MAKE THEM USE PLUGGED UP GUNS WITH VENTED BARRELS

Gunfight reenactment in Tombstone wounds two when one of the actors used live ammo instead of blanks

Sunday afternoon’s reenactment of a gunfight in Tombstone Arizona turned into a reality show when one of the actors used live ammo instead of blanks. He wounded one of his fellow actors and a woman bystander. Some businesses were also struck by bullets.

Tombstone is best known for the Old West gunfight at the O.K. Corral and two of its leading participants, Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday.

The accidental shootings occurred during the city's annual "Helldorado Days" celebration. The reenactments are put on by a performance group that goes by the name of Tombstone Vigilantes. On Sunday afternoon, one of the actors, Tom Carter, showed up late and no one checked his gun to make sure it contained no live ammo. During the performance, Carter fired his six-shooter five times, with one of the bullets striking fellow actor Ken Curtis and another bullet grazing Debbie Mitchell, one of the spectators. Fortunately Carter was a piss poor shot since only two people were struck by his five bullets.

Curtis was airlifted to a hospital in Tucson where, after removal of the bullet, he was listed in fair condition. Mitchell was given first aid at the scene and refused any further treatment.

I am sure by now Debbie has contacted an attorney who will prepare a lawsuit against the City of Tombstone, the Tombstone Vigilantes, and Tom Carter.

This incident shows that gunfight reenactments can be dangerous, even deadly. The same holds true for police ‘shoot-don’t shoot’ training exercises. Across the country a number of cops have been wounded or killed during shoot-don’t shoot simulations when some idiot used live rounds instead of blanks. Of course, the primary fault lies in a failure to check the guns before a simulation. In some of these incidents, even the training officer had his gun loaded with live ammo.

There is a simple way to prevent anyone from getting shot during a gunfight reenactment or police training exercises. Make the actors and cops use plugged up guns with vented barrels. Then if one of them loads his gun with live ammo, he’ll be the only one to get hurt.

About 40 years ago, Houston police sergeant Rick Sander started the first officer survival training courses in Texas. The program included setting up simulations in which officers would shoot at each other with blank ammunition. In order to make sure that no one would be shot by a real bullet, Rick took a number of confiscated revolvers and had the barrels plugged up and vented. Even though the guns were plugged up, Rick always checked each gun to make sure some idiot did not load one with live ammunition.

Caution must still be exercised when using the plugged up guns because flames will erupt from the vents each time they are fired.

As for those reenactments, I am sure some of those actors would throw a fit if ordered to plug up their guns. Tough shit! If they want to be actors in a simulated shootout, that’s the price they’ll have to pay.