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I thought it was non-fatal?
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The fate of the wounded rest in the hands of the ones who apply the first dressing.
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This one? But it was not fatal though serious:
In light of what happened this past Sunday night.
Due to assumptions and not taking all steps I could have taken that may have prevented the tragedy, my good friend and amazing human being Gene Smithson was severely injured during a live fire training.
Gene is in the hospital in Dallas recovering from his injuries. All I ask for is for your prayers and support for Gene during this trying time and then during lenghty recovery process.
All responsibility for what happened lies with me and nobody else. I will do my best to support Gene and his loved ones, his school for as long as needed.
Sonny Puzikas
You can help hereComment
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@sarcoblaster and billorights.. It's called a NDA so my friend could not telle the specifics ... I posted because I was concerned and curious as to what happened and hoped the trainer shot was ok."Americans used to roar like lions for liberty;now we bleat like sheep for security."
~ Norman Vincent PealeComment
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It happened during a shoot house portion, Gene and a student was doing an AAR after a run in the house. Sonny Puzikas enters first room engages targets (no lights). Gene and student did not positively ID their presence in the second room, Sonny goes into room two, engages target with failure drill with Gene standing in front of that target and the student nearby. Two to abdomen, one to the arm. Sonny shooting under no light at a target he previously set up. But the problem compounded when Sonny did not account for all people in the class, the people in the shoot house upon hearing the shots, did not ID their presence, and shooting in low light with out a light to ID target.......sigh
It's not fatal but is serious......
Sonny owe up to the mistake and I am glad at least it wasn't a 5.45 it 7.62...
Never met Gene, but hope he have a speedy recovery....Last edited by SMGLee; 11-08-2012, 11:27 PM.Fly Low,
And Avoid The Radar.Comment
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Thanks for the info Chen..."Americans used to roar like lions for liberty;now we bleat like sheep for security."
~ Norman Vincent PealeComment
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@SMGLee.. This just reinforces the need for protective equipment such as plates/armor for these advanced type classes. I'm glad it was not a fatal accident!"Americans used to roar like lions for liberty;now we bleat like sheep for security."
~ Norman Vincent PealeComment
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While obviously armor should be worn in a class like this (Every reputable CQB course that I know of require it anyways...), this incident has NOTHING to do with armor. This is plain and simple negligence. Everyone who has run a live fire shoot-house should know to get accountability before running it and to also physically clear it to make sure there are no stragglers inside. On top of that, he broke fundamental firearms safety rules by not positively identifying his target and/or ensuring the foreground and background was clear...
If anything the big lesson here is to not train with instructors who are not qualified to teach such a high level course.Comment
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This is a good reminder to be observant of others actions and educate them on safety when needed. Of course when it comes to advanced shooters, it's more complacency than it is lack of education.Comment
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thanks for the info SMGLee, glad the person hit will be alright.Comment
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Good thing he wasn't better at that failure drill and didn't make a head shot, hope he gets better. I've done courses with a shoot house, it was done with simunitions though. I've also done a live fire shoot house with folks who probably shouldn't have been doing a shoot house.Comment
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SMGLee Rocks! Thanks for the info."Bruen, the Bruen opinion, I believe, discarded the intermediate scrutiny test that I also thought was not very useful; and has, instead, replaced it with a text history and tradition test." Judge Benitez 12-12-2022
NRA Endowment Life Member, CRPA Life Member
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I instruct it if you shoot it.Comment
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