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From
http://www.drugpolicy.org DEA Agent, Talking to Students, Shoots Self in Leg
Tuesday, May 4, 2004
An agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration sent kids into hysterics and himself to the hospital after he failed to recall the gun safety lessons from his very first day of training. The unnamed agent was giving a gun safety presentation to about 50 adults and students organized by the Orlando Minority Youth Golf Association.
According to a police report, the agent demonstrated to the audience that his .40-caliber weapon was unloaded, and then shot himself in the thigh after releasing the slide.
"The kids screamed and started to cry," Vivian Farmer told the Associated Press. Farmer attended the presentation with her 13-year-old nephew.
"Everyone was pretty shaken up," Farmer said. "But the point of gun safety hit home. Unfortunately, the agent had to get shot. But after seeing that, my nephew doesn't want to have anything to do with guns."
This incident is the latest in a long string of DEA foibles that has included breaking down the doors of people not suspected of crimes, shooting innocent people, and arresting sick and elderly cancer patients. While we wish the agent in question a speedy recovery, the DEA should not be teaching any kind of safety.
