Suicide at Milpitas Shooting Range

[Manic Moran]

Pity, I like Targetmasters. My preferred shooting spot in the Bay.

NTM

 

[280PLUS]

Sad story. I've been working at the local range here going on my fifth season and know of no suicides ever at this particular range. Of course, we don't rent guns. The possibility of such an event taking place on my watch is always in the back of my mind. Sorry you had to witness it first hand. I agree that if you find it to continously play on your mind after a couple of weeks seeking counseling is the way to go.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Suicide is the ultimate selfish act. Under certain situations, it's understandable, but it is still selfish. Situations like the one you were forced to be involved with are bad, but there are worse, even more selfish acts people can take.

It is all a matter of perspective. Suicide is the ultimate personal act, if done by him/herself. Sure, it will impact others, but so too will a lot of our actions. I think suicides are all generalized as "selfish" acts as part of passing judgment on the act as being wrong according to our society and beliefs, but this is not a view held by all societies. We have a right to live and so we should have the right to die or otherwise the right to live no longer is a right.

With all that said, there are some very inconsiderate folks who choose suicide in manners that are inappropriate and do so either without concern for others or with the intent of making an impact by the event, such as self-inflicted gunshot at a public gun range.

 

[Missashot]

How sad.
jashobeam, I am so sorry that you had to witness that.
I do hope that you will seek out someone to talk to. Either a good therapist or at the very least a very good and trusted friend.

badgerw, My condolences on the loss of your baby. I could only imagine the pain you must have went through. My heart and prayers go out to you and your family.

I hope that this young woman's friends and family find comfort and peace soon. It is just such a shame that She couldn't find a solution to her problems before committing suicide.

 

[3fgburner]

It is all a matter of perspective. Suicide is the ultimate personal act, if done by him/herself. Sure, it will impact others, but so too will a lot of our actions. I think suicides are all generalized as "selfish" acts as part of passing judgment on the act as being wrong according to our society and beliefs, but this is not a view held by all societies. We have a right to live and so we should have the right to die or otherwise the right to live no longer is a right.

I've actually given this a fair amount of thought. I watched my mother die of lung cancer, including the sense of relief I felt when I couldn't feel a pulse any more. If she had, during those last two weeks, asked me to shoot her, I would've pulled the trigger without hesitation.

With my family history, the Big C is a fairly high probability for my mode of check-out. Alzheimer's is also a possibility. Before I wind up in a demented haze with a tube in my d!@k and a diaper on my @$$, I'll check out. I'll just make sure to call a professional cleanup crew before I pull the trigger. That way, the people to deal with it will be those who can handle it.

 

[jashobeam]

what did she look like? it's strange, but i find myself wondering what she looked like.

Silverlance, I never did see her face. She was a 23 year old petite Asian woman. I held the door when the paramedics carried her from the bay on a backboard and placed her on a gurney. The lower part of her face was covered by an oxygen mask and the upper part of her face, as well as her entire head, was covered by loose bloody bandages with a towel. I have been very curious about the wound(s). It may seem morbid to some but part of me wishes that I had gone up to her (before the paramedics and cops arrived) and looked at her head. I am still uncertain if there was even an exit wound. The blood splatter on her shooting lane was all on the right side, which could indicate that it erupted from an entrance wound. Since no one saw her do it, no one knows exactly how she was standing when she made that final trigger pull. She may have been pointing the muzzle downrange, standing sideways, facing the right side of the bay. In that case, the blood on the right could have resulted from an exit wound. I believe there had to be an exit wound based on my observation of a single, isolated patch of blood on her left shoulder. Right temple shot + blood on left shoulder = exit wound. (?)

Gunsmith asked:

Are you sure it was suicide?

Two different coroners (city and county?) came out to the range to view the scene. I assume they had both already seen the girl. If the wound to her temple had a shallow entry angle it would seem possible that it was an accident, that she had possibly been scratching an itch. If the shot was basically horizontal I would have to speculate that the shot was deliberately aimed at fired.

plus we'll always be here for you.

Taurus66, oddly enough I find great comfort within the THR community. That night at the range I couldn't wait to get home and tell everyone here what had just happened. You guys are the only ones I know who might understand and sympathize. And, also very important, I knew that no one here would blame the gun! I kid you not, one of my very first thoughts when I saw the girl lying on the floor was "How will this affect my girlfriend's view." She is slowly (very slowly) coming around from an anti mindset. Actually, I believe that a suicide reflects less poorly on the safety of shooting sports than do accidents resulting from ricochets and negligent discharges. I knew that this type of publicity could harm the range I work at, and in CA there are constituents everywhere barking and begging the elected officials to do away with all things gun related. I didn't want to be the one to let the cat out of the bag, so I PM'd moderator Beren and explained my experience and asked what he thought of him posting my experience so that my name and location would not be disclosed. He suggested that I hold off on posting it, as it sounded like an investigation was still ongoing and he didn't want anything I might write to hinder it.

I want to thank EVERYONE on THR for the advice and the support you have shown me. Even to those who did not post, it is comforting just knowing that there are like-minded men and women out there with whom I can relate on many issues. Badgerw, I am sorry to hear of the loss of your son. Thank you for sharing that with all of us here. My experience seems detached and shallow compared to what you went through.

I hope to see many of you at the national THR event: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=207455&highlight=thr+event

 

[c_yeager]

Suicide is the ultimate selfish act. Under certain situations, it's understandable, but it is still selfish. Situations like the one you were forced to be involved with are bad, but there are worse, even more selfish acts people can take.

A lot (if not most) suicidal people do not think that they are important enough to warrent much consideration or worry. To their mind, their own death would be of little consequence to the rest of the world. From that perspective it is not selfish. There are, of course, exceptions. People who want to take others with them, or kill themselves right in front of a loved one are the most notable exceptions to my mind.

 

[STAGE 2]

A lot (if not most) suicidal people do not think that they are important enough to warrent much consideration or worry.

They aren't worth any consideration whatsoever if they are willing to throw away their lives. However even if they don't think that they will be missed, even the dumbest of people know that any suicide will be investigated, certianly one in public.

 

[Wes Janson]

This incident probably wasn't, but one does wonder though....

With all of the idiocy and dangerous gun-play seen at ranges on a (too) frequent basis, how many times has someone accidentally killed themself and the incident been incorrectly ruled a suicide? I've never personally seen someone use the ATF Hearing Protection Method, but I'm sure somewhere out there in the great wide world of stupidity it's been done. It seems like given a large enough statistical sample (the entire nation; half a century) at some point or another someone is going to have a fatal negligent discharge that winds up misconstrued as a suicide.

 

[stiletto raggio]

I was wondering the same thing. 40 minutes of target practice to make sure you hit your own head? Not sure I buy it. But then, suicide can be an impulse. My friend's bipolar father hanged himself on a whim, leaving all sorts of things going on in his home. No note. He was separated formt eh family and "recovering" from a complete psychological breakdown, so it wasn't a complete surprise when it happened. He just had an impulse and did it.

Thanks God I trust myself.

I echo the sentiment on Alzheimer's, though...

 

[bclark1]

i'm glad you'd view these forums as a support network, jashobeam. knowing where to go for help is critical, and sometimes people don't. the fact that you were willing to share your feelings indicates great emotional maturity, and i think you'll be fine in a short while. i would encourage you to see a professional. not knowing what your aspirations are, i'd say keep good records when you do and maintain contact with any doctors you see, as disclosure of this sort of treatment can be a speedbump in certain professional spheres. not to dissuade you at all, it's just something i wished i'd known ahead of time; that's the only thing that hasn't been said that i can offer besides my personal sympathy.

 

[jason10mm]

It is actually not all that surprising to see a suicide appear happy and carefree just before their death. The reason is that they have ALREADY made the decision to commit suicide, so all of their worries are now gone. They just haven't completed the task yet.

What I find disturbing about the article is one of the last lines mentioning that California has no waiting period to RENT guns. ***, over??? Not only is it a retarded concept in general, but it is presented as if OTHER states DO have rental waiting periods, but that Kali is somehow behind. Wanna bet legislation creating a 5 day waiting period before you can rent a gun will be brought up within a year? Just another nail in the coffin of the gun store.