When gun culture and first responders collide:

[Robb]

A lot of you know I drove ambulances in another lifetime, so this really irks me. Anyone here use or know someone who uses a medical alert device? Because I promise you the quality of their response care is affected by stories like this:

Fresno homeowner who accidentally shot firefighter won't face charges

The shooting happened in a northwest Fresno home when a firefighter tried to gain entry through a bedroom window after no one responded to knocking, he said.

"When the firefighter opened the window to try to get in, the alarm went off and woke up the residents there at the house," Rios said. "They were thinking there was an intruder coming in the window."

The homeowner got his gun and fired a shot that grazed the firefighter's leg above the knee and resulted in a hospital trip, but Rios said the injury was minor. The homeowner's gun will not be confiscated.

The incident happened after paramedics said they received a medical alert from a home on North Cleo Avenue, Fire Department spokesman Koby Johns said. Paramedics couldn't get into the home, in a subdivision west of Figarden Loop Park and north of Bullard Avenue, so they called firefighters for assistance.

Read more: http://www.fresnobee.com/2013/09/05/3480067/firefighter-shot-in-leg-in-northwest.html

Firefighters are amazing people. They are also human. Is it fair for them to have to live in fear that every time they come to assist someone they run the risk of being shot at? Is it fair for the rest of the community to have to live with rescuers who have to take extra time, when seconds count, making sure they aren't coming under fire when they attempt a rescue?

Perhaps we should issue paramedics and firefighters bulletproof armor, and just admit we've failed?

[Eleanors38]

1. How many times has this happened? What do you propose?

[ThoughtCriminal]

8. How many times do you need it to happen?

[Eleanors38]

17. To justify legislation, define the problem, then the solution. nt

[ileus]

2. Maybe we should all have lights on the rails of our HD firearms.

[LAGC]

21. Now THERE'S a sensible solution!

[NYC_SKP]

4. So maybe we take that specific owner's gun away. There, I fixed it.

That man is living in the state with the strictest rules on gun ownership, but he also lives in fear of burglars, home invaders, and even police.

He fucked up, let's punish him and move on.

How does this fit the General Discussion SOP. Oh, that's right, it doesn't.

It's not big news, really.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

10. but, it already has 10 recs. -

and look over there is a kitten.

[Jenoch]

5. The fireman did nothing wrong.

He could have knocked on the window a few times to attempt to get the attention of the homeowner but he did what his training told him to do. Maybe the fire department needs to consider this incident and figure out a way so that it does not happen again.

The homeowner also did nothing wrong. Somebody was breaking into their home, they were in fear. That is why there are no charges being made.

[pintobean]

6. One incident resulting in a minor injury

I think we should freak the fuck out. RIGHT NOW!!!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

9. Kind of like onehande did just above? -

cos dude that is one freaky post.

[pintobean]

12. Yeah, something must have hit a nerve.

I wonder what would have been said if it had been a woman who fired the gun.

[IveWornAHundredPants]

13. Freaky if you really like guns, I guess.

It seems basically a call to beat swords into ploughshares - a fine old concept ripe for a comeback.

[pintobean]

14. No, just freaky

nt

[rl6214]

19. I was going to classify it as more juvenile.

[Eleanors38]

18. Uh, he might try living the change he wants to see.

[The Straight Story]

7. Used to be a LEO and armed security officer

You never enter a place and suspect someone there isn't someone armed. If someone set off such a device they should have called the cops to assist in entering the home. The person may have had a medical emergency, been attacked by an intruder, etc.

I went into an abandoned condo and had my gun drawn and yelled out many times I was an armed officer. You make people aware of who you are, etc. You never, ever, assume such a situation is not in some way hostile.

""It's common practice for firefighters, if they feel someone is hurt or in distress and no one answers the door, to force entry into the home to save a life," Rios said."

It should also be common practice to announce, loudly and more than once, who you are and to use sirens in such a case. In the area where I live we are not surprised if someone is breaking into a home, perhaps the same was with this person - and they have a right to defend their lives.

Better training can help avert such a situation in the future.

[IveWornAHundredPants]

11. Yeah, better training for dudes who sleep with guns beside their beds.

[Liberal_in_LA]

15. i had no idea this was happening. brave paramedics

[Eleanors38]

20. Yeah, there might be a huge trend developing.

[HolyMoley]

16. Really grasping at straws with this one.

But, this has become the standard reaction, reason and response from the gun control types... never let a good firearms related incident go to waste.

If the response to Newtown didn't work out the way you had hoped, what makes you think this pathetic example will?

Gun control is a sinking ship, and I can see why.

[DiverDave]

22. What,exactly, is a 'gun control type'?

eom