Turns out it wasn’t an accident:
Police say a Rhode Island woman intentionally shot herself to death at a Massachusetts gun range over the weekend.
…The newspaper said a police report said DeBarros left notes about her intention and also posted a comment to her Facebook page.
I said some admonishments about the range safety at the Massachusetts Firearms school in this post.
I must admit I was wrong. If a person has committed herself to taking her life there is NOTHING you can do about that. What I will say is suicide is a selfish and self-centered act that leaves loved ones behind in an avoidable way. Further committing suicide in this way is really cruel. Not only do you tear about those you leave behind, but also you hurt the business kind enough to unknowingly help you achieve your goal. I can’t do any action to really stop suicide, I just don’t think there’s anything out there. This woman left her intentions on Facebook when she could have asked those very friends for their support helping her get through whatever her issues were. Further if you contemplate suicide you also must consider the aftermath. Who will you be involving in your final hours? Who will clean up your mortal remains?
Massachusetts Firearms School receives my condolences in being forced to deal with this, and I hope this unavoidable act doesn’t tarnish their reputation.
I was trying to figure out how this could possibly be an accident, and coming up empty.
Not really, The first thing that came to my mind was a woman with little gun experience and not a lot of hand and arm strength getting a 3-point jam. In muscling the out-of-battery slide she sweeps her leg or arm, and either slamfires a round into the chamber or pulls the trigger as soon as it goes into battery.
Not easy but VERY possible with an inexperienced shooter with little supervision.
She was a Airman who I’m sure was trained in using weapons. She had recently lost her boyfriend in a car accident and was home on leave. Have some respect for her! She did not do this to harm anyones business, it was how she chose to deal. Sucide is selfish but let’s give her the dignity she deserves!
There is no dignity or respect in suicide. That goes double when you spill your mortal remains on the property of a stranger, with a gun you borrowed from them under false pretenses. Goes triple when the firing line is filled with people looking to have a fun day at the range, and instead get to see somebody die, and then the news crews arrive.
I didn’t know she was in the Air Force, and I thank her for her service, that DOES deserve my respect. I also have all the sympathy for those she’s left behind. I have zero respect for her last gesture was not a respectful or dignified one. Further by me feigning respect of this act it might encourage others to do this. This is a big problem at shooting ranges. There are lots of other fun but risky sports that could also be plagued by this. Just don’t.
Many did not know she was just a few weeks shy of graduating from USAF Tech School…and most will never know why this happened.
Airman DeBarros was clearly an intelligent, educated, dedicated young woman, who, for very private reasons, chose to end her life very publicly. There is little if any mention in news articles that she was an airman….Regardless of how, or when, or why this happened, I selfishly focus on speaking to my 23 year old daughter, who was training with DeBarros to give her comfort and strength to move forward. My heart is with the young woman’s family.
Weerd, the incident took place at the American Firearms School in North Attleborough, not at MFS in Holliston.
Oh crap, I confused the two!