Discussion: PA Cop Charged In Accidental Killing Of Fellow Officer During Gun Training

TPM Article Topics
1

Discussion for article #233117

2

I forgot to mention that the example of gun carelessness on TPM last year that got the most votes was:

A South Carolina man was killed on Wednesday after he put on a bulletproof vest, asked his friend to shoot him, and the friend allegedly missed the vest, according to television station WYFF. (5.15.2014)

The state with the most examples of gun carelessmess in 2014 was:

FLORIDA

So far the state in 2015 with the most examples of gun carelessness is:

NORTH CAROLINA

3

Twenty years of handling weapons on the job, and this can still happen if you’re careless. I doubt such a sobering truth will impress the open-carriers who use guns as a 2nd Amendment fashion statement, however. If only they endangered just themselves!

4 Likes
4

Come on.
Stupid? Yes.
Criminal? No way.

5

Guns don’t kill people, gun trainers kill people.

6

My family is suffering through the suicide by shooting of a young woman we all loved and now mourn. She finally used a gun after two other methods less lethal failed.

7

There is a point where stupidity becomes criminal… and having a dead body is probably a good place to define it.

1 Like
8

Death goes beyond endangerment does it not? And if its recklessness, then its 1st degree recklessness.
Plus aren’t cops held to a higher standard?

9

This is a tough one, but where does one draw the line? These guys work with weapons all the time. On the one hand, he should know better. On the other, especially with the distraction of teaching and talking, it could be easy to make such a mistake.

Reminds me of the parachute pro who had jumped a gazillion times, and on this one occasion he was going to film other jumpers. Distracted by getting others ready, and working on his camera, he jumped without the chute. His helmet mounted cam captures the moment when he realized what he had done… looking down as he frantically grasps for the pull cord that isn’t there, and then, a brief, but steady look skyward before the camera stops filming. [shudder]

Was the jumper stupid? No. Is this kind of human error - if it hurts another - a criminal act? Sometimes. Not always. I wouldn’t know enough from this article to conclude either way.

1 Like
10

Gee! now they are shooting each other.