A Missouri Democratic Senate candidate – and Marine veterinarian – who He often boasts about his gun safety expertise A journalist is being mocked online after being hit by a stray bullet fragment during a campaign event in his random backyard shooting gallery.
Photos of the wrong-minded gathering – which compared to an observer “A ‘Where’s Waldo’ for things that will get you permanently banned from any state-regulated gun range” – to Senate candidate Lucas Coons firing a scoped AR-style rifle at an aluminum can from about 25 feet away Show firing.
The event was held at his home in Holt with supporter and former GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger and local union members.
As soon as Koons fired the shot, KSHB 41 reporter Ryan Gamboa injured in the armEither from a bullet ricochet or some other stray metal fragment.
His injuries were minor, and Koons was among those who provided first aid at the scene, but Shows evidence of.
“Today was a great day on the range with my buddy (Adam Kinzinger). We got a chance to exercise our freedom and hang out with some Sangh workers. Always carry your first aid kit with you. When you hit a target like today, shrapnel can always fly, and you have to be ready to go,” Kuns wrote in an X post Over 14 million views.
“We had four first aid kits, so we were able to take care of the situation, and I’m glad Ryan is OK and was able to continue reporting,” said Coons, who succeeds Senator Josh Hawley (R-). Expecting to be removed from. Mo.) next month.
Thousands of negative reactions followed, many of whom were incredulous about the lightness with which Koons shared the news and its accompanying photos.
“‘Great day at the range’?” Bro, you really shot someone,” one X user jokingly responded.
“Why are you using a scope when you’re 10 feet away?” Others were surprised.
“You are a complete idiot. ALL YOUR GUN RIGHTS SHOULD BE SUSPENDED UNTIL YOU TAKE SEVERAL SAFETY CLASSES,” a third commenter scolded.
In one photo showing people positioned behind a pair of wooden tables covered with firearms, the user pointed out that Koons’s safety glasses were resting on his head as he looked through the scope — and Gamboa was out of earshot. No protection was worn.
Others observed that there was no safety backstop to prevent errant balls from entering the woods behind the goals, which were arranged on rickety, uneven tables.
Many were curious why a 13-year Marine veteran would use such a powerful rifle – with an effective combat range of up to hundreds of yards – on targets at barely spitting distance, much less a scope.
Stephen Gutowski, journalist and founder of the gun policy and politics publication The Reload, told The Post that the establishment of the gun range likely contributed to the accident.
“From photographs of the incident it appears that the problem was caused by him firing the rifle at stationary steel targets at a short distance. Shooting steel always carries some degree of risk of ricochet or bullet spatter,” he shared.
“However, that risk is usually minimized by hanging steels in a way that allows them to swing and only shooting steels at greater distances with the rifle.”
The Koons campaign did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
(tags to translate) US news (T) gun safety (T) guns (T) missouri (T) senate (T) shootings
