But, then again I should be. When I was in College I took a hunter safety course with the KY Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, and then went on to become an Course Instructor. I also became certified by the NRA as a Whitetail Deer Hunter instructor. Besides that I've been a sportsman all my life.
I remember when I was taking public speaking in college, one of my teachers said some of the most persuasive speeches involve subjects that are personal and emotional.
So here goes......hope everyone's paying attention.
If only my brother's friend had known the ultimate gun defense, I have no doubt he could have stopped the gunman that took my brother's life February 10th 2011.
![Crying or Very sad :cry:](./images/smilies/icon_cry.gif)
Some defenses, as we all know, require us to be proactive. If you hesitate it's too late! As was the case that day. By the time my brother's friend realized the gunman's intent, it was too late. The gunman was younger and faster than my brother's friend. And, as is the case with many that take another's life he was beyond reason, my brother's friend couldn't talk him out of it. The gunman had the compassion (or Cruelty??), to allow my brother to call his Mother and say goodbye. But despite my brother's tears, and my Mother begging the gunman to put the gun down.
The gunman did what he "had" to do. My brother Chris at 27yrs old, hung up the phone, and pulled the trigger.
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
A friend of mine at work was recently discussing Failure Mode and Effects Analysis. Online, it is defined as follows:
Preventing Disaster with FMEA
The tool you use to analyze and prevent disasters is the FMEA - Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (a template in the QI Macros). You can use it to analyze a product (car, x-ray, MRI), part (car door), or process (part stamping process or elective surgery).
* Designing a product or part uses a DFMEA.
* Analyzing a process uses a PFMEA.
When you've got a product or a process that can affect human life (e.g., radiology or amputation in a hospital), you want to anticipate all of the ways that the product or process could go wrong and affect your customer. The automobile and airline industries do this routinely to mitigate and prevent potential problems.
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I thought about this and what the FMEA would determine as the cause(s) for this tragedy. Of course there are all the classic signs that are easily seen in hindsight. A recent breakup, his lifelong need for attention, a close friend that committed suicide, a lower than average mental capacity (not quite MR, not quite "normal"), calling those close to him to say he loved them, etc., etc.
Chris was always a happy go lucky kinda guy, and if he got upset it didn't last long. So one thing really stood out to me. Eureka!! If only there hadn't been a loaded gun in easy reach. Now his friend being an older gentleman, probably didn't have many kids in the house, so who would have thought there would be a problem. Who would have thought his friend, an adult, would just grab it, and do what he did. THAT'S JUST IT. YOU REALLY NEVER KNOW.
So back to the Ultimate Gun Defenses. Most of these can probably be found online, at your state fish and wildlife or natural resource offices websites, the NRA website, heck new guns even come with many of these rules.
Here's what I taught my students the other day.
1. Guns are always loaded.
2. Never point a gun at something you do not want to shoot.
3. Kids if you find a gun, tell an adult.
4. If one of your friends picks up a gun tell an adult.
5. The safety on a firearm is a mechanical device that can and sometimes does fail.
6. Most local law enforcement offices provide free gun locks to citizens.
7. STORE FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, AND KEEP THE AMMO IN A LOCKED BOX!
![#Milti :multi:](./images/smilies/new_multi.gif)
(Because you just never know who's gonna pick up a gun and do harm to themselves or others - intentional or otherwise.)
I may have left a few things out, and I realize there may be special situations for LEOs or in a combat/military situation. However, I hope this is something you will share with your students and think about yourselves.
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)