Tragic Accident in Atlantic City

[Yoda]

This is posted ONLY to show how the same mistake has once again cost someone their life. REMOVE MAGAZINE, LOCK SLIDE OPEN, INSPECT CHAMBER. Don't make the same mistake as this officer.

(I lost an uncle to this same mistake. He and a friend were having a good drunk the evening before they planned to enlist in the army. The friend opened a 1911's action, saw that the gun appeared to be unloaded, let the slide close, then removed the magazine. Then he pointed it at my uncle's forehead and laughed, "We're going to join the Army and you're going to die! Ha ha!" Bang. No ha ha.)

- - -- Yoda

Here's an excert from the article:

Atlantic City police officer dies from accidental gunshot
By The Associated Press
February 18, 2010, 2:57PM
ATLANTIC CITY — Atlantic City police said an officer has died from an accidental gunshot wound.

Police Chief John Mooney said 31-year-old Officer Kevin Wilkins was trying to put a rubber sleeve on the grip of his pistol as he sat in his patrol car around 1:30 a.m. today.

He had removed the ammunition clip, but was struck in the face by the round in the chamber when the gun accidentally discharged.

Here's the link:
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/02/atlantic_city_police_officer_d.html

 

[gbran]

He had removed the ammunition clip, but was struck in the face by the round in the chamber when the gun accidentally discharged.

Sad as it is, the gun didn't accidently discharge.

 

[paintballdude902]

with all due respect to the officer and his family, stupid hurts

 

[jahwarrior]

what an idiot. yes, i called him an idiot. anyone who takes a loaded gun, and attempts to work on it, in his car, while pointing it at his head, is a moron. thank G*D he wasn't trying to to disarm a lawfully carrying citizen, and that he didn't hurt or kill somebody else because of his stupidity. i find it hard to feel sympathy for morons.

what's that about only LEOs being qualified to handle firearms?

 

[Fremmer]

We all know he made a mistake. No need to call him an idiot, moron, or stupid. Hopefully we can learn something from this. I feel badly for his family.

 

[jahwarrior]

yes, i learned never to try and put a rubber grip on my loaded pistol while pointing it at my head while sitting in my car.




oh, wait, no i didn't. i learned that without having to shoot myself. you know those rules about never pointing a gun at something, and that you always treat the gun as loaded? i guess he didn't know them.

 

[smoking357]

He had removed the ammunition clip, but was struck in the face by the round in the chamber when the gun accidentally discharged.

You do know departments often say things like this for the benefit of the officer's family and the general image of police officers?

Everyone gets the wink and the nod and lets it slide.

 

[Comanche180]

People who know better, sometimes make a mistake. If they are lucky no one gets hurt. It could happen to you.

 

[leadcounsel]

Sometimes these 'accidents' are really suicides but labeled accidents for insurance purposes or out of respect for people. It's particularly suspicious when you have a police chief, someone who's carried a gun for no less than 15 or 20 years, do this...

 

[rooter]

what an idiot. yes, i called him an idiot. anyone who takes a loaded gun, and attempts to work on it, in his car, while pointing it at his head, is a moron. thank G*D he wasn't trying to to disarm a lawfully carrying citizen, and that he didn't hurt or kill somebody else because of his stupidity.

what's that about only LEOs being qualified to handle firearms?

What type of person makes such remarks? Seems if the officer was guilty of complacency or negligence, he already paid for it. I don't think name calling is appropriate.

It is a tragic accident that appears to have been preventable, enough said.

 

[Justin]

Enough. We don't need disparaging remarks about people who've come to an untimely end due to their own negligence.