This Makes Me Sad

Fla. Soldier Accidentally Kills Self With Gun

quote:

Sheriff's investigators say a Panhandle Army paratrooper on leave from Iraq accidentally shot and killed himself while showing his family his new handgun. Army Specialist Andrew Steven Faulkner, 21, died Friday in Crestview. Investigators say he was showing his mother, aunt, young cousin and others a Glock .40 caliber handgun when he accidentally fired it into his chest while trying to remove the magazine from the weapon. Faulkner had been on leave since November following a yearlong deployment with the Army's 82nd Airborne Division to Iraq.

This makes me very sad. This young man made it through jump school and was deployed to Iraq. He made it back home for some well deserved R&R with his family, and did as many do with the money they saved while deployed...they buy a new pistol or weapon of some kind. Not too long ago I was at the range with a young man who had just returned from Iraq, and he had purchased a new firearm and a pile of ammo. He was excited to show it to us, and we all took turns doing a little test and evaluation. Sadly, this reminds me of the excitement he had, and how terribly wrong it went for this other young man. Once again I am terribly sad to read this.