200357
MY COMMENT:
"In fact, he would often show students while in class that his weapon was clear."
WRONG, you show them it is clear every time. Set the weapon down and when you pick it back up you clear it. Put it in a holster, pull it back out and clear it. Clearing while handling and instructing is something that should be automatic and constant.
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BTW, I have no idea how the word "Glock" got highlighted. ::) ;D
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The lesson is...keep your booger-hook off the bang-switch.
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The lesson is...keep your booger-hook off the bang-switch.
what makes you think it was his finger? Holsters are a big cuases of AD ( a hoslter cuased discharge is one of the few AD, most are ND)...
PS this is why I never buy an auto with out a safety.
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"Maj. Lamar made reference to the Dartmouth accident in a demonstration to deputy sheriffs last Wednesday. He held his Glock handgun, showed his students how to put it away, then slid the weapon into his holster — his finger still on the trigger."
"BANG!"
TAB
Pretty obvious it was his finger that caused the weapon to discharge.
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what makes you think it was his finger? Holsters are a big cuases of AD ( a hoslter cuased discharge is one of the few AD, most are ND)...
PS this is why I never buy an auto with out a safety.
...because the story said he holstered his firearm with his finger still on the trigger. But, I agree with you. I am more comfortable with a manual safety for that reason (personal preference). And more to what Haz was saying...any firearm used for demonstration should be checked each and every time it is handled. Our club will not allow ammo in the classroom during training, and everytime a firearm is handled, it is checked...then a random student is asked to verify that the gun is clear. Its a good habit to get into.
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http://youtube.com/watch?v=5IZlcbJwfP4
It happens more than it ever should by these "trained" LEO's.
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Sorry to double post but it too was one of Those Glocks .
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Heres another one:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-n2VLmqCXL0
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Heres another one:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-n2VLmqCXL0
That one did not look accidental.
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No such thing as an AD only ND.
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The lesson is...keep your booger-hook off the bang-switch.
I laughed.
I cried.
I peed a little bit.
That is some good funny! Thanks