Wrong lesson: Gun safety class ends with couple wounded

[DaveH]

Wrong lesson: Gun safety class ends with couple wounded - Roanoke.com

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Wrong lesson: Gun safety class ends with couple wounded

By Duncan Adams | The Roanoke Times

A firearms safety course went awry in Bedford County Saturday when a man shot himself in the hand with a .45-caliber handgun and the bullet passed through his hand and struck his wife, seated nearby, in the leg.

Shot were Michael L. Deel, 54, and Michelle K. Deel, 49, both of Roanoke. Emergency dispatchers in Bedford County received a call at 12:25 p.m. reporting a shooting on Chapel Woods Drive. The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office said county rescue units and deputies responded.

The Deels were attending a firearms safety class being taught and hosted by Thomas F. Starke, 57, according to the department.

The sheriff’s office said Starke told deputies that he had left the room, heard a shot and returned to find the Deels had been shot.

The couple was taken by ambulance to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

The shooting remains under investigation.
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Dan Casey's Blog thread at: http://tinyurl.com/7l37nja

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[QKShooter]

Somebody wasn't paying attention in class. I can imagine that had a great, positive, influence on all of the others in the class.

[Mike1956]

No live ammunition in the classroom.

[RevolvingMag]

Somebody wasn't paying attention in class. I can imagine that had a great, positive, influence on all of the others in the class.

Taught them how NOT to handle a gun. ...hopefully...

[rammerjammer]

that probably turned some of the non-experienced shooters in the class off to firearms

[ANGLICO]

Ouch, and stupid.

[Inspector71]

Bet nobody dozed off in class after that. If there was anyone left that is.

[NH_Esau]

Way back in my first instructor school, they told me I always needed an "attention step." That's a pretty good one.

"Awrighty, class. That brings us to our first topic: treat every firearm as if it were loaded."

[paching]

A case of dumb and dumber with a loaded gun. I bet he flunked.

[Spirit51]

She wasn't the dumb one...she was just sitting too close to the dumb one. I wonder if she can get a t shirt with that on it.

[Mike1956]

She wasn't the dumb one...she was just sitting too close to the dumb one. I wonder if she can get a t shirt with that on it.

No, the dumb one was the instructor. I hope he loses his credentials.

[oneshot]

She wasn't the dumb one...she was just sitting too close to the dumb one. I wonder if she can get a t shirt with that on it.

^^^Or a refund^^^^^^^^^^

On the class.

Yikes.
as Mike 1956 said, what in the wide world of sports were they doing with loaded firearms in there in the first place?
Maybe he already took the class, had a CPL permit, and was just there in the class.
Either way ;......

[barstoolguru]

I hope this guy doesn't go for a CCW permit

[DaveH]

Dan Casey has started a second thread pointing directly at College Carry and
thrown down a challenge.

IMHO, any anti-firearm blogger who post on a local Virginia paper site is
aiming directly at the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (RKBA) in Virginia.

I think it is safe to read the following an attempt to influence RKBA
legislation in Virginia.

http://tinyurl.com/bns4f63

**
SNIP

To which Yupbilly interjected the perfect response, below:

“It’s ironic. Loaded guns are not allowed in a ‘gun class,’ but there are
folks that think college students should be allowed to carry a loaded one in
academic classes.

Go figure.”

I would like someone from the gun crowed to explain this logic to me,
seriously.
**

FWIIW, the following is my reply to a similar comment on the original
thread:

http://tinyurl.com/7l37nja

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Re: Comment by Kristen — April 23, 2012 @ 8:02 pm

Kristen,

Do you, honestly, fail to see the difference between a concealed handgun
holstered until needed to defend oneself and/or others v. multiple handguns
being handled by folk (some of whom think/know that they need training)?

SCCC and other Pro-less-restrictions-on-the-RKBA organizations are talking
about concealed carry.

I can’t speak for others. But I, for one, would have no problem with a ban
on handling a firearm in class, public events, etc — save in clear case of
self defense.

That could be done by reference to existing Virginia law:

LIS > Code of Virginia > 18.2-282

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§ 18.2-282. Pointing, holding, or brandishing firearm, air or gas operated
weapon or object similar in appearance; penalty.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to point, hold or brandish any
firearm or any air or gas operated weapon or any object similar in
appearance, whether capable of being fired or not, in such manner as to
reasonably induce fear in the mind of another or hold a firearm or any air
or gas operated weapon in a public place in such a manner as to reasonably
induce fear in the mind of another of being shot or injured. However, this
section shall not apply to any person engaged in excusable or justifiable
self-defense. Persons violating the provisions of this section shall be
guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor or, if the violation occurs upon any public,
private or religious elementary, middle or high school, including buildings
and grounds or upon public property within 1,000 feet of such school
property, he shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony.

B. Any police officer in the performance of his duty, in making an arrest
under the provisions of this section, shall not be civilly liable in damages
for injuries or death resulting to the person being arrested if he had
reason to believe that the person being arrested was pointing, holding, or
brandishing such firearm or air or gas operated weapon, or object that was
similar in appearance, with intent to induce fear in the mind of another.

C. For purposes of this section, the word “firearm” means any weapon that
will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel single or
multiple projectiles by the action of an explosion of a combustible
material. The word “ammunition,” as used herein, shall mean a cartridge,
pellet, ball, missile or projectile adapted for use in a firearm.
**

Comment by Dave Hicks — April 23, 2012 @ 8:27 pm
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[gunthorp]

A MN class was passing around unloaded guns, when two gals produced live ammo. Before they could load, they were stopped, cops called, but cops said they couldn't do anything. Turns out the gals were from million moms, but didn't get their 15min of fame in the news. I always keep one live round for my 500 in case I catch someone nodding off during the laws section.