Anybody ever shoot themself ?

It's milsurp now...but then again so are we. Besides, I'd love to hear it.

Yes, please let us know what you're referring to, Jim.

Also just for the record -

I appreciate the honesty of 'Tex' sharing what he did in the name of gun safety. For the record, most Texans wear neither cowboy hats of camo hats, much-less both at the same time.

His video reminded me of a situation that happened to one of my buddies named Tim when I was a city cop. Our chief would only let us carry .357 S&W revolvers. ( We only got to choose what finish we wanted) Tim was called out on a mundane call from a local jewelry store where an individual had previously passed a bad check and the person was still there when Tim walked in the front door. The person was the only one there at the counter, and as Tim walked in the guy turned his back and then came around with a semi auto pistol in his hand. Tim drew his S&W the moment he saw the gun and fired two rounds that hit the floor in front of him, then one in the guy's leg and two more in the guy's chest. A lot can happen in a short time when your adrenalin takes over in the flee or fight mode.

Tim called the paramedics, but the guy bled to death before they arrived. He told me about how terrible the scene was and he resigned not long afterward because it bothered him so much. I think it bothered him more to kill someone than being in danger of being killed.

Most police officers never have to fire a shot in their whole career, but Tim had to after being on duty less than two years. I knew some cops who acted like jerks to almost everyone including other police, and there were others who were as kind as could be. I think some just take on a bad attitude as a self defense mechanism.

I know it's natural to criticize police officers, and I've done it myself at times but it can be a tough career. I have to hand it to anyone who can do it their whole career. I quit on good terms after only four years and had all I wanted of having to work different shifts every month, working through all holidays in all weather, spending most of my time dealing the lowest form of humanity and good people in terrible times of their lives, and only having other police as friends anymore because most everyone else shuns you, etc.

Yes, police do keep to themselves a lot of the time. And yes, there are some decent ones and some not so decent. Personalities are as varied as they are in any office environment.

Hear hear CAFDFW. Most cops are very good people trying to do a very tough job with little or no respect. I call those gentlemen and Ladies Peace officers. They are polite and professional and keep their cool. Unfortuneatly their is the other individuals who pin on a bage and strap on a gun and become SUPER COP instantly. They have neither the temperment nor the manners to be in that position. There are a lot of names for indivuals like that and LEO or Peace Officer is not on the list.

To get back to the topic on hand I have been hit by ricochets. We were shooting at a half inch peice of plywood one day with a Raven .25 at a distance of aproximately 15 yards and they were bouncing back at us. Not a single round passed through the plywood.

Yup. There are good ones and a few jerks who make everyone look bad that even the other police don't like. Back on topic.

There are some that just plain, well...

(I'm the only one in this room professional enough...)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKjYlpex4OM

I have had some scary run-ins with the police through the years but, even then, I must say that the Good Guys likely outnumber the damfools about 10 to 1.

Ron Beer, the guy who showed me the autopsy photos I mentioned, was a Good Guy. Sick and tired of searching and hunting for lost-at-sea fishermen, Ron put his OWN money into DOING something. Out of his efforts (and the free top-half-front-page I gave him) grew the Canadian Coast Guard Search and Rescue Auxiliary. In Newfoundland, this organisation can put 200 boats to sea, manned and skippered by men who are EQUIPPED for the job, in Notre Dame Bay alone.... and do it from a single telephone call, in one hour.

About a year after starting that, Ron Beer woke up at 1 AM. At 1:03 he was dead. Heart. He was 41 years old and 10 days from retirement. Ron`s was the only Obituary I ever printed on the front page.

A Good Cop: all he ever wanted to be.

I am only sorry that he didn`t live to see what he started grow into what it is today.
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