Veterans’ firearm injuries

Andy

Background:

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Growing up, Andy and his family hunted deer and elk, a hobby he continues to enjoy today. Andy recalls shooting a 22 with his father as a rite of passage, and felt respect for the firearm from his first time using it. As an adult, Andy served in the Army for more than 7 years, during which time he was deployed to Vietnam.

Outside of military service, Andy has had several experiences where he witnessed a traumatic firearm injury and was inadvertently shot at while hunting. He notes that, “In both instances I had the bullets zinging around me. And you know, I still got a little scared. Because here I’d been to Vietnam, and I almost get killed with a bullet in my own home county.”

For Andy, the best thing about owning a firearm is the sense of security it offers, and views firearms first and foremost as a tool. “The thing that I carry it for, is like a fire extinguisher. The fire extinguisher doesn’t really get used, but it’s there when you need it. And I think the same way about my firearm.” As range safety officer, he is also a strong advocate for firearm safety, noting that firearms, like any tool, can lead to injuries if not handled properly. In terms of firearm injury prevention, including suicide prevention, Andy believes Veterans themselves should be the ones engaging other Veterans. “Talking to someone Veteran to Veteran, peer groups, are probably the best reason or best tool to use from the Veteran suicide perspective.”

Andy likens carrying a firearm to having “a fire extinguisher.”

Andy likens carrying a firearm to having “a fire extinguisher.”

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You know, basically, you know, in this day and age there’s a lot of dangers. The thing I care for, I carry it for, is like a fire extinguisher. The fire extinguisher doesn’t really get used, but it’s there when you need it. And I think the same way about my firearm. I’m not a Quick Draw McGraw or Barney Fife. I take pride in my concealment of a handgun, so that nobody knows I carry. And that’s the way. It’s probably like the fire extinguisher. I know how to treat a firearm. I know how to respect it. And most of all, I know tactics to take care of myself or others.

Andy talks about the importance of being able to protect an “innocent victim.”

Andy talks about the importance of being able to protect an “innocent victim.”

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I had the law enforcement background. I take carry stuff, you know, on the street in Portland when I was probably – in the past two years. And I felt threatened. And I was threatened myself – I don’t want to shoot anybody. I value life. But if it comes to protecting my family, my – an innocent victim. An innocent victim and it’s clear it’s an innocent victim that’s being injured and their life could be very well taken away from them, I’m going to probably encounter the bad guy. You know, I just think there’s too much going down the pike. They’re being lawless. I’ve got a Concealed Carry and, you know, why not use it? And like you say, you know, think of it as a fire extinguisher; it’s really good when you really need it.

Andy talks about learning the basics of firearm safety from his family of hunters.

Andy talks about learning the basics of firearm safety from his family of hunters.

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My dad hunted and I was the oldest child. My dad hunted game and he hunted deer and elk. My grandfather did too. Both of my grandfathers hunted. And, you know, as a family, all my cousins hunted, too. But, you know, I think probably I was about 10 years old. And, you know, we had BB guns at six. So, I was taught, you know, proper safety as my parents had the BB guns. I don’t think it was anything special for me. It was kind of a rite of passage. At age 10 he let, you know, my younger brothers shoot the .22. And then I know it was taking a beer can, the target was taking a beer can and filling it with water. And notice the devastation that was performed by that very tiny little bullet, almost not much bigger than a BB. So, you know, I learned to respect the .22 when I first fired it. And you know, saying the 10 commandments of firearms. You know? You don’t point it at anyone, unless you—until, you don’t point it at a target unless you intend to injure or kill that target.