Training FAIL

First of all, we want to say that we are glad no one was physically hurt.

Now, to the report from Boston Channel 5:

<blockquote>

State Trooper Punished For Gun Incident
Officer Took Responsibility For Son's Actions

POSTED: 2:29 pm EST December 3, 2009

SANDWICH, Mass. -- A state police lieutenant whose son took his department-issued gun from an unlocked bureau then allegedly pointed it at a 5-year-old neighbor has admitted to acting in a manner unbecoming an officer.

A state police spokesman told the Cape Cod Times that Lt. Richard Bolduc of Sandwich accepted responsibility for the incident just as his case was scheduled to be heard by a state police trial board Tuesday. A charge of illegally storing a gun was dismissed by a judge in February.

Spokesman David Procopio did not disclose the 52-year-old Bolduc's punishment.

Bolduc refused comment when reached by the newspaper.

Authorities said the officer's 12-year-old son took the unloaded gun in July 2008, then pointed it at the young girl and pulled the trigger. The boy faces juvenile charges.

<a href="http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/21798954/detail.html">State Trooper Punished For Gun Incident - Boston News Story - WCVB Boston</a>

</blockquote>

Obviously we don't have first-hand experience, but time and time again, when a kid "plays" with a firearm it usually means that he or she was never trained in firearm safety. It is this forbidden fruit, just like matches, girlie magazines, and other things that are exotic temptations.

There is this other issue of the police officer appearing to have violated the state's "storage" law(s). We wonder what would have happened if it had not been a police officer, but instead, someone like you or me. Would you be wearing orange clothes now?

I can hardly wait for the day when the world is safe enough for policemen to not need to carry guns anymore. When that day comes I may even feel safe enough to not carry mine.

And one last bit of advice to the cop: you are responsible for your gun, but more importantly, you are responsible for your child. Take him to the range and teach him how to stay safe.