Eskrima Kombat

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“See, this is an unloaded gun, right here.”

“Empty weapon.”

“I’m the only one is this room, that I know of, that is professional enough, to carry this Glock .40.”

BLAM!

Hobbling. “I had an A.D.”

“See how that accident happened? It could happen to you, and you’d be blown away.”

“Brian, bring that other gun out, Brian.”

(Commotion, murmuring in audience.)

“Hey, hey, hey, hold on. It’s empty! It’s an empty weapon!”

(From audience, “Put it down! Put it down!)

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Lessons Learned

This video is both comical and horrifying at the same time. This is an example of hubris. He boasts “I am the only person in this room who’s professional enough to handle this gun….” just a split second before he shoots himself.

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He had previously said twice that the gun was empty, but he violates a cardinal rule: Treat every gun as though it were loaded. Never point any gun at yourself or at anyone you’re not prepared to shoot. Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot.

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Thank goodness the audience has more sense than he does. They recognize he needs to go back to gun safety class before he brings out another gun. Again, this is ego talking. Instead of admitting his mistake, closing up, and immediately getting medical treatment, he wants to downplay his possibly fatal error and try to regain his status as gun-wielding firearm expert.

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In the event of an accidental discharge, the correct response is to stop everything and reflect soberly on what just went wrong, coupled with a somber realization of how that might have turned deadly.

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Why does he need to display a pistol anyway? Couldn’t he use a picture or a blue gun replica?

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I think this also counters those who say that citizens can’t be trusted with firearms, and that only “trained professionals” can be trusted with guns.

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Contrary to what he said, anyone in that room was capable of handling that gun in a safe manner if he or she would follow the rules I outlined earlier, and given the opportunity for some practice in safe gun handling.

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P.S. This blogpost faults the “buddy system” of weapon checking.

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