DEA agent shoots self during gun safety class for Orlando kids

The Miami Herald ^ | Fri, Apr. 30, 2004 | Associated Press

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Better put Arlen Spector on this to get to the bottom of it. Maybe he can connect it to the Kennedy assassination single bullet.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Archy how can you say these things about the DEA and Federal Agents? They will be giving this guy a medal and a promotion. He has just turned a room full of kids into leftist gun haters.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

That's why NRA instructors are respected enough that their classes get you qualified for CCW in those states that require training. Otherwise they would have you going to a govt. course and folks like this guy would be teaching you.

But don't forget even a bad example is still an example you can learn from.

[Freemeorkillme]

"A good opportunity for the children to utilize first aid training."

Gives new meaning to the phrase "Open Source Consultants" for all those 'puter guys out there....errr even DEA...people.

Seriously, he either didn't remove the mag or pulled a bs showing of the weapon in "hand-held battery position", not locked in battery....{read-perhaps, too busy to deal with a PR course)

Though, he may be a mourning RAT for all we know. Despondent and all led to the injurious distraction. It was Fla. after all. LOL, kinda....

I don't necessarily think that the range is the proper place for a gun safety presentation, but it reinforces the seriousness of the topic for teacher and "students".

FMOKM

[azhenfud]

Nothing like "first-hand" experience to give someone a "leg up".

[Freemeorkillme]

Whaaa??? That's really one of the safest guns around IF YOU ABIDE BY THE TEN.

[TigersEye]

Unfortunately, the agent had to get shot. But after seeing that, my nephew doesn't want to have anything to do with guns."

That probably IS the goal of such "gun safety" classes.

If it saves one childs life ... /sarcasm

[TigersEye]

I think the Darwin is given posthumously, but he is eligible as a runner up.

Give the guy another chance!

[X-FID]

"The kids screamed and started to cry," Farmer recounted. "My first thought was that it was part of his presentation. I thought it was a blank and he was trying to make a point about how easy it is to fire, to get the kids' attention. But then I looked at the agent's face and he looked surprised. Then there was a quick grimace on his face of sudden pain.

I thought the same thing( a setup, but without the dye ), a .40 cal. at point blank range and no mention of blood by this person, just the grimace on the agent's face. Lotsa missing details.

[wardaddy]

Glock I assume.

Good thing his femoral was outta the way.

Feds...gotta love em.

[wardaddy]

Do DEA agents have to undergo drug tests like the rest of us?

No.

[DocRock]

I have to agree. Both are extremely simple and very safe. I've carried either a Browning Hi-Power or a 1911 "cocked and locked" for over 20 years. Once while repelling, I dropped my Hi-Power from over 20 feet cocked and locked without a discharge. I was impressed and it only slightly damaged the wooden grips.

But I have a question about this DOA story... All the Browning Hi-Powers I've owned had a magazine safety which prevented the hammer from being dropped on the firing pin when the magazine was removed from the weapon. I know the Glock doesn't have an exposed hammer, but doesn't the Glock have the same magazine safety device and if so, how could it have discharged without the mag inserted? As I've never owned one, I don't know.

[eastforker]

I have read this story online from 5 differant websites including the WP. They all say the same thing except the article says it happened the ninth but one place said it happened thursday evening about 7 pm at the calahan center.I have searched all the DEA news releases and could find nothing. Vivian Farmer is the only witness that had anything to say and that I believe came from the local police report.

[eastforker]

My 2 cents worth. This youth club sounds like most of the kids there are young teens and alot of parents involved also. Magic Johnson and Tiger Woods also may be involved with the club. The agent was giving a class on life choices and the dangers of drugs. To make it more believable he had a man from the audience to verify the gun was empty, same thing magicians do on stage by the way to make the trick look real. Yup, I think it was staged to scare the little bugers.

[X-FID]

The agent was giving a class on life choices and the dangers of drugs.

In the process he showed future druggies that they'll be up against the likes of Barney Fife.

[Shooter 2.5]

That may be the only thing Specter was right about in his entire career.

[Gone_Postal]

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.
aperantly who ever look to see that it was unloaded just looked down and saw the floor were the magazine was and never look in the chamber. when the slide was released it sprang fowared and dischared the round....

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.
Ok class now that the gun is empty ........BANG.......OH $h!+!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[af_vet_rr]

In the process he showed future druggies that they'll be up against the likes of Barney Fife.

Perhaps somebody above him thought he was too imcompentent to be out in the field doing actual DEA work and was better off "educating" youngsters?