Page 31 - November December 2016 Issue Updated 2nd
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Integrated Firearm Safety Principles
Mas: Heavy focus on safety before the student is ever on the iring line with a gun.
RIGID irearms safety rules: irst safety infraction, shooter is off the line for the day,
may observe but no longer participate. Back the second day under strict watch and
something like probation; second violation results in expulsion from class. There
are always ample irearms safety oficers on the iring line.
EIJ: In your line of work, do you see the need of more highly qualiied range ofi-
D cers training?
E
C Mas: While I don’t think there’s such a thing as too much training, I can’t say that
E inadequate training of range oficers has resulted in any sort of epidemic of uninten-
P tional discharges producing injury.
T
I EIJ: As a former police oficer, have you ever encountered a situation where a vic-
O tim had suffered a self-inlicted gun shot wound due to the lack of training?
N
Mas: Never encountered that as a responding oficer. The one self-inlicted gunshot
wound I’ve responded to on the range was due to an advanced (instructor) student
simply pushing too fast.
EIJ: Is there any legislation in place, to regulate safety factors among CCW enthu-
siasts when it comes to citizens interacting with police?
Mas: Some states require that CCW holders identify themselves as such when in-
teracting with police in the latter’s performance of their duties. Insofar as safety
factors per se, I have not seen that.
EIJ: Have you ever seen or heard of a situation where a pistol range was caught up
in litigation due to the lack of safety procedures due diligence?
Mas: That is often a stated cause of action in lawsuits resulting from people shoot-
ing themselves or others at shooting ranges. Remember that “caught up in litiga-
tion” covers a lot of ground, much of which may be unmeritorious allegations.
31
Mas: Heavy focus on safety before the student is ever on the iring line with a gun.
RIGID irearms safety rules: irst safety infraction, shooter is off the line for the day,
may observe but no longer participate. Back the second day under strict watch and
something like probation; second violation results in expulsion from class. There
are always ample irearms safety oficers on the iring line.
EIJ: In your line of work, do you see the need of more highly qualiied range ofi-
D cers training?
E
C Mas: While I don’t think there’s such a thing as too much training, I can’t say that
E inadequate training of range oficers has resulted in any sort of epidemic of uninten-
P tional discharges producing injury.
T
I EIJ: As a former police oficer, have you ever encountered a situation where a vic-
O tim had suffered a self-inlicted gun shot wound due to the lack of training?
N
Mas: Never encountered that as a responding oficer. The one self-inlicted gunshot
wound I’ve responded to on the range was due to an advanced (instructor) student
simply pushing too fast.
EIJ: Is there any legislation in place, to regulate safety factors among CCW enthu-
siasts when it comes to citizens interacting with police?
Mas: Some states require that CCW holders identify themselves as such when in-
teracting with police in the latter’s performance of their duties. Insofar as safety
factors per se, I have not seen that.
EIJ: Have you ever seen or heard of a situation where a pistol range was caught up
in litigation due to the lack of safety procedures due diligence?
Mas: That is often a stated cause of action in lawsuits resulting from people shoot-
ing themselves or others at shooting ranges. Remember that “caught up in litiga-
tion” covers a lot of ground, much of which may be unmeritorious allegations.
31
