The Purpose of Training: Dealing with Exigency
"TO TEACH THE BASIC KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ATTITUDE NECESSARY FOR OWNING AND USING A PISTOL SAFELY."
When teaching boat-handling, I make it a point to counsel student's to "never let your boat go anywhere that your mind hasn't already been." Over the years, I have found that kind of advice doesn't always fall on fertile ground. If there is one thing that constitutes "fertile ground" in learning, it's student 'attitude.'
That is why, for example, the NRA Basic Pistol course includes the word "attitude" in the goal of the course. It's that important!
A person's attitude is reflected in their behavior; especially in how that person reacts to exigency. For example, a trained person shooting a semi-automatic pistol should know that the pistol will be indiscriminately ejecting spent shell casings into the air, and those shell casings will be hot to the touch, and the possibility exists that one, or more, of those casings might land on the shooter. Attitude allows the shooter to cognitively prepare themselves to safely deal with hot brass landing on them.
Shazam, that term "proper attire" has a new and greater meaning! And, it becomes less likely that exigency will lead to a negligent discharge — such as this case:
SARASOTA, Fla. -- A teenager who died after a shooting at a Florida gun range on Sunday was killed accidentally by his father, police said Monday.
The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that they concluded the shooting at the High Noon Gun Shop was not intentional based on witness statements and video.
According to police, Stephen J. Brumby, 14, and his dad, William C. Brumby, 64, were practicing in a shooting lane against a wall when the accident took place.
"After firing a round, the spent shell casing struck the wall causing it to deflect and fall into the back of (the elder) Mr. Brumby's shirt. Brumby then used his right hand, which was holding the handgun, in an attempt to remove the casing. While doing so, he inadvertently pointed the firearm directly behind him and accidently fired," a police statement reads.
Brumby's two other children, a 24-year-old son and a 12-year-old daughter, were also present and uninjured, police said.
No charges have been filed.
A local who frequented the gun range told CBS Tampa affiliate WTSP-TV that the incident is unusual.
"It's quite surprising, because the owners are very professional," said Goichi Matsumoto who works in the same shopping plaza and has shot in the range before. "I wouldn't have thought something like this would happen here."
Last month on the businesses Facebook Page, there was a post of a meme of a child holding a rifle. The meme reading "Properly trained kids don't have accidents."
Never assume that the stranger shooting next to you at the range has a reasonable attitude or has been properly trained.
Stay alert. Be safe!
/fl