Second Amendment Hero brags about gun, manages to shoot self, buddy

"I don’t know what people are thinking when they carry a pistol into a family restaurant," another patron told a local TV station. "There was a family right next to him with a small baby, maybe two months old and a toddler."

Oh sure, easy to say now. But if a terr’ist had busted in and John Cassata wasn’t strapped, well you know… Somebody could’ve got shot.

Look, he’s got a concealed carry permit, which means he’s a totally responsible gun owner. So of course, no charges have been filed.

Just another day in America, where the insane proliferation of firearms is keeping everyone safe.

Responsible Second Amendment Hero teaches student in gun safety class a valuable lesson — by shooting him

Columbus Dispatch: A firearms instructor accidentally shot a student while teaching a gun-safety class on Saturday in Fairfield County to people seeking permits to carry concealed weapons.

Terry J. Dunlap Sr., who runs a shooting range and training center at 6995 Coonpath Rd. near Lancaster, was demonstrating a handgun when he fired a .38-caliber bullet that ricocheted off a desk and into student Michael Piemonte’s right arm.

Dunlap, 73, also is a long-time Violet Township trustee who is running for re-election in November.

Yesterday, Piemonte said he feels lucky, and it could have been worse.

"My wife was sitting just inches away from me," Piemonte said. "It could have easily hit her."

According to the report, Piemonte told the Dispatch that the couple had decided to get concealed-carry permits “for their own general safety.” That sure worked out great, huh? Carrying a gun for safety is like carrying a magnet to ward off iron — it’s doing things exactly the wrong way.

Carrying a gun actually makes it more likely that you’ll be shot. There are a lot of reasons for that increased risk, one of which is demonstrated by this story — people are imperfect. Here we have a guy who runs a gun range and trains people to use firearms; he’s no stranger to these weapons. But even he isn’t immune to a careless moment when he’s not paying attention. Guns are extremely dangerous and the more often you’re exposed to firearms, the more likely it is that something like this will happen. The odds rise every time. As personal safety strategies go, carrying a loaded weapon is one of the worst. It’s like taking up smoking to avoid cancer.