(NY) Gun safety teacher wounded by student

[Drizzt]

The Associated Press State & Local Wire

July 10, 2003, Thursday, BC cycle

8:28 AM Eastern Time

SECTION: State and Regional

LENGTH: 162 words

HEADLINE: Gun safety teacher wounded by student

DATELINE: SYRACUSE, N.Y.

BODY:
An instructor in a gun safety class was wounded by a student unloading a handgun, authorities said.

Patrick Sacco, 48, a former Liverpool police officer, was wounded in the right leg. He refused medical treatment at the scene from emergency medical personnel, said Onondaga County Sheriff's Department spokesman, Sgt. John D'Eredita.

The incident occurred in Sacco's home Wednesday morning while he was instructing three students on firearms safety. Sacco is the owner of Verdad Investigations and Protection Institute.

Gary Kassel, 56, of Syracuse, was unloading a .40-caliber Glock handgun and did not realize there was still a round in the chamber when he pointed the gun at the cement floor and pulled the trigger. The bullet ricocheted off the floor and struck Sacco.

No charges were filed. The investigation is continuing.

The students were licensed handgun owners taking a class that would certify them to be armed security guards, D'Eredita said.
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I guess its time for remedial classes....

 

[280PLUS]

a lesson in muzzle safety while clearing our guns

that sand bucket ive heard discussed around here is a good idea

m

 

[jeff4570]

This stuff happens all the time , Whats with some people ? What part of "watch that muzzel" Cant they understand ?

 

[Greybeard]

' Had a similar incident with a male student a couple years back. He had somewhat of a know-it-all-already attitude with rich Daddy picking up the tab for private class for kid's 21'st birthday. I was just behind him as he lit off a 1911 while at slightly less than 90 degree angle from floor, but at least downrange. 230 grain FMJ took a chunk out of concrete and, thankfully, carpet captured splatter. We "revisited" the difference between an AD and a ND, then I sent the lead and what was left of the jacket home with 'em as a lifetime reminder of that little lesson in humility ...

 

[El Tejon]

280, well, it's not a "bucket" but one of those 55 gallon plastic barrels. Saw it in half and fill with play sand from Menard's or Lowe's.

Good for clearing and iron skin conditioning.

 

[280PLUS]

oh,,,

i thought pointing down into a 5 gallon was ok

55 plastic would definitely be better,

then you could just clear pointing at the barrel?

or would you still want to point downward into it?

oops, missed the sawing in half part

down into is best i'm guessing

m

 

[CatsDieNow]

when he pointed the gun at the cement floor and pulled the trigger.

Okay, cement is something one mixes with aggragate and water to make concrete. This is no such thing as a cement floor.

Reporters

 

[Keith]

Why would anyone point their gun into a bucket or anything else before checking the chamber?

Keith

 

[tobeat1]

No buckets of sand in my house, I have too many cats! (although I do have a litter box- hmmmmm)

 

[Sunray]

CatsDieNow, you've never been around here after arts and crafts time. Rubber cement everywhere. HAHAHAHAHA!!!
No CEEment ponds in Ft Worth? HAHAHAHA!!!
I suppose it never occurred to this bonehead to lock open the action? And/or open the action and make sur ethe pistol is empty?
You fire into a 5 gallon can of water and you'll have a lovely geyser. Likely no bullet holes in you though.

 

[280PLUS]

stuff happens,,,

as long as it happens in a safe direction its not too bad,

although you'll still feel like a piece of manure

and a much bigger one if somebody gets hurt

which i'm sure the pistol owner is experiencing as we speak

just another lesson for the rest of us to pay attention to!!

m

 

[Cosmoline]

"Patrick Sacco, 48, a former Liverpool police officer"

That may be part of the problem right there!

 

[Duncan Idaho]

as long as it happens in a safe direction its not too bad,

Yeah, but the point is that concrete is not "a safe direction".

 

[Standing Wolf]

...did not realize there was still a round in the chamber when he pointed the gun at the cement floor and pulled the trigger...

Probably didn't even realize it was a gun.

 

[280PLUS]

"Yeah, but the point is that concrete is not "a safe direction"."

exactly,,,

 

[parsimonious_instead]

Sorry to resurrect such an old thread, but I was originally searching under "verdad" to see what sort of reviews THR participants were giving this outfit.
Interesting that this fellow not only got through this incident OK, but continues to actively teach firearm classes, to this day.

 

[Hunterdad]

Never mind

 

[parsimonious_instead]

Never mind

??? You're from Syracuse, which is apparently right next to Liverpool.
Heard anything about Verdad?

 

[hAkron]

I always clear my guns by shooting whatever is in the chamber into a nearby floor/wall. It's quick and effective, but the other people in my apartment building really don't like it.

 

[Hunterdad]

??? You're from Syracuse, which is apparently right next to Liverpool. Heard anything about Verdad?

I thought this was a recent thread and was surprised that I hadn't heard anything about it. Then I saw the date and realized I was an idiot.

And no, I have never heard of Verdad. I have gotten all my training from MDTS and couldn't be happier.

 

[parsimonious_instead]

I thought this was a recent thread and was surprised that I hadn't heard anything about it. Then I saw the date and realized I was an idiot.

And no, I have never heard of Verdad. I have gotten all my training from MDTS and couldn't be happier.

Tell me a bit more about MDTS... where are they located? I've looked quite a bit for decent training in and near NYS, and haven't come up with too many options. I thoroughly enjoyed Lethal Weapons Training in PA, and Vermont Tactical, but I like to try different places each time...

 

[Hunterdad]

Chris Fry, the owner of MDTS is first rate. He conducts trainings himself and has a very well qualified staff that works with him. They do trainings all over the state, but i have taken mine at Otisco Lake Rod and Gun Club. I have taken a defensive pistol class and 2 carbine classes. I plan on taking their shotgun defensive class next. I don't think you'll find a better training firm.

http://www.mdtstraining.com/

 

[parsimonious_instead]

Thanks for the info on MDTS... I took a look at their site... it's great that they sort of bounce around NYS - sometimes I take a "cheapie vacation" by driving somewhere in-state, so it looks like there are some good options here.

 

[rajb123]

...when I was younger and dumber, I picked up a 20ga S/S in my apartment and pulled the trigger..... unfortunately, the gun was loaded. the bathroom tile was destroyed as the lead circled the bathroom a few times ...but no one was hurt.

This made me a smarter person around guns. Now I follow all gun saftey rules like religon ....