How not to be a range/safety officer

[M1911]

So guilty until proven broke

Now you understand the US justice system!

 

[TY43215]

I've seen this video in several places and have yet to get a legal thought. Question is if the brass rat got shot or killed who is getting charged? Do we criminaly charge the shooter who was cleared in hot on the stage and didn't realize there was a live target in the stage where none should have been, or do we charge the RO who cleared the shooter in hot? Don't forget the civil action against the shooter, RO, stage designer and club. Liabilty climbs even higher if the RO wasn't trained and certified.

I would imagine the shooter would be charged. Not arrested, but charged. The RO would loose everything in the 2 civil suits. (Shooter and family of the victim) the club would probably close down after the civil suits as deeper pockets.

The justification in the trial for the charges would be the NRA Rules all shooters are "supposed to know" Most importantly "Know your target and what is beyond.
Be absolutely sure you have identified your target beyond any doubt. Equally important, be aware of the area beyond your target. This means observing your prospective area of fire before you shoot. Never fire in a direction in which there are people or any other potential for mishap. Think first. Shoot second."

In the end, the defense of the charge will cost the shooter all he has but the jury will find him not guilty. The civil suits will go on for years and will kill the sport on every range within 100 miles. The Internet commandos will try the case online and leave no stone unturned to lay the blame when in the end it was what Webster described as an accident.

c : an unexpected happening causing loss or injury which is not due to any fault or misconduct on the part of the person injured but for which legal relief may be sought

 

[Rob Boudrie]

I would imagine the shooter would be charged. Not arrested, but charged. The RO would loose everything in the 2 civil suits. (Shooter and family of the victim) the club would probably close down after the civil suits as deeper pockets.

The RO would probably lose nothing, as the people who have the money to be shooting this kind of match are generally middle class homeowners with personal liability insurance. This kind of case is generally settled within policy limits.

As to the club closing down - didn't happen to the Westfield club after an 8 year old was killed at a machine gun shoot.

In the end, the defense of the charge will cost the shooter all he has but the jury will find him not guilty.

More likely, the prospect of a conviction with prison time would result in the shooter copping a plea - after going broke, of course.

The civil suits will go on for years and will kill the sport on every range within 100 miles.

There was a death at a Dallas club many years ago (round over berm, though building and into a kid). That did not kill the sport on other ranges in the area.

The Internet commandos will try the case online and leave no stone unturned to lay the blame

Truer words have rarely been spoke.