Texas Firearms Instructor Accidentally Shoots His Own Hand During Lesson

Two Glock 26 hand guns lay on a bed of empty shell casings while on display at the Shooting Hunting and Outdoor Trade show, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011 in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
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A firearms instructor for the Hewitt, Texas Police Department was recently injured after he reportedly shot himself in the hand while teaching family members how to handle a gun.

The Waco Tribune-Herald newspaper reported on Friday that Sgt. Heath Vanek would miss at least two months of work because of the injury.

Vanek reportedly hurt himself on July 15 on his family’s property as he was teaching family members how to clear the chamber of a semi-automatic pistol if it jams.

Hewitt Police Chief Jim Devlin told the newspaper he spoke briefly with the 11-year veteran after the accident.

“He said, ‘I made a classic mistake,'” the chief told the paper. “We are human, too. We are not infallible. We make mistakes, and when we mess up, we mess up and do our best to correct it and get back to giving the public the best service we can.”

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Notable Replies

  1. Firearm Instructor in over his head.

  2. It’s all really cool until you accidentally shoot yourself while trying to prove your expertise.

    Wanna bet he’ll be paid during his leave?

  3. idiot, play with fire, you eventually get burned.

  4. Is this what a “learning curve” is?

  5. “He said, ‘I made a classic mistake,’” the chief told the paper. “We are human, too. We are not infallible. We make mistakes, and when we mess up, we mess up and do our best to correct it and get back to giving the public the best service we can.”

    Hopefully, “the best service we can” won’t include any deaths.

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