DEA Agent Who Shoots Himself In The Foot Blames Gov't For His Problems
from the perhaps-he-shouldn't-have-shot-himself-in-the-foot dept
About a year ago, one of the more amusing "viral" videos that got passed around like crazy was the one of the DEA agent giving a bunch of children a lecture about the danger of guns. Just as he says he's the only one in the room professional enough to be able to handle a Glock, he shoots himself in the foot. To be honest, when I saw it originally, I thought he actually handled the situation fairly well, given the fact that he had just shot himself in the foot. He uses it as an example of how accidents can happen with guns -- without noting that pointing a gun at his foot and pulling the trigger without actually checking to see if it was loaded probably isn't the smartest thing to do. However, it turns out now that the DEA agent in question is suing the US government for the release of the tape online -- claiming that it's crippled his career and subjected himself to a tremendous amount of harassment. Indeed, it's not surprising at all that such notoriety might make it tough for him to go on undercover assignments or find additional work as a motivational speaker. However, to blame the government for the release of the video online, without noting that he was the one who, you know, did the actual shooting himself in the foot, seems to be stretching things a bit. It's not the release of the video that's his problem... it was the shooting of the foot.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Difference in mentality
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Difference in mentality
Let me get this straight... you think we'd be better off if the DEA covered up for this guy and *hid* the fact that he shot himself?
That's a recipe for promoting incompetence.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
WOW!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
I'm not a govt agent.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Difference in mentality
[ link to this | view in thread ]
geeze buddy, put on some Big-Boy Pants and get over it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Im not a government guy either...
So no Mike, the problem isn't that he shot himself in the foot, workplace accidents happen every day (hence the reason OSHA still exists), the problem is that the DEA didn't deal with an internal work related incident properly, and they should be forced to pay punitive damages to this guy.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Difference in mentality
You go research why that is a problem for me...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
I have a Glock
[ link to this | view in thread ]
It was JUST that stupid!
A.) There is no such thing as a "Glock 40" that he was so proud to tell everyone about. It was probably a Glock 22 in 40 S&W. That A-hole doesn't even know WHAT kind of weapon he's carrying.
B.) NO ONE with ANY firearms expiriance would EVER do something THAT retarded. You ALWAYS CLEAR your weapon and NEVER under ANY circumstances poit it at ANYTHING you DO NOT wish to DESTROY. ESPECIALLY while pulling the trigger. The first thing anyone will tell you is that its the unloaded guns that you shoot yourself with.
C.) The police are at the butt end of everyones jokes to begin with for firearms handling. Instance: North Hollywood Shoot out...50+ police on the scene, over 2000rds of ammo expended, and not a SINGLE officer could make a headshot at near point-blank range. I was capable of this at maybe 7 or 8 years old...okay 9. Doug Koenig(IPSC Champ) they are not.
D.) Ruined his carreer!? After that manuever, he should NEVER work in field law inforcement again. Maybe he should get a nice job handing me my change at Taco Bell. The guy's grammar is so horrible, he shouldn't have been speaking in front of a class in the first place with his ghetto/mtv dialect.
Its nice to see that my tax money is going to pay degenerates to protect me from other people that are more than likely, less of a degenerate.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: It was JUST that stupid!
It doesn't "need" to be released. That's simply your opinion.
"There is no such thing as a "Glock 40" that he was so proud to tell everyone"
He was talking to kids, which often means explaining things Barney style.
"NO ONE with ANY firearms expiriance would EVER do something THAT retarded"
NO ONE with ANY firearms experience would EVER say that accidents like this DON'T happen to trained professionals. THAT is retarded.
"The police are at the butt end of everyones jokes to begin with for firearms handling. Instance"
So because a group of people are generally the butt of other people's jokes, it's okay to continue making jokes? Does that actually make sense to you?
"Ruined his carreer!? After that manuever, he should NEVER work in field law inforcement again."
Man you're clueless. Refer back to the statements about how accidents can happen to anyone, even trained professionals.
After 4 years in the Marine Corps, I've seen people with incredible weapons handling skills have negligent discharges. It happens to the best of people.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
You got to be @#$@# kidding me...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
RELEASING this tape was a public service
This video is not just a warning about the consequences of unsafe firearms handling. it is a warning about the consequences of Affirmative Action.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
RELEASING this tape was a public service
This video is not just a warning about the consequences of unsafe firearms handling. it is a warning about the consequences of Affirmative Action.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: RELEASING this tape was a public service
So basically only white men are actually "qualified" to be DEA agents? With a statement like that, and your claim to be a former DEA agent, I'd have to wonder how qualified you are for the job.
As a final note. When I worked as a paramedic, we learned that every year thousands of healthcare workers (doctors, nurses, etc) stick themselves accidentally with needles and expose themselves to contagious diseases. Doesn't mean they are less competant as a healthcare worker, just that they are human and made a mistake. They are trained for years how to safely handle needles, it only takes one lapse in concentration.
If all of you asserting that this guys mistake is unforgivable, then why isn't our Vice President in jail right now? Mistakes happen people, they shouldn't be advertised by your employer.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
How is this different from the star wars kid?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
only of AA = Alcoholics Anonymous.
But back to the original thread. How many times does this accident have to happen to highlight incompetence? This was pretty bad, and I'm not losing Any sleep that this guy now has a bad reputation. There should be no second chances for some accidents. Accidentally shooting yourself (or someone else) in a classroom full of grade school children and their parents - is one of them.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Mistakes
When you are doing something where mistakes can kill someone else there is no room for error.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
oh, please
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: It was JUST that stupid!
You had better tell Glock, as it would appear that they didn't get the memo:
http://www.glock.com/40.htm
First rule I learnd when using a gun when my pa taught me to shoot: don't point the gun at anything that you don't want to shoot. Loaded or not.
Don't know if the feds have adopted the rule, but now would be a good time.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
DEA guy shooting himself
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Difference in mentality
My understanding is that you are to visual check your weapon in order to verfiy that it is not ready to discharge. That should of been done before he drew his
weapon.
If my child had been in that class I would be sueing the moron.
Of course this guy is why we should worry about the cops.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Lord Jeebus, that was the funniest thing I've seen this morning.
When he mentions 50 Cent and Too Short, you just know something bad's about to happen.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Difference in mentality
You are as stupid as the guy who shot himself.
If I'd been in the room with my child, I'd have thanked God that nobody was seriously hurt and gone on with my life. People who are always thinking "lawsuit" disgust me.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
RE: It was just that stupid
Just because daddy bought you a 22 and you have a subscription to guns an ammo doesn't qualify you to judge the men and women who physically put themselves between those criminals and your stupid hind end
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: RELEASING this tape was a public service
Let's see... maybe because our Vice President thinks that he's above the law? That silly little things like laws and the consititution are things he and President Junior can safely ignore because the American public will take it up the ass time and again? That there is a Republican Majority in the House and the Senate and an effective Right Wing Scheme Machine in the form of conservative talk shows and Fox News that will play down any and every criminal act time and time again, as long as the person doing the crime is Republican? ("Damn you, Clinton, for getting a blow job... Feel free to shoot again, Cheney!")
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: RE: It was just that stupid
t see very many Glocks being competed with.
As for high cpacity, its not belt fed. All large magazines do is cause users with poor discepline and skill to consume more ammunition than nessesary. The original 1911A1 included a 7rd mag. Given that most altercations last 7 seconds or less, I'd say this is adequate.
40's as for compring to 22's I never owned a 40 at that age. It wasn't invented yet. The 40, again was invented for people that suck. Its a shortened version of a 10mm auto that the police complained kicked too much. OF which i could handle QUITE well at 9. Daddy bought me A Delta Elite. If it were a 9mm, I'd say it may as well be a 22, you're more likely to cause more damage to your adversary by hurling your weapon at them.
As for my background, I've done part time law enforcement along with serving 9 years Army Infantry...on top of my subscription to G&A. Stop sticking up for hoodrats in uniform. Theres nothing more sickening to see law enforcement officers exchange gang signs with gang members, which I see ALL too often. It bothers me that that DEA agent even KNOWS who "50 Cent" is. Our Law enforcement officers should be ABOVE that trash.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: WOW!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
the bigger issue
this just proves that the governement doesnt really care about our kids futures
[ link to this | view in thread ]
You had better tell Glock, as it would appear that they didn't get the memo:
http://www.glock.com/40.htm "
? - you're a jackass, their site is sorted by caliber, did you not notice the MODELS listed on the .40 page? Dipshit...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
What's even more interesting...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
in addition to the bigger issue
this guy should be put into jail for putting these children in danger. when it comes to kids and safety, there is no room for error. this was a BIG error. the least that should happen to him is that he is fired.
idot with gun + kids = very very bad idea!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Human DEA Agent
[ link to this | view in thread ]
I AM HORRIFIED
BUT IT IS HORRIFYING TO ME THAT ANYONE WOULD CARRY A LOADED HANDGUN INTO A SCHOOL!!! THIS GUY SHOULD BE BROUGHT UP ON CRIMINAL CHARGES.
Okay, so let's say you bring a loaded gun into a school...fine. keep it holstered. NEVER DRAW YOUR SERVICE SIDEARM FOR A DEMONSTRATION!!!
It's certainly nice to hear that this cat can't get a job now since his career is ruined. At least he'll be out of his own harms way.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
in regards to his suing
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Let's look at both sides...
1) He brought a loaded firearm into a school in front of a bunch of kids.
2) He claimed the firearm was unloaded without checking it.
3) He pointed it something he didn't wish to destroy and pulled the trigger.
I think what this man did was quite unintelligent, and he shouldn't have a job becuase he can't follow a couple BASIC saftey steps while demonstrating gun saftey. It's rather pathetic.
BUT, I disagree with the DEA releasing this video to public. I'm sure the guy was humiliated enough by having it happen, let alone showing it to everyone on the internet. If the DEA was worried about how they looked becuase of an incompetent act like that, they should have filed that video away. The guy should either lose his job, or get some sort of punishment, but public humiliation usually isn't the way to go, especially for a government agency who wishes to preserve the integrity of their organization!
I'm glad that the kids had enough sense to tell him to put the second gun down after he managed to shoot himself with the first one. It's sad that a bunch of teenage kids had more common sense than a DEA agent. Makes me feel REAL safe.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
HA HA
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Handgun safety
I use videos like this one in my concealed handgun classes, so I am glad that this one was available. This one illustrates a very basic principle: This officer did not have sufficient training in the proper use of his handgun. I feel sorry for him, but his embarrassment is instructive.
There is a gun store nearby, where I have occasionally done business. If you go in there and ask to see a gun, the clerk will clear it before handing it to you. He will then watch carefully while you handle it. When you hand it back to him, he will clear it again. The chance of a mishap is small, but the consequences are enormous, so it is worth going to extremes to prevent a negligent discharge.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Uhm...
But litigation? He's going to come out looking even worse then he does now. Wait until the other team cracks open the rule book and begins outlining all the regulations he broke just unholstering his weapon with out cause.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
the gun was still loaded
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: It was JUST that stupid!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: It was JUST that stupid!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: RE: It was just that stupid
It bothers me the level of naivety and just plain ignorance being shown by more and more techdirt commentors these days. Let's think for 2.5 seconds what a DEA agent is....
1) most don't wear uniforms
2) most of the time THEIR JOB is to deal with low life hoodrats who know a lot about 50 cent, so it seems rather appropriate that they have this knowledge too.
3) I would shudder to think how incredibly inefficient the DEA would be if their agents walked around conducting themselves like military officers. There's nothing wrong with military officers, their discipline and outright show of neat and orderly appearance is appropriate for the job. However, I imagine a Navy officer type stands out like a sore thumb in the middle of the hood, or meeting with a Columbian Cartel member.
Let's get back to reality form does follow function. A DEA agent deals with a lot of lowlife, and it seems appropriate they should be able to assimilate into the culture. GI Joe seems a little too out of place to be fighting a drug war.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
What an idiot
Of course being a trained DEA agent he should know that after firing his weapon for hundreds to thousands of hours at the range. Regarding a loaded weapon being brought into school, Federal agents are typically required to carry their issued sidearm with them at all times while on duty. Most wouldn't pull them out loaded and fire off a couple rounds, so it wouldn't normally be a big deal. This guy made a mistake, but he probably shouldn't have been given a gun in the first place. Fortunately no one else was hurt, and fortunately he wasn't hurt that badly either.
The Government paid for his medical expenses, and the government should be the one suing him for his serious negligence. His career is ruined because he made a ridiculous mistake and everyone who saw the video has held him accountable for that. Yeah it was a mistake, but it only takes one mistake to seriously injure or kill someone. Law enforcement personnel can't afford to make those kinds of mistakes. They are trained not to.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Agent
[ link to this | view in thread ]
dea
The agent in question did handle himself well after blowing off his big toe but did not even come close to the general rules of firearm handling in public.
This agent is more likely a public awareness officer
who does not handle a gun every day, the dea did what was right to expose this incident as what is was a accident by a clumsly agent.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
...just maybe.....
poor guy
[ link to this | view in thread ]
So to recap:
1) Huk Yuk Yuk Yuk he done shoot his self in the foot he done derserved it.
2) See? Just what I thought. Every single government employee from dog catcher to Supreme Court Justice is completely worthless and insane and here's definative proof. Case closed. The entire governmet sucks.
3) Oh, well he had a Glock .66 multi-rim fire platicine "Enforcer" model with Kung-Fu grips and Shure-Lock safety enhancements that if he had just enabled the special....zzzz..zzz..zzzzzz
4) Sue happy! Sue happy! They're all just sue happy! Everybody just blames someone else! Damn our legal system! He's already won simply because he filed suit! And we all pay for it!
5) See, that's what happens when you let the darkies in with the white folks. Not a single one is qualfied for any job but steppin' and fetchin'. Proof positive, affirmative action only make em' uppity.
Wash rinse and repeat.
Welcome to America, land of the jackasses.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
why cant we be friends???
RACE DOESNT MATTER!!!!!!!!
just cause someone is black or white or mexican or whatever, it DOES NOT make you a better or worse cop. the fact is, the government hires under-qualified people to fill positions, and then hand them guns and a badge. the government doesnt want their employees to think for themselves (which is what a qualified person would do), they just need agents to do what they are told.
as for racests...... your family imagrated here too sucka! and if it wasnt for us "white peoples" we wouldnt have half the issues we have today. and just so you know, i am a cracker, whity or whatever other term there is for a white person. but that is a totally different topic for a different thread
[ link to this | view in thread ]
oh boy
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Im not a government guy either...
Is this guy related to Chedda Bob? Eminem would love this guy.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
A quick little comparison.
One is that this man made a mistake, that all people make mistakes, and that because of this he should be forgiven.
Another is that he is held to a higher level than the rest of us because he is a DEA agent, a trained handler of firearms, and therefore his mistake is inexcusable.
Yet another is that his mistake should simply not have been displayed for the masses to witness, regardless of how we feel towards his behavior.
I'm sure there are others, but those three above are the general ideas in this comment section.
Now to put things in a bit of perspective, I have some statistics for you. Please take them with a grain of salt however, since as we all know, statistics can be manipulated to prove whatever point you want.
In 2003, 30,136 people in the US were killed by Firearms. This number includes everything, homicide, suicide, accidents....all of them. All firearm deaths are either the result of someone being intentional, or someone being incompetent. I don't think you can debate this fact, as what other actions will result in someone dying from a firearm? Even in the case of an officer shooting a suspect, the act is intentional.
Also in 2003, 43,220 people in the US were killed in car accidents. This number includes both drivers and passengers, basically ANYONE who died as a result of an automotive accident on US highways. All of these highway deaths are the result of someone being intentional, or someone being incompetent.
Now, if we're looking at this issue from a safety standpoint, a large number of people are killed each year by both firearms and automobiles. The training that individuals recieve for both is drastically different, but that is regardless of the fact that both still kill a large number of people, and another debate for another time.
If you feel this man should be severely punished for his mistake because he should have been more responsible with his firearm, I sincerely hope that you also feel that anyone who makes a similar mistake in a car should be severely punished for their mistakes.
3500 lbs can be quite dangerous if not handled well. Weight of that magnitude can crush almost anything, and if propelled at speed can become quite devistating when it collides with anything. Pulling your steering wheel a distance of a couple inches while driving 70mph could result in loss of control in most vehicles on the road. (please do not debate this by saying your Porsche could handle this, I'm talking of the majority of vehicles on the road, which are inexpensive with cheap tires)
Automobiles can be quite dangerous. As dangerous as a handgun even, and when looking at raw statistics for deaths they could be considered more dangerous. I don't think they are when you consider how many people own and drive automobiles compared to how many people own and use firearms, however they DO share similar dangers, and they DO kill a lot of people.
I'm not for banning either guns or cars, I have nothing against them, they are just tools. The danger is in the people that use those tools. Again, that is a debate for another day.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
ROTF
reminds me of the video about wrestling on spikedhumor.com where they suplex a guy off the roof.
This is too much... do you Yanks feel safe now?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Show and Tell
If had had been a professional he would have never unholstered his Glock! Glocks are notorius for shooting their own handlers.
This guy is an idiot and deserves public humiliation. If my child was in the room I would have disarmed the idiot myself and plaed him under arrest for discharging the weapon in a school. ( a crime everywhere even if you are a dea agent)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: ...just maybe.....
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: WOW!!
If you don't have anything to say concerning this issue...then STFU. Don't waste our time (and MY bandwidth...) with petty insults.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: RE: It was just that stupid
Which by the way doesn't have anything to do with an accidental discharge by a DEA agent. You don't know him You don't know where he has been or what he has been through. Have a laugh at his expense, That's OK. Learn a lesson. That's OK. I'm sure he did. But if you haven't walked a mile in his moccasins don't judge him from a single mistake unless you can't show us all the nail holes in your hands.
I think you probably scour the internet daily trying to find some incident that both allows you to feel superior and provide you with an outlet for your misinformed observations. By the way, How do you tell when someone is shooting at you at night?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
The Breakdown (REALITY)
If you competently complete the training with evaluation...you're a 'GO'.
If you DON'T...you're a 'NO-GO'.
If you're a NO-GO you don't go ANYWHERE until you either complete the training correctly and competently OR you are finally fail out. No ifs, ands or butts about it. END OF STORY. Besides... If the government is above the law as some of you keep saying...then what the HELL makes you think that they hold themselves to any affirmative action law? You don't think that they'll find a way around it if they either A.) Wanted to or B.) Have good reason to? You're STUPID. Quit contradicting yourselves.
All here who have served in the military or law enforcement...RAISE YOUR HAND.
*sees only a very small handful - IF that many - raise their hand*
Now those of you who DIDN'T raise your hands...SHUT THE FUCK UP. If you haven't served then you haven't earned the right to talk shit against the forces. END OF STORY.
The individual in the video did NOT act in the most professional manner. That can not be denied. He should not have mentioned those worthless social disturbances called "50 Cent" and "Too Short". They are NOT professionals of ANY kind and should not be cited in a presentation that requires the level of professionalism that they lack. They are bad examples and while they may or may not seek to inspire the type of social distemper that they DO inspire in the minds of many who listen to their "music"...it still stands that they DO inspire it. I'm sure that I don't have to explain any further on that note. But I will say that at least the agent was trying to reach out to kids and identify with them in a way that the (obviously) black majority audience would be able to identify with.
THERE IS NO GLOCK "40". Law Enforcement (not the military...) often refers to a weapon by it's manufacturer and CALIBER. The "40" is notation of it's CALIBER. It is a category in Glock's line of handguns. Take a look at the Glock website again. THIS time notice that there is NO model "40". Only 20-series model numbers. They are .40 Caliber. So all of you competition-toting MORONS need to do your research again, apparently.
LOOK:
http://www.glock.com/40.htm
As for having shot himself in the foot... So far I have yet to see ANYONE hold the individual that handed him the firearm accountable for the incident. Has ANYONE here stopped and bothered to ask, "Hey! What about the person who handed it to him? Did HE - AS A PROFESSIONAL - clear the weapon BEFORE handing it to the agent giving the presentation?" The individual handing him the weapon is just as much at fault for the incident having occured as the agent giving the presentation is for not ensuring that the weapon was cleared. Whatever fate befell the agent should also have befallen the individual who handed him the weapon.
When handling firearms...you NEVER hand it to anyone for ANY reason at ANY time without first clearing the weapon! You lock the bolt back, inspect the chamber to ENSURE THAT THERE IS NO AMMUNITION IN THE RECEIVER, and hand the firearm to the individual with the bolt STILL locked to the rear. As the individual receives the weapon from you; THEY TOO should be making sure that they inspect the open chamber to ensure that there are no rounds in the barrel...THEN receive the weapon into their hands. THIS IS FAILSAFE. YOU CAN NOT FIRE A ROUND THAT YOU KNOW IS NOT THERE.
So those of your who DID raise your hands calling yourselves professionals, etc...SHUT THE FUCK UP. You sure as hell didn't mention THAT. Now did you?
As for the tape being released... I highly doubt that there is ANY way the DEA would release that footage. As we ALL know... Government agencies are finding it increasingly difficult to save face in the eye of the public when things go wrong. Do you really think that they would release footage that would make it that much harder for them to do so? Did you see the horrible quality of the footage? I doubt that anything the DEA would be toting around would look like so much shit.
The next thing we'll be hearing out of you critics among us is that it was CONSPIRACY.
The agent may have been a bit out of the context of professionalism... However I seriously doubt that he INTENDED to shoot himself in the foot. SHIT HAPPENS. Case and point. He should have been able to trust that the other agent would have cleared the weapon first to begin with. Even if so he should have checked the weapon himself. Who is to say that he intentionally pulled the trigger? Sure he should have been more careful but again... SHIT HAPPENS. Should he have been reprimanded? YES. For carelesness. As well as the other agent should have been disciplined for the same. This does not mean that they are NOT competent agents. This does NOT mean that they are not fully capable of doing the jobs that they were trained to do. And I can GUARANTEE you that they were NOT put there because they're BLACK. They were put there because they passed a training curriculum that prepared them for the job they were going into. All that any of this really means is that they need to be retrained to verify that they DO possess the knowledge and ability to do their jobs and also so that they REMEMBER not to make a mistake like this again. IF they can not be retrained then they will either be reassigned or terminated.
The agent however...should probably not be going as far as suing the government over the release of the tape. He won't win it. It is completely unlikely that the tape was ever even in their hands let alone released by them. If the DEA DID confiscate the tape then the tape had to have been stolen or copied and THEN distributed. The only case he would have would be liability on the DEA's part for not securing potentially 'confidential' or personal information. That's about it.
Last but not least... I have to say that for having just shot himself in the foot...he handled it like a CHAMP. How many of YOU could do that? I doubt I could. Seriously think about it.
Yes... THINK for once before opening your mouths...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Props
Post #55
A quick little comparison. by Billy on Apr 15th, 2006 @ 12:15pm
[ link to this | view in thread ]
VP
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
When that video originally hit the net, I remember having a debate with some friends about wether or not he actually shot himself. We came to the conclusion that even though what he did was stupid and his own fault, he handled that situation like a PROFESSIONAL. No yelling and cussing, no pointing fingers, he kept with the program and kept his presentation up. He even took advantage of the bad situation and attempted to twist it around so that the kids could still benifit from it and make it a learning experience.
I'm sorry but I don't think some "affirmitive action", "thug" could have kept his cool like that while giving a presentation in front of a class of children.
All kinds of people do all kinds of jobs, but the one thing that stays constant is that you have to be resonably qualified in the skill that your job requires. If this man hacked his way through the academy and college classes, making a D average in his school work, I don't think he would even stand a chance of becoming a desk jockey, let alone an undercover officer.
Which brings me to another question, if this man was supposedly an undercover officer WHAT THE HELL WAS HE DOING GIVING A PRESENTATION TO ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC!?!??!! Why was there even a camera rolling?
The local news station did an expo on some of the "sketch" that the mayor of Detroit, Kilpatrick, was doing. One of the improper use of public funds was when his wife was spotted driving around a brand new Lincoln Navigator that was supposed to be for the police department (at a time when they were making massive cuts in all the wrong things because of unexplaned errors in the budget paperwork). Well they caught up with the car in a city lot and happened to film several undercover vehicles at the time that were parked in the same lot, and eve made mention that they were "undercover" vehicles. The next day all those vehicles had to be sent to auction since they were exposed, and I'm not sure if the city was planning on sueing the news station for damages or not. If so, I'm sure they wouldn't have covered that part of the story anyway. Any news is good news, and bad news is the best news.....except when it's bad news about yourself.
What I'm saying is when you're undercover, no one can know that you ARE except the most trustworthy of people, like your co-workers and family. NOT THE GENERAL PUBLIC, or even an elementery school class. You don't expose yourself to the public, much less allow you to be filmed.
The real truth of the matter, is that this video only shows us a little of that ONE situation, and that is certainly not enough information to pass judgement upon this man. For all we could know, a bunch of armed gun men could have rushed into that room 5 minuites later and attempted to hold everyone hostage and our hero here took them all down and saved the entire class. Granted that would have been in the news for sure, but none the less, the fact still stands that WE DO NOT KNOW. Unless you were there in that room that day, you can only speculate as to the thoughts, motives, and even actions of those involved.
Speculation has never been used to pass efficient judgement on anyone, in fact our judicial system works in an exactly opposite manner.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
Had a child been shot and killed he would most likely been brought up on manslaughter.
Doesn't ANYONE here know the law?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Done deal
Good show, guys. :)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
What to do?
For all we know, his career is forever ruined even though he is or can be the best officer out there risking his life.
But, I would have preferred that he brought over a fake gun OR using a real gun, taken the magazine out, unloaded the chamber, and do a visual check.
This is so damn elementary to gun owners that's it's like learning the a, b, c's.
Yes had f'up so bad and brought the gun to school. BUT, no one was hurt. He should be disciplined at work, and go back out there and learn from his mistakes. I would think now that he's safer than safe.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
child endangerment
[ link to this | view in thread ]
RE: child endangerment
It's the potential threat that it poses to ANYONE - child OR adult. Age doesn't matter.
AGAIN: he would NOT be charged with 'Discharge of a Firearm Within City Limits' (the actual name of the charge you are refering to...) because it was NOT INTENTIONAL and it was the fault of more than ONE individual. Also because he HAS a carry and conceal permit AND a license to use it. While this does NOT authorize accidental discharge of the weapon (what would?), he is ALSO protected by his status. He WAS in the line of duty. It is actually not much different than if you were to cut yourself on the job. Are you going to tell me that you believe that you would be charged with "Assault With a Deadly Weapon" if you cut yourself with a knife? You can just as easily harm someone else with that knife as you can with a firearm. SAME THING.
What sets him apart is the fact that he works in a line of work that requires higher standards. It will be written off as an accident and he WILL be punished. His career will be tarnished. Co-workers WILL give him shit for it. His career portfolio will most likely prevent him from moving up into different sections of law enforcement, etc.
BUT HE WILL NOT BE CRIMINALLY CHARGED.
So QUIT ASKING "Why was he not charged, blah, blah..."
[ link to this | view in thread ]
RE: child endangerment (P.S.)
"Had a child been shot and killed he would most likely been brought up on manslaughter."
Does that answer your question - AGAIN?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Why didnt the kids fight back ?
;-)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Amazing there are now 73 posts...
What we should all be concerned about is the political red tape this will create and the cost to every US citizen (not including the 11- 13 million illegal mexicans out there, who are sucking the blood out of our FEDeral assistance programs) over this DEA's stupidity.. What was he a 1 day graduate of the DEA school for incompetent officers????
Happy Resurrection Sunday!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Difference in mentality
Would we want a divided police force where all actions are politicized, and every cop is eager to say bad things about other cops?
Absolutely! Law enforcement officers have to abide by a code of ethics, and yes, that should mean exposing corrupt cops. Just because you haven't personally experienced this type of problem does not mean that it does not exist.
Would you want to go to a hospital where doctors, nurses are all telling you that their co-workers are killers?
Once again, YES!!
If they are killers, then they should be questioned.
What you call "upholding public trust" is just a nice and pallitable way of saying the word CONSPIRE.
At least there is some sense in your trailing statement, "internal accountability."
You miss a key point here though: Government/Police/Officials/Public Trustees should ALWAYS be accountable and prepared to be questioned. That is the way American democracy is supposed to work...
If everyone were to stop scrutinizing and asking questions about public officials, what do you think would happen?
Who is gonan "police" the police? And who is going to "police" the 'police' that are policing the police? Get the IDEA??
All representatives sanctioned by government are subject to question no matter what. Hellos 1st ammendment, Dorpus. Read It.
--Professor HighBrow (with brows especially high)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Send his Ass to the front....
Send the DEA agent to IRAQ or Afghanistan and lets see him cry about his foot problem when he is dodging bullets aimed at his Head and Ass....
If he is luck he may get a Glock for defense, if not a pouch of stones and slingshot.... But no Goliath's there... Bummer DEA agent
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Send his Ass to the front....
Send the DEA agent to IRAQ or Afghanistan and lets see him cry about his foot problem when he is dodging bullets aimed at his Head and Ass....
If he is luck he may get a Glock for defense, if not a pouch of stones and slingshot.... But no Goliath's there... Bummer DEA agent
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Send his Ass to the front....
Send the DEA agent to IRAQ or Afghanistan and lets see him cry about his foot problem when he is dodging bullets aimed at his Head and Ass....
If he is luck he may get a Glock for defense, if not a pouch of stones and slingshot.... But no Goliath's there... Bummer DEA agent
[ link to this | view in thread ]
open society and redemption
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Send his Ass to the front....
Ask him if he wants Iraq or Afg...
(703) 797-5131
[ link to this | view in thread ]
More stupid people
We're not talking about the welfare of our country and it's economic state.
Why do some people take any opportunity to ramble on completely unrelated subject matter in the comments section?
Oh that's right.....Anonymity.....and I guess we're ALL just as guilty of that.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Slang is fine and who cares about mispellings, but over use dulls the message.
Not trying to pick on or insult anyone, just a sincere suggestion to those that actually want others to understand and read their messages. It's difficult to understand the point of a paragraph when it's bunched in with all the other paragraphs.
It will also allow you to better structure your argument and make specific points that will stand out.
Chatting in an instant message is one thing, a fixed post intended to be read by thousands is another.
Again, NOT picking on anyone, just offering suggestions to allow you to be a better writer and get your point across. Even if it's a point I disagree with, if it's made well I have no choice but to respect it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
No excuse
No excuse. Why, for a demo like this would you have live ammo anywhere near these guns?
Everyone makes mistakes, but not mistakes like this.
This guy should be sacking orders of fries and frankly I wouldn't eat at the joint that would hire him.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: It was JUST that stupid!
The main problem with the whole thing: This man had a loaded gun around children. PERIOD. The weapon should have been cleared BEFORE he even entered the building. There is no excuse for what he did...he did it to himself.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: It was JUST that stupid!
Is it confirmed anywhere that he actually shot his foot? Looking at the video, it does not appear that the weapon was at such a sharp angle to allow for the round to strike any part of his body. Also, he continues to speak, and, crazy enough, decides to show the class an automatic rifle that he claims is "empty," before he checks it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Send his Ass to the front....
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Difference in mentality
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Ignorant Dumbass
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: RELEASING this tape was a public service
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Not a DEA leak
I don't think that the DEA ever had the video in their posesssion... well, maybe as a "you have to see this" email attachment.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Shot while in a car.
Cars are plenty dangerous, but lets make a list of the "positive uses" for guns, then one for cars.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
it was his fault alone
The DEA guy who assumed he was getting an unloaded gun handed to him made two mistakes, he assumed the weapon was unloaded (they should be handled at all times as if they were) and he put his finger on the trigger when he did not want to discharge the weapon. Two of the biggest no-no's when handling firearms.
Assuming you got an unloaded weapon from ANYone, even someone you trust with your life, is not acceptable. You must always check the weapon yourself if it has been out of your hands, even briefly.
I don't think he should be fired, but he should have to pay for his mistake. Reprimanded, perhaps knocked down a few levels in pay grade, and put in the DEA basement filing reports for the rest of his 'career'. He should absolutely not be allowed to give any more lectures.
Also, to the idiot who said "glocks are notorious for shooting their handlers"... I'm sure what you meant to say was that glock owners tend to shoot themsleves more than other gun owners (since the trigger must be pulled to shoot a gun, and the guns can't pull their own triggers). I'm not sure I agree with that sentiment, though. It could be the fact that there are more Glocks on the street than most other brands that skews the figures.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
HAHAHA
This guy shouldnt be given any weapon of any sort.
He should have to sign out a butter knife.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
You must be new here. Dorpus is incompetent.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
You must be new here. Dorpus is incompetent.
There is a professional way to handle employee issues, and releasing a tape like this to the general population isn't it.
Taxpayes have a right to know what their tax dollars go for.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Difference in mentality
I WOULD like to go to a hospital where nurses told me which doctors were killers and I would like to know if cops are incompetent, liars, thugs, etc....
Your comment is truly odd in my opinion.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Oh yeah
I just wanted to make a final point for all the people that seem to think they know everything about handling guns.
The whole checking the chamber thing is standard knowledge for ANYONE that has ever been taught anything about firearms. I understand that people who don't use guns won't know this, but for those of you that do, you don't need to keep repeating what someone else has already said....several times.
Now, about that business about putting your finger on the trigger only if you intend to shoot something. It's a cliche that people like to say. It's impratical in reality.
When you cock a firearm, you're putting tension on the firing spring. ANYONE, and I mean ANYONE who really owns guns and uses them, knows that you don't leave the hammer cocked for an extended period of time. It ruins the tension in the pin-spring and eventually can make it so that the pin doesn't strike the bullet hard enough to fire it. Not to mention the chance of a dropped firearm going off is HUGE if that hammer is cocked (although ironically not in the glocks case, since they have that that lovely double safety action). Don't give me that crap about dry firing either, these aren't your grandpa's guns, dry firing hasn't been a threat to the condition of your gun for over 60 years now.
So he was just releasing the spring out of standard procedure, what ANYONE else would have done in that situation......there just happened to be a bullet in the chamber.....which is what the REAL problem was, not his manner of handling it. In fact it appears he never checked the chamber himself when the gun was handed to him........bet he always checks it now though.
So stop shitting on this guy for "putting his finger on the trigger" and what not. If that's the angle you choose to attack him on, then you truely know very little about firearms.
Also, stop using "the children" as an excuse to condem this man, it's dispicable and weak. If you think he should be in trouble simply because he was around children when this happened, then you have NO clue as to how our legal system works. I might not be a lawyer, but I'm perfectly capable of using Google to look up the laws related to this incident or any other incident. Children need no more protection than any other "innocent" individual. In fact children deserve LESS protection because they contribute hardly anything to sociaty as a whole.
You can say it's cold thinking all you want, and I'm certainly not advocating that DON'T protect children. I'm just saying that they don't deserve some kind of exclusive protection. Isn't that what screws people up anyway in the long run, sheltering your children from reality? Kids aren't as weak as you think they are, and if you TREAT them like they're weak, then they will grow up to be weak.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: It was JUST that stupid!
Yes, there is such an animal even if you are not aware of it
your quit the expert firend.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Oi
On another note... Some of the comments made on this topic actually dropped my IQ a few points I think. I am going to go soak my head for the rest of my life, which should be about as long as it takes me to pass out soaking my head and drown.
Sorry Bad joke.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Oi 2
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: A quick little comparison.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: A quick little comparison.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: It was JUST that stupid!
Maybe you need to learn how to read.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Difference in mentality
You are saying that the gov't should not have released a video where an agent is talking about gun safety and shoots himself?
Wasn't that the point of the video? Here is a trained officer who shoots himself, thus proving beyond a doubt about the need for gun safety.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
What if...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
No Such Thing as Accidental Discharge!
That's a ridiculous statement. The Glock cannot fire without the trigger being pulled - no gun has ever spontaneously fired and there is no such thing as an accidental discharge.
Our blameless culture has reached a point where we blame inanimate objects for the actions of PEOPLE. This moron had his finger in the trigger well, he failed to clear the weapon and thankfully he was only aiming as his own foot instead of a child when HE pulled the trigger. It was HIS mistake - NOT a faulty weapon.
I own and have carried a Glock daily. Amazingly enough, it has only gone off when I wanted it to. If you want to blame anything, blame the responsible party.
That is, unless you would also claim your car can drive itself into an accident and your knife attacked you when you cut yourself in the kitchen?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
gun safety
David in Redding, CA.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
DEA Agent shoots himself
Accidents happen, but to put a mans life in danger is not a joke. I was a law enforcement officer and the people I had to deal with would love to make an example of someone like this guy by taking him out. He has cost them millions of dollars with the type of drug bust he made, so for those of you that thinks this is funny think about that.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
foot shooting
[ link to this | view in thread ]
OHNOES TEH CHILDREN!!!!11
I can only hope those that think "for the children" don't have any kids of their own.
Quit using your children as an excuse. It's disgusting and self-centered.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
u want quotas u got quotas
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: DEA Agent shoots himself
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: RELEASING this tape was a public service
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: It was JUST that stupid!
Obvisously you have never put yourself in their situation. At the age of 7 or 8 you were not put in front of the barral of an AK47 shooting back at you. It is one thing to shoot at a stationary target, it is definantly another thing if the suicidal target has high power automatic weapons and completely covered with body armor from head to toe and you are stuck with just a 9mm peeshooter.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: It was JUST that stupid!
I REALLY FEEL FOR THIS MAN, HE MADE ONE MISTAKE AND NOW HE IS BEING LAUGHED AT AROUND THE COUNTRY IF NOT THE WORLD, I THINK THE DAMN GOVERNMENT SHOULD PAY HIM WELL!!!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: The Breakdown (REALITY)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: It was JUST that stupid!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
DEA gun safety concept
Mr. Duncan happened to be Caucasion
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Lex Talonis
Natural selection man. Those of us smart enough to not shoot at ourselves are granted the spoils that once belonged to those who are not.
I wish more morons would shoot themselves. A little higher up than the foot perhaps.
Notice to all morons: GET OFF MY PLANET!!
Neurosis
ps: seriously, if something happens... it should be discussed and known. This man should never be allowed to handle a firearm again much less teach gun safety.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
what I don't understand
But then again he must be retarded if he thinks anyone can sue the government for any reason and win. The government wins 97% of federal cases, they are untouchable. But no doubt the attorney will continue to represent him as long as he is paying by the hour and certainly not on the 'I'll take 33% of the settlement and nothing until then' plan.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: The Breakdown (REALITY)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: RELEASING this tape was a public service
[ link to this | view in thread ]
duh
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Im not a government guy either...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
DUMB-shit SWAT are EVERY WHERE!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Five U.S. Cops Taped Torturing Drug Suspect - LIST
http://wms.scripps.com/knoxville/siler/siler.mp3
When Tennessee law enforcement officials showed up at the home of Lester Siler, a convicted drug dealer on supervised released, they asked his wife and 8 year-old son to leave. They didn't know that Lester's wife had turned on a tape recorder in the kitchen. When Lester exercised his constitutional right not to sign a consent to search his house, these officers spent the next two hours torturing him. They beat him with bats and guns, held loaded guns to his head, threatened to shoot him, dunked his head in the toilet, burned him with lighters, attached his testicles to a battery charger, threatened to cut off his fingers, and threatened to "go get" his wife and take his child away from him. Then they arrested him for "evading arrest". It wasn't until the wife's recording made it to the FBI that all hell broke loose. And go figure, even though these officers have been convicted in federal court, not one national media outlet gave this story the coverage it deserved. But that's okay. At the time, reporters were busy decrying the immorality of Janet Jackson's Superbowl nipple! These are the same "journalists" who refused to cover the United States Government's secretive medical marijuana program.
I'm warning you now, this is the most disturbing recording I've ever heard in my life. But EVERYONE needs to know about this. Our war on drugs is a failure, and the national media is following a code of silence on related humans rights abuses.
The link at the top of this blog entry will open the actual audio recording of the torture (some people have to copy and paste the link into thir browser to activate the link). And a web search for "Lester Siler" will give you access to further local and blog coverage of this story. PLEASE FORWARD THIS OUT!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Okok, slow down...
Ok, now to the serious part. Yea, the dude made a mistake. I hear him on the video talk to someone on the side asking him to check if the gun was loaded, yadda yadda. But, he never takes the mag out, so that was kinda dumb on his part, because obviously it was loaded.
Secondly, the dude made a human mistake, shit happens all the time. Should he have been more cautious given the circumstances, IE being in a class full of kids? Yeah, of course.
But we are all human and have our moments of not too brightness.
I'm in the army, and even before we get to our real units we are trained for many many MANY hours on how to properly load and undload and clear and yadda yadda. But the fact remains, that in EVERY cycle, some idiot does something stupid.
Even after I got to my first unit, and units thereafter, I have seen trained personnel do STUPID shit. Really stupid.
Humans are bound to make a mistake everyonce in a while.
Now, should the DEA have publicly released this video, probably not.. But I'm sure glad they did. Why?
Because it made me laugh.
And what's this crap about jigs and he only got that job because he was black or whatever?
Dude, tell your grandpappy to let you out of the cellar and let him in on the secret that this is the year 2006.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
DEA Agent really screwed
What an idiot for even considering suing the government. I am sure that he violated many DEA policies and procedures and they should terminate his employment so that he cannot endanger any other members of the community. Go back to the hood where you belong.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Im not a government guy either...but PUNITIVE
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: DUMB-shit SWAT are EVERY WHERE!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: shut the fuck up all of you asswipes
All of you, go get jobs.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: It was JUST that stupid!
NO ONE with a brain would pull the trigger on a Glock and not expect it to go off! Regardless of if they thought it was loaded or not.
After 4 years in the Marine Corps, I've seen people with incredible weapons handling skills have negligent discharges. It happens to the best of people.
After 4 years in the marine corps you have seen a lot of idiots pull the trigger when they should not have! Don't try to defend other stupid people, just because your suppose to stick together.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: duh
Unfortunately, to keep stupid ass people like you alive until they can grow up and prove how retarded they really are.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
lame
ALSO, he would have had to MANUALY lock the slide back on that gun, as the magazine wasn't empty ...your first clue that your not dealing with an empty mag. Doing so also puts an open slide in plain sight for you to see live rounds in the top of the mag.
After that, he PULLED THE TRIGGER on his Glock...why? Was he planning on teaching a room full of kids how to dissassemble his "fo'ty"? DEA probably has the 8lb triggers too!
You think it's at all acceptable, that this guy unholstered a LOADED weapon in front of KIDS, and then SHOT HIMSELF with it?
And this is who they elected to teach firearms safety to kids?
What kills me, is how he says "it's unloaded! it's unloaded!" about the Colt M4 that's been out of his sight for a while and anyone could have messed with...when he couldn't even determine that his own handgun was still loaded...the Glock has a loaded chamber indicator and a cocked indicator (the extractor, and the trigger)...the Colt M4 has neither.
He should have been charged for endangering the welfare of a minor.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: lame
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Im not a government guy either...
Pull your head out of your ass. It is an internal matter that I have to believe the agency has already addressed. To make it punitive towards the agency boils this lawsuit down to its core, it's all about the money. Has anyone ever asked themselves, Tyshaun, what a so-called great undercover officer like that is doing in a public forum in the community discussing drug prevention. Not only that, the agent was dressed in clothing that clearly identified him as a member of the DEA. If he was that concerned about protecting his undercover job he should have thought about that before exposing himself this way like I'm sure he has done numerous times in the past. Don't get me wrong, it was tragic but yet funny how it happened. I can only hope that he recovered physically from his wounds and is back at work. He should be grateful that a parent of one of those kids doesn't sue him for negligence or wreckless endangerment for bringing loaded weapons to a school type setting. Accidents happen so lets move on and get over it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
stupid dea guy
even the redest redneck
in a drunk stupor
could not rival the stupidity
of that dea agent
AGAIN, YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK....
[ link to this | view in thread ]
NEED FOR GUN CONTROL
Yes, I support strict gun control on the GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Kudos
[ link to this | view in thread ]
2. He did not follow several rules of gun safety including not pointing the weapon at anything you don't want to destroy (his leg).
3. He had the wherewithal to make the mistake part of the gun safety lecture - that's takes guts after just taking a .40 caliber round in the leg at point-blank range.
4. He's suing the DEA because he believes that the DEA, while using the tape to investigate the situation, leaked it on purpose for the sole purpose of ridicule. An example would be that some of his brother agents were teasing him and decided to posit it on the 'net without realizing they were compromising his life. That is a big problem. If the agent was indeed an undercover operative, his cover is now blown by the public release of the tape. It also endangers not just his life, but also his family, friends, etc. It also hurt his career.
5. EVERYONE makes mistakes. It does not matter what kind of gun it was, or what safeties it does or does not have. IN fact a Glock has three safeties, it just doesn't have a "kill switch." The only true safety is your finger.
6. The agent goofed when he forgot to take out the magazine after clearing the weapon. When he released the slide (some people have called that pulling the trigger the first time when it was not. It was releasing the slide to it's forward position), the slide moving into the forward and locked position inserted another round from the magazine into the chamber. This made the gun ready to fire. The agent then pulled the trigger, which is standard, as long as you've PROPERLY cleared the weapon, which he did not do.
7. These kinds of Negligent Discharges happen everyday to cops, civilians, everyone. It's too bad this man had this mishap occur in public. Most often these mishaps happen in private where no one finds out about it.
In general, if you are around guns enough, you will likely be involved with a Negligent Discharge one way or another. If it happens to me, hopefully I will have the fortitude to go on and use the example as how accidents happen while standing in front of a room of 50 people! Even though this guy made a mistake by not following proper procedure, it could have been a lot worse. How many of us make mistakes? ALL of us! The guy should be given a break.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
dea agent shoots himself
[ link to this | view in thread ]
No excuse
As to people who defend this moron, I can only hope that they are not using him as an excuse or justification for their own bad judgements and habits.
When you lose respect for a firearm, you lose respect for life. End of discussion.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
wrong response
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: It was JUST that stupid!
========================================================
After 4 years in the Marine Corps, I've seen people with incredible weapons handling skills have negligent discharges. It happens to the best of people.
========================================================
Hmm, I spent 5 years in the Corps and was never exposed to that level of incompetence - (an M-16 on semi would tear your foot off) - and my fellow Marines were 19 or 20 yr olds. This "expert" was 45 from the info I've garnered. The rules for handling a weapon are clear, treat them as they are deadly weapons. Don't put your finger on the trigger unless you intend to fire, Don't point the weapon at ANYTHING unless you intend to shoot it.
As a former Marine, I still remember those golden rules. He was actually active DEA and neglected them. No excuses sir, it's just pure reckless negligence on his part.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
WTF
[ link to this | view in thread ]
DEA agent not properly trained with fire arms.
DEA agent sues US Govt over accidental shooting tape
Date: 11/7/2007 11:56:23 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time
From: Whaler52
To: ScottyScott31, shane.armstrong@dhs.gov, shanearmstrong@sbcglobal.net, cyborg7@tampabay.rr.com, Police1582, William.Sylvan@dhs.gov, JALTON54, joeplugasu@msn.com, dpoto@cox.net, Ram1Fish2
Of Arms and the Law: DEA agent sues US over accidental shooting tape.
DOES ANY ONE KNOW WHAT THE OUT COME WAS ON THIS UN TRAINED AGENT WITH THE LAW SUIT?
I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT HE BELIEVES THAT DUE TO THE INCIDENT, AND THE FILMING, THERE OF, HIS UNDER COVER OPERATIONS TO INCLUDE HIS IDENTITY WAS BLOWN, AND HE HAS A VALID SUIT????
IF HE IS IN THAT DEEP, HE SHOULD NOT BE HOLDING CLASSES FOR CIVILIANS TO SIT IN AND LEARN FROM. (HE,S UNDERCOVER) ?? THERE WAS BABIES IN THAT ROOM!!!
NEVER SHOULD A WEAPON BE IN A BUILDING, WITH CIVILIANS.
DOES ANYONE KNOW THE NAME OF THE SEMINAR THAT WAS BEING GIVEN THAT DAY? IF SO ,PLEASE SEND TO ME.
THIS GUY SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIRED!
AS FOR HE IS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE ROOM QUALIFIED TO USE THE WEAPON, (HIS FEELINGS WERE HURT, ALONG WITH HIS PRIDE) HE SHOULD KNOW BETTER THEN TO HAVE FIRE ARMS INSIDE, AND HE SHOULD HAVE STOPPED THE CLASS AT ONCE TO RECEIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION.
HE WILL GET OVER THE OFFICE JOKE,S IN TIME, BUT ALL HE IS ENTITLED TO, IS WORK MANS COMP PAYMENT OF MEDICAL BILLS, AND 30 DAYS ON THE BEACH WITH OUT PAY FOR ENDANGERING OTHERS.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: RELEASING this tape was a public service
Dont get me wrong, color doesnt matter to me, what does is balance the work load by color, drop standards so some can get a passing score, and get a job. But I need someone to watch my back, my life, in their hands!
I sure hope the AUSA dint take on a law suit, I hope DEA punished the agent, I hope they sent him back to School, and if their not careful, all those people in the room, just might file a class action law suit for post dramatic stress inflection!
I bet that suit would fly! I agree with you 110%
Semper Fi/USDOJ
Whaler/Scott
[ link to this | view in thread ]
DEA Agent
[ link to this | view in thread ]
dea agent
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Difference in mentality
Dorpus, you are an amoral idiot who values withholding the truth to cover up a dangerously foolish man's actions over the lives of innocent people.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: It was JUST that stupid!
You comment that his grammar is horrible? You misspelled experience, career, maneuver and probably other words I missed even with a spell checker. People make mistakes. This guy was fired and out of a job. The correct way to handle the tape would be to confiscate it and use it for internal affairs investigations and then hold or destroy it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: It was JUST that stupid!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: WOW!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Complacency kills. Unfortunately, it usually kills innocents.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: It was JUST that stupid!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Difference in mentality
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
LAUGHTER
[ link to this | view in thread ]
"laughing it off"
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: RELEASING this tape was a public service
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Suck it up
You blew it ! Not off, but you blew it. There was some training value and not all was lost, exception being your pride. Nothing amusing about being injured. Never dismiss the basics which you obviously have but neglect on your part. So get over your pride, laugh at yourself and get on with your duty you signed up for.
1SG Joe Geer, Retired
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Idiot with a gun !
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Response to: Bogamol on Apr 14th, 2006 @ 7:06pm
DEA, and reckless behaviour with a firearm in a crowded room? 1st rule of gun safety...a
ALWAYS treat a weapon as if it is loaded.
At my concealed carry permitting class they showed this video. Made a big impression. Glad they showed it. It made a lasting imptession on everybody.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Difference in mentality
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Difference in mentality
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Difference in mentality
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]