Sho Nuff

>Well....I've always heard it's not a matter of "if", but "when". My number
>came up and I paid a hefty price.
>
>Last Friday I was preparing to go shooting the next AM with a buddy of
>mine. I had just put a new a-grip on my Glock, and was going to clean it
>after my wife and I finished our movie. Crash is an awsome movie BTW.
>
>I put the weapon back together and inserted the mag. I did not pipe a
>Round because I knew I was going to strip it later. I went upstairs and
>put the weapon in the tool box in the garage.
>
>About and hour later (mid-night or so), I returned to the garage to finish
>cleaning and getting gear together for the morning. I picked up the Glock,
>dropped the mag and prepared to remove the slide. I done this literally
>thousands of times in the last fifteen years, but this times things were a
>little different. I grabbed the slide getting ready to push the takedown
>pins and pulled the trigger......BANG!!!!! Apparently I DID pipe a round
>an hour prior. My shooting bud attributes it to force of habit, but why the
>hell didn't I check the chamber before pulling the trigger? Should that be
>force of habit too?
>
>Not only did I set off a .45 in my garage, but I passed right through my
>left hand......Yep....I *******ing shot myself point blank. I'm still
>having
>a hard time getting my head around what I did. I was SO angry at myself.
>I have always been uber safe with any firearm, but one lack of procedure
>changed everything. I'm really taking this hard, and all the "it could have
>been worse", "accidents happen", and "thank god you didn't lose your
>hand statements really don't help. I guess I'm getting over it, but it
>still
>seems very surreal to me.
>
>Here are details....I know you all are morbidly curious, and I don't mind
>telling...it's kinda like therapy for me. I DID NOT hear the shot (nor did
>my ears ring afterwards), and it felt sorta like catching a fastball right
>in
>the palm of your glove. I have a very clear image, and suspect I always
>will, of the hole in my hand...perfect .45 diameter not bleeding....yet. I
>took a few seconds, and then the arterial arch in my palm cut loose.
>Blood like you wouldn't believe. I think the fact that I was a Paramedic
>in a former life helped me out here. I walked into the laundry room and
>grabbed a towel to wrap it up, call up the stairs for my wife to come down.
>I remember thinking "if I go get her, I'll mess up the carpet on the
>stairs".
>No lie. She came down half asleep and kind of grumpy, and I told her "I
>just put a bullet in my hand". Said she was calling 911 and according to
>her I responded "That would be a good idea.." My wife is neo-natal RN,
>and can remain cool as a cucumber. This helped me out too I think.
>
>I went back into the garage, put my blasted hand on the floor kneeling
>On the towel and proceeded to open my ever present jump-bag with the
>other. I opened a US issue trauma dressing with my teeth, and proceeded
>to wrap my hand. Those dressing are the schiz nit by the way. My wife
>later told me it was very "Die-Haredesque"......
>
>I do remember cussing at myself the entire time...I have never been that
>angry before.....
>
>Four cops, the shift sup., a pumper truck and an ambulance later. I was
>off to the ER. I didn't feel any pain until I got in the ambulance. The
>endorphins shut down and it hurt like nothing you can imagine. No tickets
>from the cops, but did have to ask which weapon I did it with. My garage
>looks like an arsenal pre-range trip.
>
>The bullet (a Black Talon no less..) shattered my ring finger meta-tarsal,
>and 'removed' two others. It destroyed the flexor tendon of my ring finger,
>almost separated my pinky tendon, and exited the right side of my wrist
>just above my watch band. There was a definite exit hole, but the blast
>force blew the side of my palm WIDE open about three inches in length.
>I didn't even see the exit wound until I removed my watch for the FD.
>
>Anyway, nine hours of surgery, three screws, a tendon graft from my
>forearm and about two-hundred sutures later I was put back together.
>My surgeon said if anyone has to get shot in the hand, this was how to
>do it. No nerve damage....whew. Physical therapy twice a week for god
>knows how long, and the surgeon expects at least 80% function back.
>
>I've included a pic of the round. Snap-On tool boxes are quite literally
>bullet proof. The jacket separated from the slug when it hit the box,
>that's why the slug is flat on one side. If the mods permit, I'll post pics
>of my hand too.....it's pretty burly, and will drive the point home.
>
>Thanks for listening. My wife thinks I'm crazy to post this, but it really
>does help me feel better. Remember....check the chamber twice, then
>check it again. Deputy Do-Right LASO

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I know Nietzsche doesnt rhyme with peachy, but you sound like a pretentious prick when you correct me.