Police Accidentally Kill Woman During "Shoot, Don't Shoot" Training

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It seems that the media has been reporting on at least one police shooting of an unarmed person (usually an African-American unarmed person) per week. We trust that police officers are well trained in handling firearms and knowing when to shoot and when not to shoot. If This story will not inspire more confidence in law enforcement's training in firearms.

A Florida woman at the Punta Gorda Police Academy was accidentally shot and killed during a training exercise. The exercise was meant to teach students when it's proper to shoot an individual. The role playing exercise between good guy and bad guy went awry when a live round was accidentally discharged by the police officer doing the training. The woman survived the initial injury, but died later in the hospital. It is a tragic reminder to always properly handle a firearm. More importantly, never point a loaded gun at anyone you don't intend to kill.

Before you bring out your pitchforks and torches, let me explain that this was a complete accident. Guns are dangerous and accidents do happen, even to the most experienced of gun owners. Though ironic, this is no laughing matter. A person lost their life and 35 other people were witnesses to the incident. These exercises are important for the safety of the public and law enforcement. The vast majority of police officers are good, the few bad ones get the attention and should definitely not be on the force.

If you are a gun owner you should attend classes to learn how to properly handle a firearm. Though this won't guarantee a gun accident, it will help minimize the chances of an accident.