Accidental discharge at recruiting station, was this bound to happen? Price of protection at recruiting stations?

We are not children. We are grown men and women who are expected to kill people for a living if it should come to that. Soldiers act like children because we treat them that way. If we treat them like adults, the opposite may be true. It's worth a shot. Service members are professionals. Treat them as such.

You will never eliminate NDs or any other negative aspect of our profession. We need to do our best to train Soldiers, without over training in a check the block fashion (which is ALL we do), then accept that bad things will happen.

There more of a nuisance then help. Wanna help the recruiters? Enlist!

While I agree with all the previous comments there is the flip side where I have a problem with military command and weapons with ammo. I have been on many a guard station (Ammo Depots, Base security) and was not allowed to have ammo for my weapon. The Sgt of the guard had it but would have to run it out to me if there was a problem.

A balance would be a loaded magazine in the well on an empty barrel. I would rather have that and take me a second then no ammo.

On one hand, yes, it was bound to happen (LoA's always win in the end). On the other hand, it was completely and totally avoidable; but, then again, most NDs are. Does this mean we shouldn't arm recruiters? Certainly not the case. They are in a career that is emotionally exhausting, as well as potentially physically threatening in and out of the office. That being said, I'm all for recruiters being armed, clearing barrels being placed in front of the offices, and MP/SP personnel assigned and attached to each office to serve as security. In the mean time, I say if civilians want to guard our recruiters, they need to take some tips from the vets and attend a couple weapons safety and handling courses.