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Police trainee accidentally killed by instructor
AP via CNN ^ | 9/14/05

Posted on 09/14/2005 9:54:28 PM PDT by PAR35

AUSTELL, Georgia (AP) -- A trainee at a state law enforcement academy was accidentally shot and killed by her instructor Tuesday during a classroom exercise, authorities said.

The police trainee was among about 30 students in the seventh week of a state-mandated 10-week training course at the North Central Georgia Law Enforcement Academy.

***

Cobb County Police spokesman Dana Pierce said the veteran instructor was "very traumatized" and had to seek medical attention.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Georgia
KEYWORDS: banglist; banklist; cops; guncontrol; guns; police
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To: PAR35
Brings back my very first memory of a gun. I was 4 years old when my dad took me hunting. I was, as a young child, fascinated by the "gun." My dad did two things that stuck in my memory to this day. One, he blew apart a sapling pine with one shot from a 12 gauge, and then compared its diamater to my arm (it was bigger than my arm). He said "son, a gun will blow YOU apart just like this. ALWAYS respect them, ALWAYS remember they will kill you. They are NEVER to play with, NEVER to do anything with but USE in a VERY careful manner. You can't say "I'm sorry" and undo the damage." Two, we happened on a cottonmouth moccasin by a stream on the way back to the car. If you know that snake, you know it can be more aggressive than many. He told me to stand behind him, and suddenly half the snake just wasn't there. He used that to hammer home again the destructive power of firearms, why they were valuable as tools but terribly dangerous.

He would have beaten my a## if I had ever engaged in the kind of horseplay with guns I saw some of my drunk buddies do as a teen, but he didn't need to. The craziest thing I ever did with a gun was shoot hornet's nests with them, and we were sober even then. His lessons stuck. Guns are just plain dangerous. I don't care HOW familiar you are as an "instructor." It takes once to kill or maim someone. You may end someone else's life and ruin what is left of yours.

If I may, a few rules:
1) there is no such thing as an "unloaded" gun
2) if you point it, it should only be with the purpose of discharging it (in the case that you are pointing it at a person, the only thing that should change this is if you no longer see their face, but their back)
3) if you display it in a hostile manner it should be for the purpose if withdrawing it, pointing it, and discharging it if the situation continues
4) always assume the other person with a weapon will do the most stupid thing imaginable

Just a final note for anyone still bored enough to be reading this. A good friend and a VERY safe gun user almost killed me a month ago at the range. I have shot with him for some time and I felt VERY comfortable with his rituals of safety (which mirror mine). He had a .40 SW with VERY light action (new to him). He shot the weapon once, and the recoil snapped the pistol to almost straight up in the air. He did not realize how feather light the action was and accidentally discharged another round while the pistol was pointed up. The round hit a steel girder, and ricocheted past my head (I felt the air before I heard the whizz). I flinched, and my friend thought he had shot me. This guy is a safety fanatic (he was horrified at his own actions), and if it can happen to HIM, it could happen to anyone. I wish every gun owner and user could have had my dad as someone to introduce them to firearms.

81 posted on 09/15/2005 4:38:15 AM PDT by chronic_loser
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To: Americanwolf
That is why you never... never....never mess around with guns.. any good soldier or cop will tell you that....anyone who is cavalier about handling a gun is an idiot..

I remember reading about some 2nd Lt in Iraq (Gulf War I )who was "training" his men on something, and wanted to demonstrate how the .9mm safety operates. He clicked something, pointed the gun to his head to demonstrate how "safe" it was, and blew his own brains (or whatever they were) out in front of his men.

As tragic as this death was, someone this stupid was just a Darwin award looking for an opportunity.

82 posted on 09/15/2005 4:45:48 AM PDT by chronic_loser
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To: chronic_loser

Won't argue with that at all....


1st rule of Gun safety is never point the weapon at anything you don't want to destroy
.


83 posted on 09/15/2005 4:49:27 AM PDT by Americanwolf (U.S. Navy Veteran.....93-97 Clinton I want my trip to Australia! I had to go to China you pervert!)
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To: kenth

Same type of incident happened in Wetumpka, AL a few years ago. Shooter and victim were close friends.


84 posted on 09/15/2005 4:52:12 AM PDT by auboy
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To: PAR35

Promote the man and give him more responsibility.


85 posted on 09/15/2005 4:54:13 AM PDT by cynicom
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To: chronic_loser

Your great dad killed an innocent snake to impress you. Glad he wasn't my dad.


86 posted on 09/15/2005 5:49:07 AM PDT by neuron2
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To: thefactor
"hey there's a fresh grave. let's piss on it."

From a Klintoon thread?....Think I recall that......Meantime --prayers for the family of the victim..and her instructor..

87 posted on 09/15/2005 5:55:15 AM PDT by litehaus
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To: PAR35; Squantos

Why was it, when we were training twenty something years ago, we always had to use those deactivated red-handled guns. Think it might have been for safety reasons?


88 posted on 09/15/2005 7:04:38 AM PDT by TEXASPROUD
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To: Squantos
It was against state policy for him to have an operable handgun in the facility, loaded or not. All ammunition is also banned from the facility. This ignoramous broke all of the rules of safe gun handling as well as state sanctioned rules for the operation of the facility.

Details here

89 posted on 09/15/2005 7:12:10 AM PDT by P8riot (Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional.)
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To: PAR35

If a "civilian" shot someone they might be charged with negligent homicide. I wonder is this blue line member will be charged?


90 posted on 09/15/2005 7:14:36 AM PDT by CodeToad
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To: PAR35

The victim is an innocent person. She was there for training as a peace officer. It isn't her responsibility to ensure her instructors know what they are doing.


91 posted on 09/15/2005 7:15:48 AM PDT by CodeToad
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To: ncountylee
Not innocent, another cop

What a stupid thing to say. I pray you are not as stupid as your brief missive portrays you to be.

92 posted on 09/15/2005 7:26:36 AM PDT by Horatio Gates
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To: Squantos; Larry Lucido

Looks like Larry got the scoop. How sad and unecessary. Of course this gals family will soon own the city and I forsee a manslaughter chatge here if this is accurate.


93 posted on 09/15/2005 7:41:59 AM PDT by Horatio Gates
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To: Squantos
In all honesty I believe the make and model ain't the issue it's the lack of thought behind the trigger

According to #57, the make/model had little to do with it. Apparently he wasn't suppose to have ammo, or a working gun in the area he was in. If true, this guy blew it in a very big way.

94 posted on 09/15/2005 7:54:51 AM PDT by Black Tooth (The more people I meet, the more I like my dog.)
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To: Horatio Gates; Black Tooth

True......ya'll stay safe !


95 posted on 09/15/2005 8:41:42 AM PDT by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet. ©)
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To: Wormwood
Yikes. No comment.

And indeed, there is now no comment there.
Ready, Aim, Report Abuse.

96 posted on 09/15/2005 8:54:10 AM PDT by GovernmentShrinker
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To: neuron2; chronic_loser
Your great dad killed an innocent snake to impress you. Glad he wasn't my dad.

No such thing as an innocent cottonmouth.

You may be looking for the PETA discussion boards. They are several doors to the left.

97 posted on 09/15/2005 9:56:49 AM PDT by PAR35
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To: ApplegateRanch
Sorry; but why isn't the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (that is what they call it, isn't it?) or the state police investigating, instead of the involved sheriff?

I agree. Looks like a coverup may be in the making. The local paper hasn't even identified the shooter, and you know that they know his name. http://www.mdjonline.com/268/10195295.txt

98 posted on 09/15/2005 10:06:31 AM PDT by PAR35
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To: Robert A. Cook, PE
This facility is (literally) "on the way" as we drive to church - and just a few blocks south of Kennesaw

I know that Austell is more than 'just a few block south' of Kennesaw. More like 10 miles by air, longer by car. If it's on the way to church, where do you go? Newnan?

99 posted on 09/15/2005 10:13:43 AM PDT by PAR35
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To: neuron2
Your great dad killed an innocent snake to impress you. Glad he wasn't my dad.

Me, too. That would have made you my brother, and my dad used to whip me for kicking my younger brother's a##. From your response, I can see it would have been a moral obligation to kick yours, too.

I don't think I could have stood the extra pain.

100 posted on 09/15/2005 10:29:34 AM PDT by chronic_loser
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