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I had an interesting night...
11 years ago
General
So, shit happens, and tonight shit happened 3 ft away from me...
First, let's flashback to 7pm, just a few hours ago.
A friend called, needed 100$ to get out of jail because of a two year old seatbelt ticket, and spent the last 20 or so days going from jail to jail because they had a ticket for something BS they wanted him to pay.
I get the 100$, drive out to the jail and spring him out. His roomate, before he was arrested, was drunk and on some drug, swinging a knife at him and such. Police came, arrested them both, found out he had a seatbelt ticket and then he played the "Let's see 10 jails" tour as they tried to get 100$ out of him for 20 days...
Took him back to his place, he wanted to make sure that his stuff was safe, as she may have trashed his stuff. It was ok, then we headed out to my parents place.
At my parents place, he showed his new Glock around. 10mm (.40 S&W if you are a cartridge craphead).
Here is where it gets interesting:
He was going to take the slide off, see if it needed lubrication. He had a fully loaded magazine inside it, but a snap cap in the chamber. For whatever reason he racked the slide, ejected the snapcap and pulled the trigger to 'clear' the chamber.
The chamber did clear.
A 10mm nylon filled hollow-point round cleared the chamber. The thump was felt by the three people around the table, and our ears began ringing. The weapon had just been fired.
I knew he had the mag in, and it was full. My mouth was opening to tell him that he was hot as the round went off.
He had the gun pointed down to the floor, and I stood up and began searching for a hole, as there were people downstairs. I needed to know if the bullet went down there, then make sure everyone was safe.
My mom was surprised, asking "what happened?" I already knew from the second the pop began to ring my ears what happened.
Meanwhile, he walked ten feet into the living room, shouting "FUCK FUCK FUCK, SOOO STUPID, FUCK!"
He came back to where the shot was fired and sat down in the chair. Immediately I saw a bullet hole, reddening with blood in his pants leg as he sat down.
My mom was still lost, and I began to tall him, "Pull your pants down, I need to see it." He said, "It's nothing, I can walk this off."
I grab his pants and pull them down. What I see next is nothing like you would think. This isn't hollywood, it's real.
I see a hole big enough to stick my thumb into, blood slowly weeping out. The bullet entered his leg about eight inches down from his crotch, missing the major artery and burying the bullet inside his leg somewhere. The hole looked weird, about half an inch around the hole itself is depressed, like a divot in the skin.
I take my hand and press it over the hole to put pressure on it. My mom has a rag and says "We need a tourniquet." I remove my hand from the open wound and press down on the rag, while using my other hand to remove my belt, as it is the only thin withing range I can think of. Once off I loop it around his leg and tighten it, using both hands to tighten the belt, I see what looks like a bloody pulp spill from the hole, splattering on the ground. It looked like shredded bits of muscle in a not yet finished smoothie pouring from a garden hose.
All of this happened within 20 seconds of the discharge.
I searched for an exit wound, as it would have to be compressed as well, I tell him that the bullet is still inside his leg as I found no exit, and he replies "Yea, I can feel it, it hit the bone." while he keeps muttering as if an incantation, "Fuck fuck, stupid..." over and over again.
My mom is into herb-ology and stuff, and as luck would have it, had been reading about a weed that grows everywhere that is a great clotting agent. She had some of this dried and prepared in a sterile solution as a greenish goop, and goes to retrieve it. She pours on three large spoonfuls into and around the hole and I return the rag to compress.
My mom called the police, and relayed the information. She is a nurse of close to 30 years now. And she was right about that stuff she applied, within 30 seconds the wound had clotted up and stopped bleeding.
By this time the commotion, cursing and upturning of furniture brought the other eight people in the house, and they saw me, sitting down near the naked lower torso of my friend, hands bloodied. They as what happened and I say "He got shot." My mom orders them back downstairs, and they headed back down, pale faced.
The police showed up, 'secured' the gun I had already emptied and ejected the mag and they walked around, asking questions until the paramedics showed up. My mom filled them in and I made as much space for 'Tom', as he looked like my uncle, to get beside me and put gauze and wrap around the wound, then a tourniquet of his own before I got up to wash my belt and hands.
He was put on a stretcher and taken to the hospital.
The police spent a few minutes talking with everyone that was up there, then began to fill out reports in the dive way.
Throughout the whole ordeal, my friend remained lucid, engaging with the EMS and Police to answer their questions. He's at the hospital where my mom works, now in surgery.
It's not a fatal wound, and quick response managed to get the situation under control in thirty seconds. He didn't bleed alot, MAYBE 4 fluid ounces as there was a bit on his clothes, my hands and a four inch puddle on the floor where he was sitting.
The lesson here?
Keep your guns pointed in a safe direction, and double, triple, quadruple check the chamber before you 'dry' fire it, as it may STILL be loaded. By safe direction, I mean a wall with bricks on the other side, the ground, the dirt, away from all people.
It was an interesting experience, getting to move under pressure to handle the situation, see someone's reaction to that kind of pain, see a wound like that in person. Not something a whole lot of people see.
So, how was everyone else's night?
First, let's flashback to 7pm, just a few hours ago.
A friend called, needed 100$ to get out of jail because of a two year old seatbelt ticket, and spent the last 20 or so days going from jail to jail because they had a ticket for something BS they wanted him to pay.
I get the 100$, drive out to the jail and spring him out. His roomate, before he was arrested, was drunk and on some drug, swinging a knife at him and such. Police came, arrested them both, found out he had a seatbelt ticket and then he played the "Let's see 10 jails" tour as they tried to get 100$ out of him for 20 days...
Took him back to his place, he wanted to make sure that his stuff was safe, as she may have trashed his stuff. It was ok, then we headed out to my parents place.
At my parents place, he showed his new Glock around. 10mm (.40 S&W if you are a cartridge craphead).
Here is where it gets interesting:
He was going to take the slide off, see if it needed lubrication. He had a fully loaded magazine inside it, but a snap cap in the chamber. For whatever reason he racked the slide, ejected the snapcap and pulled the trigger to 'clear' the chamber.
The chamber did clear.
A 10mm nylon filled hollow-point round cleared the chamber. The thump was felt by the three people around the table, and our ears began ringing. The weapon had just been fired.
I knew he had the mag in, and it was full. My mouth was opening to tell him that he was hot as the round went off.
He had the gun pointed down to the floor, and I stood up and began searching for a hole, as there were people downstairs. I needed to know if the bullet went down there, then make sure everyone was safe.
My mom was surprised, asking "what happened?" I already knew from the second the pop began to ring my ears what happened.
Meanwhile, he walked ten feet into the living room, shouting "FUCK FUCK FUCK, SOOO STUPID, FUCK!"
He came back to where the shot was fired and sat down in the chair. Immediately I saw a bullet hole, reddening with blood in his pants leg as he sat down.
My mom was still lost, and I began to tall him, "Pull your pants down, I need to see it." He said, "It's nothing, I can walk this off."
I grab his pants and pull them down. What I see next is nothing like you would think. This isn't hollywood, it's real.
I see a hole big enough to stick my thumb into, blood slowly weeping out. The bullet entered his leg about eight inches down from his crotch, missing the major artery and burying the bullet inside his leg somewhere. The hole looked weird, about half an inch around the hole itself is depressed, like a divot in the skin.
I take my hand and press it over the hole to put pressure on it. My mom has a rag and says "We need a tourniquet." I remove my hand from the open wound and press down on the rag, while using my other hand to remove my belt, as it is the only thin withing range I can think of. Once off I loop it around his leg and tighten it, using both hands to tighten the belt, I see what looks like a bloody pulp spill from the hole, splattering on the ground. It looked like shredded bits of muscle in a not yet finished smoothie pouring from a garden hose.
All of this happened within 20 seconds of the discharge.
I searched for an exit wound, as it would have to be compressed as well, I tell him that the bullet is still inside his leg as I found no exit, and he replies "Yea, I can feel it, it hit the bone." while he keeps muttering as if an incantation, "Fuck fuck, stupid..." over and over again.
My mom is into herb-ology and stuff, and as luck would have it, had been reading about a weed that grows everywhere that is a great clotting agent. She had some of this dried and prepared in a sterile solution as a greenish goop, and goes to retrieve it. She pours on three large spoonfuls into and around the hole and I return the rag to compress.
My mom called the police, and relayed the information. She is a nurse of close to 30 years now. And she was right about that stuff she applied, within 30 seconds the wound had clotted up and stopped bleeding.
By this time the commotion, cursing and upturning of furniture brought the other eight people in the house, and they saw me, sitting down near the naked lower torso of my friend, hands bloodied. They as what happened and I say "He got shot." My mom orders them back downstairs, and they headed back down, pale faced.
The police showed up, 'secured' the gun I had already emptied and ejected the mag and they walked around, asking questions until the paramedics showed up. My mom filled them in and I made as much space for 'Tom', as he looked like my uncle, to get beside me and put gauze and wrap around the wound, then a tourniquet of his own before I got up to wash my belt and hands.
He was put on a stretcher and taken to the hospital.
The police spent a few minutes talking with everyone that was up there, then began to fill out reports in the dive way.
Throughout the whole ordeal, my friend remained lucid, engaging with the EMS and Police to answer their questions. He's at the hospital where my mom works, now in surgery.
It's not a fatal wound, and quick response managed to get the situation under control in thirty seconds. He didn't bleed alot, MAYBE 4 fluid ounces as there was a bit on his clothes, my hands and a four inch puddle on the floor where he was sitting.
The lesson here?
Keep your guns pointed in a safe direction, and double, triple, quadruple check the chamber before you 'dry' fire it, as it may STILL be loaded. By safe direction, I mean a wall with bricks on the other side, the ground, the dirt, away from all people.
It was an interesting experience, getting to move under pressure to handle the situation, see someone's reaction to that kind of pain, see a wound like that in person. Not something a whole lot of people see.
So, how was everyone else's night?
How many of Cooper's Rules did he break, boys and girls?
I'm very happy that didn't turn out anywhere near as badly as it could have.
Let's hope he learned from it.
people need to remember that guns are weapons, not toys.
my dad has nearly removed fingers several times using his table saw, and i've put a roofing nail into my hand from a misfire, not to mention slashing my fingers open more times than i can count cutting leather.
If it can cut, smash, puncture or incinerate it will do horrific things to a human body as well
at least it happened in a place where there were competent people around who reacted quickly and correctly to the situation, and he's soooo lucky he didn't hit the artery >.<
I've seen my fair share of emergencies, first one was when my brother had a broken umbrella stick sever his jugular when we were younger, several flash fires on cars where someone was using a welder or acetylene torch near open gas tanks, some scary moments myself with guns (Luckily they were all pointed at soft earth).
Responding to situations like this requires a few things:
1. Having read/thought about situations like this before. Even browsing through a first aid pamphlet at some point can be good. Just general prior knowledge will keep you from shitting yourself when it happens. Going through the motions in your head helps alot, muscles might not react as if you had done them before, but you have had the same thoughts and solutions in your head before.
2. Where is everything at? What can you use to Mac Guyver what you need? Fire extinguishers, shirts, water, belts and such. A flask of alcohol is always good to have, as it cleans wounds, and can be drank for a pain killer.
3. Screaming never helps, step in yourself to do -or assist if someone is there before you, or stay the fuck out of the way. Communicate clearly, because saying some short-throw words can confuse everyone else and waste time. If you are getting screamed at, it's best to ignore it and proceed with a steady mind -and hands if you have them.
After things were under control, I began joking and laughing as it was helping me relieve tension. Though my friend was not to happy, as chuckling caused him to wince in pain.
I've seen and dealt with my fair share of gunshot and shrapnel wounds overseas, it's never a good situation, training and a calm mind is just as important as having the correct or even mcguyverable equipment on hand to deal with the situation
On the plus side, after a moment like this, you can be sure to all hell that he's gonna be more careful about it the next time.
and a militia has nothing to do with the military
Just because something doesn't shoot a projectile, doesn't mean a kitchen knife, dagger, utility knife [endless variations there of] it's not inherently safer.
I'm not even going to get into the argument over why gun rights should be protected, or why removing the ability for legal citizens with proper law abiding intent and licensing has worked -so- well in countries like the UK and Australia [see national statistics on violent crime], or how now that IL is finally allowing CC permits the crime rate plummeted for muggings and armed robbery...
But sure, live in your media world.
lol Your knowledge of reality is severely lacking.
" Also I would like to point out the fact that the UK has got very strict gun laws and the USA has over 9 times more gun related crimes than ANY other country."
First part is right, second part is wrong, wrong, WRONG.
mid-15c., from Middle French militaire (14c.), from Latin militaris "of soldiers or war, of military service, warlike," from miles (genitive militis) "soldier," of unknown origin, perhaps ultimately from Etruscan, or else meaning "one who marches in a troop," and thus connected to Sanskrit melah "assembly," Greek homilos "assembled crowd, throng."
American Revolutionary war 1775 - 1783.
Want to try that again?
Whilst that might sound like a foreign concept to you, the point of that exact matter is that the founding fathers wished to lay in place a un-deniable right for every citizen in this country to maintain arms in the event that should the government be so corrupt [like England was, you know, when we rebelled] that the people would not be so unarmed as to be unable to rise up and overthrow, to try again.
Secondly, commenting to your other reply, I was referring to -all- violent crime. Of course 'gun' crime will diminish when your government outlaws and confiscates guns, but robberies, stabbings, murder, beatings, and other such crimes spiked.
To the idea that a gun is more than a tool, and is inherently evil and meant to mass murder. I could just as easily pick up any of the fine longbladed weapons laying about my shop, and wreak as much if not more havok and trauma as if I had a firearm, you know why I don't? Because I'm a [mostly] well adjusted and normal human and such things would be wrong.
The issues the US faces with a majority of 'large scale gun sprees' is not to be blamed on the guns, it's to be blamed on a whole factor of social and mental issues, along with the populaces belief that 'oh that kid has some kinda problem, cram so much brain altering medication in him as possible whilst his mind is still developing physically and mentally'. Then fucked up shit happens and we wonder why...
But these issues are too complicated, or otherwise never looked at for [insert conspiracy theory here] and it is ever so easy to look at the tool used 'i.e. gun' and say 'ITS EVIL, BAN THEM!!!' where I look at my firearms and think, history, fun, art. By your token of thinking, my entire work and livelyhood, the manufacture of blades, in the not so distant past WAS the equivalent of the modern manufacture of firearms... yet because technology and science have progressed to out-date them, we see them more as a curiosity and art [now] and gloss over the fact that for the majority of our known history, such weapons -were- the way to wage war. [see any conflict from the bronze age, ~3000BC to 300 years ago.]
Firstly, in order to legally own a fully automatic ak-47 [I'm using that specific gun since you were the one who brought it up] in the united states, you need to; Firstly be allowed to own a firearm in the first place, which means you've passed at least a basic of federal and state background checks to make sure you're not a felon. Then apply for a specific 'tax stamp' for said firearm, which will cost you, the owner, upwards of $20,000usd and in most states require you to have a secondary license to own said firearm, aside from the fact the ATF will have it registered to you, and run it's own check on you as well...
You know... to make sure you aren't a batshit crazy person going to run about killing people.
A fully automatic rifle in the USA, 1-50 times is illegal and brought into this country as such from the south. Meaning that there is no -real- way to prevent that due to boarder size.
Since I don't have that massive amount of cash, I don't own an AK, not every 'gun person' in america has 20 guns and fully auto LMGs... most... like me, have 2 or 3, myself owning historical pieces such as an original Remington 1858 and a m31 mosen. I go to the range, have fun, talk to others about my love of firearms, and go home, kinda like anyone does about any hobby or sport. The others have a firearm for protection, and are fully licensed and trained per their state laws to carry said firearm. I do not worry about a single person who owns a legal firearm and has a legal carry permit, as those people have been through so many checks and have had the 'trigger time' for training as to generally not be an issue. I live in IL, near chicago, second to detroit in gun violence, you are damn right there are certain places I would just not go even armed due to the level of guns in the area, protip, they are all illegal firearms, so, banning legal ones from law abiding citizens will do -nothing- but disarm the populace from the gangbangers invading the surrounding areas.
Also I would take kindly to you not trying to insert your 'knowledge' on bladed weapons and their capabilities.
Wrong wrong wrong wrong, wrong wrong wrong wrong!
Imagine that in the tune of the Westminster Bells.
The 7.62x39 cartridge most commonly chambered in AK-style rifles is actually ballistically almost identical to the .30-30, which was a staple of deer hunting since it's inception. The AK, however, allows for a fast follow-up shot, and it's shorter over-all length compared to many longer-barreled rifles makes it particularly handy in wooded areas. That's not to mention the fact that actual fully-automatic AK-47s, and automatic weapons in general, have been barred from sale since 1986, and are prohibited for use in hunting at all anyways. And that's not to mention the specialty cartridges that have been developed for rifles in hunting in certain restricted areas, like Indiana, where specialty AR-15 cartridges have really taken a foothold.
And Militia means : all able-bodied civilians eligible by law for military service. So basically everyone over 18.
The problem wasn't the gun, it was him.
Think of it this way, if a huge rash of crimes came about through use of basic garden or farming tools, and that became the primary means, what do you do? Ban these "weapons" that are normally used to grow the food you eat? In Feudal Japan, no working class individual was allowed to be in possession of a weapon, specifically swords, daggers, and similar ilk. You know what happened? You got the sharpened Sai, used normally to plant rice. You got the edged Kunai, a hand shovel to work the land. You even got nun-chucks being used as weapons, when they served to thrash crops similar to how western cultures used a scythe.
While a gun may not have any use similar to that of a shovel or saw, I also point out that neither does the sword. There are those who go nuts about guns, collecting and harping on various aspects of different models, there are *also* those who do the same with swords. If you looked hard enough, I'm sure you'll find someone who's the same way about hammers or hoes.
Another, if lesser point, is that in a gun-free zone, or even nation, the one person who manages to get a hold of one will be getting at least one free spree in which they may shoot at their leisure with little chance of ending it before law enforcement arrives. Again, the trick is not to take the tools away from everyone, but to take out the idiots and the sick minded where they will do no harm.
ORLY...
The "necessary to the security of a Free State" portion is really a clue as to the meaning of the IIA. Citizenry weren't supposed to just defend the country from foreign invaders, but also prevent internal forces from taking too much power, as well. George Orwell realized this when he stated, “That rifle on the wall of the labourer's cottage or working class flat is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there.” A tyrannical government can't let an oppressed people keep and bear arms any more than that works on an individual level.
Does that also apply to swimming pools, automobiles, alcohol, doctors, cheese burgers, and any number of other things that people can use to kill or get killed by? Or are those exempt because they are something you use or don't see as inherently dangerous?
You may want to figure out how a comma works. People is separate from militia, but included with, otherwise they would have said "the right of the militia to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed."
Perhaps, before making idiotic comments on another country's laws, you look into those laws first.
Look up "District of Columbia v. Heller" and "McDonald v. Chicago" I know you will not, but they both show that the supreme court of the U.S.A. have confirmed that the right to keep and bear arms is an individuals right, including self defense.
second, ALWAYS POINT GUNS AS IF LOADED! it doesn't matter if it isn't loaded, treat it as if it is anyway.
third, (personal opinion here, not gun saftey rule or anything) showing off a gun can be done just as easily at a gun range. where they provide hearing protection. for everyone. period.
that being said, it is a fun thing to do, including targeting clay discs and such. i've only shot a small caliber rifle, but getting "in the zone" and firing like clockwork is like being "in the zone" playing video games. you WANT to stay there. the feeling you get from hitting the right spot at the target check is indescribable. anyway, i think your friend needs to work on his gun saftey before he handles one again.
Friend of mine had a Springfield XD in 45acp, the chamber wasn't loaded but the mag was. I was sitting on the floor watching TV a foot or so away. He went to take his gun apart when suddenly I felt something weird and there was ringing in my ears, I knew what had happened, I turned around in time to see him quickly get up clutching his wrist, I thought he shot himself, he was holding it near the muzzle and the muzzle flash burnt his wrist. While he was tending to his burns I looked for where the bullet went. It had hit the floor a few inches or so behind where I was sitting on the floor, ricocheted and got lodged in the wall.
1. All guns are always loaded, even if you think they are not.
2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger, and out of the trigger guard, until your sights are on the target.
4. Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.
—Jeff Cooper
Follow these simple rules and there will never be a firearm "accident."
If one cannot follow these rules, that person should watch "Eddie the Eagle" or go tell a competent adult if they see a firearm.
I bet he wont do that again.