Navy Recruiter Accidentally Shoots Himself At Work 24 Hours After Chattanooga Deadly Rampage

2015-07-20T11:04:35-04:00

From: IB Times
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A military recruiter in Georgia was wounded Friday morning with a non-life-threatening injury after he apparently accidentally shot himself at a military recruitment center. The shooting came just about 24 hours after a gunman targeted a U.S. Navy recruitment center in Tennessee, killing four U.S. Marines.

The unidentified victim of the self-inflicted injury was at the Armed Forces Recruiting Center in the city of Gainesville when the shooting occurred around 11 a.m., according to news outlet WSB-TV, though details on how the reported accident unfolded were not immediately clear. The victim, who shot himself in a leg, was a Navy recruiter, WSB-TV reported.

Guns are prohibited in so-called military gun-free zones, including the Gainesville location, raising the question of why Friday’s shooting victim was armed on-site in the first place.

Hours before the shooting Friday, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump appeared on MSNBC and promised that he would repeal a policy that he said former President Bill Clinton signed into law banning military personnel from carrying personal firearms at military installations. The Armed Forces Recruiting Center falls under that designation. [However, Media Matters reported the policy "was enacted in 1992 during the administration of George H.W. Bush and does allow guns to be carried on base under some circumstances."]

"We have to start doing something with these gun-free zones," Trump said during the “Morning Joe” show. “They were sitting there and they were just targets for this madman."

The Gainesville Police Department issued a statement to calm concerns over the similarities shared between Thursday’s alleged intentional shooting in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Friday’s shooting.

“GPD and emergency personnel are on scene of an accidental shooting at the Armed Forces Recruiting Center in Gainesville,” the Gainesville Police Department posted to its Facebook page late Friday morning. “Given recent incidents in Chatanooga [sic] we know the public may be concerned about the police presence, there is no need for public alarm, this was an accidental shooting.”

Friday’s shooting victim was transported to a nearby hospital, but details of his condition were not immediately available. The shooting remained under investigation, the Gainesville Police Department added.

http://www.ibtimes.com/georgia-military-shooting-gainesville-recruiter-shot-himself-accidentally-24-hours-2013998

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2015 11:06 AM

2015-07-20T11:06:39-04:00

Wow!...

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jul 20 at 2015 11:13 AM

2015-07-20T11:13:30-04:00

Well this idiot just damaged chances for the rest of them to be legitimately armed. Sigh.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Jul 20 at 2015 11:13 AM

2015-07-20T11:13:45-04:00

those darn ADs.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Jul 20 at 2015 11:15 AM

2015-07-20T11:15:15-04:00

They usually only discharge when you squeeze the trigger. I hope someone is making sure that people are trained/qualified to carry the weapon they have and that perhaps the weapons are not chambered (if magazine fed). Not everyone in the military knows how to use firearms. Sad but true.

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Jul 20 at 2015 11:16 AM

2015-07-20T11:16:39-04:00

WOW, this is going to shoot us in the foot, trying to get to carry on post. No pun intended, but if properly trained we should be allowed. They didn't give rank and MOS. maybe a no combat arms MOS and wasn't properly trained on usage and carrying of a weapon. Not bashing just making a statement and the thoughts of the group.

Response by SFC Joseph Bosley made Jul 20 at 2015 11:26 AM

2015-07-20T11:26:08-04:00

OK I fully understand why it may be an issue for recruiters to carry personnel weapons. So the questions remains why cant the stations be issued pistols, then there wouldn't be an issue with the law. I'm sure that there would be a way to meet security requirements for arms security in this case. I was a recruiter for a time and I know the schedule is killer at times but weapons qualification can be fit in if they choose to do it. Hell we had entire days where we couldn't do anything because we had mandatory sales classes. It an be figured out and adopted if the leadership chooses to do so.

Response by SFC(P) Aaron Fore made Jul 20 at 2015 11:28 AM

2015-07-20T11:28:18-04:00

I guess this will curb arming recruiters

Response by SGT Richard H. made Jul 20 at 2015 11:59 AM

2015-07-20T11:59:39-04:00

Is it just me or does "military gun-free zones" sound like a bit of an oxymoron?

Response by LT Garth Young (Ret) made Jul 20 at 2015 12:28 PM

2015-07-20T12:28:49-04:00

So I'm assuming a personal weapon??

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2015 2:26 PM

2015-07-20T14:26:03-04:00

Probably important to note that there was nothing "accidental" about this. This sailor was negligent, plain and simple.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Jul 20 at 2015 2:46 PM

2015-07-20T14:46:51-04:00

I find the timing of this 'incident' very convenient.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2015 4:18 PM

2015-07-20T16:18:15-04:00

This is why we can't have nice things idiots screw it up for the rest of us!

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Jul 20 at 2015 4:20 PM

2015-07-20T16:20:26-04:00

Gen. Odierno looks more like a prophet than an idiot now, I guess.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2015 4:28 PM

2015-07-20T16:28:24-04:00

I got nothing. I wish I had a funny meme to post to poke fun at the Navy but they are more damage themselves than I could do with a meme.

Response by Capt Gregory Rush made Jul 20 at 2015 5:14 PM

2015-07-20T17:14:31-04:00

Response by TSgt Mark Bigham made Jul 20 at 2015 6:03 PM

2015-07-20T18:03:45-04:00

Woldn't bullet proof glass help some too?

Response by TSgt David L. made Jul 20 at 2015 7:29 PM

2015-07-20T19:29:22-04:00

So it ain't so!!! So much for arming ALL recruiters...

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2015 8:55 PM

2015-07-20T20:55:57-04:00

I'm sorry but this guy screwed the pooch on this one plane and simple. I know how much we are trained and this is 100% his fault. Remember everyone it's not the entire navy that did this it's only one person.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Jul 20 at 2015 11:15 PM

2015-07-20T23:15:18-04:00

There's always got to be one...

Response by Sgt Ken Prescott made Jul 20 at 2015 11:55 PM

2015-07-20T23:55:41-04:00

OK, weapons safety chalk talk:

KEEP YOUR @$#%^!$ BOOGER HOOK OFF OF THE !$W#$(**!# BANG SWITCH YOU %#^@$#%@$%^@ DIPSTICK!

That is all. Carry on!

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 21 at 2015 1:22 PM

2015-07-21T13:22:03-04:00

This is why we can't have nice things.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 21 at 2015 1:27 PM

2015-07-21T13:27:15-04:00

I wonder if this made incident had any bearing on this completely stupid "no guns, recruiters, just wear civvies" BS.

Response by PO2 Kevin Peine made Jul 21 at 2015 3:53 PM

2015-07-21T15:53:26-04:00

Response by SPC Joseph McBrayer made Jul 1 at 2017 2:44 PM

2017-07-01T14:44:34-04:00

I whole heartedly disagree with only allowing senior enlisted and officers to be authorized to carry a firearm. In my time while on AD, I never witnessed any SM above the enlisted rank of E6 or officer rank of O-3 qualifying or requalifying on any weapon range. Furthermore, who do you think is doing the majority of the combat operations in the armed conflicts we, the United States, are currently engaged in? It certainly isn't any flag officers!!! Old enough to fight but not old enough to carry a firearm on garrison bases??? WOW!!!