Personal Injury Law Blogs

How to Identify Meningitis

By definition, meningitis is when the lining around the spinal cord and brain becomes inflamed as a result of the spread of infection. The swelling that occurs with this inflammation is the trigger for the notable signs and symptoms of meningitis. Early diagnosis and treatment of meningitis can avoid the onset of serious and lasting complications.

Symptoms of Meningitis

Because the initial symptoms for a meningitis infection can mimic cold or flu symptoms, it is easily mistaken for a mild infection rather than the serious one that it actually is. Symptoms of the infection can be rapid onset, such as within a matter of hours, or they may take one or two days to develop and become obvious.

Often included in the symptoms for meningitis are:

*high fever

*severe headache unlike a typical headache that has been experienced before

*nausea or vomiting with the severe headache

*stiff neck

*light sensitivity

*skin rash in some cases

*confusion (this can manifest as a lack of eye contact in very young babies)

*seizures

In very young children, from newborn to about 2 years of age, meningitis symptoms often include:

*constant crying and may cry even harder when picked up rather than being comforted

*excessive sleeping

*high fever

*bulging soft spot on the top of baby’s head

*stiffness in body and/or neck

*poor eating

*seizures

 

If you or someone you care about experiences a combination of any of the above symptoms or feel like you may have been exposed to meningitis in some way, it is important to seek medical attention. Any form meningitis requires immediate medical intervention in order to begin appropriate treatment quickly.

Identifying Meningitis

The doctor can determine if you or someone you love has a meningitis infection by taking a complete medical history, conducting a thorough physical exam and performing specific tests. These tests and procedures can include spinal tap to examine the spinal fluid, blood cultures and CT imaging of the head, sinuses and chest. If it is determined that meningitis is indeed present, a treatment plan that involves heavy duty medication typically given via IV in the hospital will be set up and administered. The exact treatment plan will depend upon the type of meningitis infection and how it has thus far affected the patient’s immune system. Most cases of the infection can be survived and recovered from if the medical treatment is prompt and correct to address the type of meningitis infection that is present.

The recent outbreak of meningitis in the United States has been discovered to be a fungal meningitis infection. This particular type of infection is not spread from person to person, but caused by the introduction of a fungus directly into the body via the blood stream. Contaminated steroid medications that were delivered via epidural injection are the current outbreak’s culprit, according to the Center for Disease Control. This means if you have not been given any steroid medications via epidural injection, then you are not at risk during this fungal meningitis outbreak. If epidural steroid injections are part of your medical treatment, contact your medical professional immediately for instructions, if you have not already been contacted.

 

This article was written by Megan Black on behalf of the S & S Legal Group. If you believe you have been affected by the meningitis outbreak, seek advice on your legal rights from a certified medical malpractice lawyer.

Two Homeless People Killed in Los Angeles by DUI Driver

October 29, 2012—Los Angeles, California—According to ABC News sources, two homeless people sleeping on a sidewalk in downtown Los Angeles were killed by a driver who is suspected to have been under the influence at the time of the accident.

Carmen Elena Chavez, 19, was driving a Mercedes-Benz east on Fourth Street just after midnight on Sunday when she ran off the roadway, hit a curb, and traveled onto the sidewalk. On the sidewalk, she struck two transient people and dragged them about 50 feet.  Both victims were pronounced dead by first responders to the scene.

At first, four people exited the car and ran from the scene.  However, Chavez and two other passengers returned and were arrested.  Chavez was charged with vehicular manslaughter and DUI and is being held on a $100,000 bond.

My thoughts and prayers are with the families of these two unfortunate victims.

Pedestrian Deaths are High in Los Angeles

Los Angeles has the highest rate of pedestrian accidents of any city in California.  According to the Statewide Integrated Traffic Report, there were 195 pedestrian fatalities and 4,535 pedestrian injuries in Los Angeles County in 2010.  100 of those fatalities and 2,512 of the injuries took place in the city limits of Los Angeles.  Obviously, pedestrian injury and fatality in Los Angeles remains an issue that deserves consideration by officials and measured designed to protect the safety of walkers and bikers.

What Happened In This Accident

According to police sources, this driver was drunk at the time of the accident.  That means that she may face criminal charges for manslaughter for her role in the accident.  Further, since she initially fled the scene, she may face hit-and-run charges as well.  On the other hand, since she returned to the scene, a judge may be more lenient about the hit-and-run aspect of the case.

Liability Issues

If the initial assumption that the driver was drunk is true, then the driver will face liability for two wrongful deaths if the families of the victims decide to file a personal injury lawsuit.  This means that the driver may be liable for medical attention if any was given to the victims, funeral expenses, and payments for pain and suffering as well as punitive damages.  A Los Angeles wrongful death attorney can assess the case and help the families decide if a wrongful death suit is in order.

Why it is Important to Vaccinate Against Meningitis

Meningitis is a deadly disease that kills around eleven percent of those that contracts it.  Certain groups, mainly college students staying in dorm rooms, are at higher risk to contract meningitis than other groups, partially because of the close living conditions.  Thus, to prevent needless deaths and discomfort, it is very important to get meningitis vaccinations.

What Is Meningitis?

Surrounding the brain and spinal cord are membranes, called the meninges. If these membranes become inflamed, the condition is known as meningitis. There are two different types of meningitis; viral and bacterial.

Of the two types of meningitis, viral meningitis is much less severe, and those with normal immune systems often recover completely from it.  Bacterial meningitis, on the other hand, is much more severe, and could possibly lead to the death of the individual.  Unfortunately, it can be difficult to determine initially whether a person has been infected with the viral or bacterial form of the disease, as they display similar symptoms.

The general symptoms of meningitis include:

  • High fever
  • Extremely bad headaches
  • Stiff neck
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Confusion
  • Seizures
  • Difficulty waking up
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Loss of appetite
  • Skin rash, usually in the case of viral meningitis

Of those that survive bacterial meningitis, around twenty percent have aftereffects. The aftereffects are permanent and sometimes debilitating, and can include such conditions as brain damage, the need for limb amputation, or hearing loss.

Who Should Get Vaccinated?

Ideally, everyone should get vaccinated against meningitis. In the United States, initial vaccinations against meningitis are included in a child’s routine shots. However, these vaccinations do not completely protect the child throughout their entire lives.

The Center for Disease Control, or CDC, recommends that all children between the ages of 11 and 16 receive two booster shots to help combat the disease.

Certain people and groups are more at risk of contracting meningitis than others.  These groups include:

  • Infants
  • College students living in dorms
  • Lab personnel
  • US Military Recruits
  • World travelers, especially those travelling to countries with a high incidence of meningitis
  • Those with a damaged spleen
  • Those with immune disorders
  • Those exposed to others with meningitis

Individuals in one of the aforementioned risk groups should definitely consider getting vaccinated for meningitis, and should make sure that they are up to date on their boosters.  The CDC has been concentrating efforts of late to spread the word to college students that they should get vaccinated.  Part of the reason for this is that, after the required rounds of vaccinations when a child is younger, parents rarely think to have their children 11 or older vaccinated.

Who Shouldn’t Get Vaccinated?

Despite the fact that vaccination is a good idea, there are certain individuals who should either wait to receive their vaccinations, or who shouldn’t get vaccinated at all.  In most cases, the vaccinations can be given at the same time as other vaccinations, though this is not true of children with sickle cell disease or without a working spleen.

Those who have had severe allergic reactions in the past to the vaccine should not get vaccinated. Pregnant women also shouldn’t be vaccinated.  If you are currently ill, you should likely wait for vaccination.

 

Katie Wilkes is a medical blogger with a keen interest in current medical cases. If you believe that you have been affected by the meningitis outbreak, seek advice from a certified personal injury lawyer on your legal rights.

GPS Truck Collisions

Trucking accidents involving commercial trucks and a bridge or overpass have been increasing in number within the last few years with many commercial truck drivers and commercial trucking companies blaming the increase on faulty commercial GPS systems.   Many of these accidents result in serious personal injuries or death.  In the New York City area alone over the last two years, there have been more than 200 incidents of trucks or buses colliding with low bridges or overpasses, many of which are blamed on faulty GPS directions.  In addition, according to the National Transportation Department, there were over 15,000 bridge strikes nationwide in 2010 alone, resulting in over 200 deaths and 3000 injuries, many resulting in personal injuries and wrongful death lawsuits.  Since over 80% of these occurred on roads that restricted or prohibited large commercial vehicle traffic, the issue of whether a faulty GPS reading was involved becomes even more relevant

Whose Is More At Fault?

Determining fault in personal injury cases caused by trucks colliding with bridges or overpasses due to faulty GPS instructions is tricky.  In most states, the majority of the blame still rests with the driver of the truck rather than the GPS manufacturer.  States such as New York are seeking legislation that will require GPS units used in commercial trucks be equipped with truck route information.  However, even in such states, the legislation would not require GPS units be installed in commercial trucks, only that they carry appropriate information if they are in use. In addition, the premise for blaming the driver more than the GPS manufacturer is that the driver is believed to be the ultimate authority on where and how the truck is driven.  While a GPS unit may tell a driver to follow a particular route, it is ultimately up to the driver to also take note of road conditions and street signs that warn of bridge and overpass heights and whether or not a particular road is a valid truck route. Another factor that is considered is whether the GPS unit is a generic consumer system or a commercial GPS made specifically for large trucks and other commercial vehicles.  Most commercial truck GPS devices contain and relay more complex information than other consumer GPS systems, information such as bridge clearances and what roads trucks should or should not be traveling on, information that a general consumer GPS system would not need to include.   However, even if the commercial GPS system that is supposed to relay accurate information about bridge heights and road restrictions did not provide accurate or updated information, the majority of the blame still lands on the driver of the truck.

What About the Trucking Companies?

In some scenarios, the trucking company may also have some liability in these collisions, depending on the employment relationship with the truck driver and how much influence the company has in deciding which GPS units to place in the trucks.  As the commercial GPS systems are more expensive to purchase, companies will sometimes try to cut costs by installing the more generic but less effective for trucks consumer GPS systems. Another factor in determining the trucking company’s liability in a personal injury case of this nature is whether the truck driver is a full employee of the company or an independent contractor and whether the truck is owned by the company or the driver.

Kat Williams is a personal injury law blogger. She knows that driving on the roads in any form of transportation is extremely dangerous, especially when biking in traffic. When injured in an accident due to other drivers or faulty equipment as a biker, seek legal help .

Street Racing is Cause of Deadliest U.S. Vehicular Accidents

(U.S. Law and generally) Speeding is the number two cause of U.S. traffic fatalities, second only to DUIs, and over 725,000 people will be injured each year as a result of a speeding driver. Street racing, sometimes referred to as drag racing, might not be the cause of a lot of these fatalities, but it has been the cause of some of the deadliest speeding related accidents in U.S. history.

Why is Street Racing so Deadly?

Most drivers who are involved in a street race will accelerate past the 100 mph mark, and this makes it extremely difficult for them to control their vehicles. Another very dangerous aspect of street racing is that it often takes places in areas that are heavily populated. Instead of going to a more rural area where the risk of injuring someone who is not involved in the race would be minimized, most street races are intentionally held in urban areas. Regardless of whether it is the thrill of getting caught or the addition of several obstacles, such as other cars, that causes this to happen, each willing participant in an urban street race is knowingly putting the lives of other people in danger.

The Deadly Consequences of Street Racing

There are countless examples of street racing gone wrong; one recent tragic accident took place in Miami, where one of the participants of a three car drag race lost control of his Toyota Scion after exceeding 100 mph. Alejandro Hernandez, the driver of the Scion, was thrown from his vehicle as a result of crashing into a Ford Expedition. Hernandez and two of the passengers in the Expedition were rushed to the hospital and listed in critical condition. The tragic accident also claimed the lives of two of the four family members who were in the Expedition, including a 15-year-old, and the 19-year-old passenger of the Scion.

This accident is a prime example of how quickly things can go wrong when drivers decide to participate in a street race. There is no amount of thrill seeking that can justify killing three people and seriously injuring two others, and Hernandez will have to deal with  the legal ramifications of all of these issues if he is able to recover from his own serious injuries. The fact that he was participating in a street race when he crashed his car is going to definitely be a major issue during his trial, and he will be charged with reckless driving in addition to a long list of other charges.

The Annual Death Toll

Although it is estimated that only 135 people die each year as a result of street racing, these are all deaths that are completely avoidable. According to our Miami car accident attorney, it is extremely common for the drivers to end up dying as a result of their participation in an illegal street race, but incidents such as the one in Miami also occur every year. It is tragic to consider that another driver can be completely following the rules of the road and have their life ended by the actions of an irresponsible street racer, but that is exactly what happens several times a year.

If you are tempted to participate in a street race, you should very carefully consider all of the potential consequences. After all, a couple of minutes of fun are never worth the risk of either dying or spending the rest of your life in jail.

Anthony Joseph is a freelance writer, and a contributing author for the Miami car accident attorney firm of Steinger, Iscoe & Greene. After you’ve been hurt in a car accident, you likely have a lot of questions—and you shouldn’t always count on the insurance company to tell you the entire truth about what you’re owed.  It’s always better to let an attorney explain your rights and options to you.

Jury Awards $4.16 Million to Injured Repairman

In November 2009, Joshua Jaeger suffered severe injuries when he fell from a raised platform while assessing a broken garage door spring at a public works garage in Elmhurst, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. He suffered serious injuries during the fall and, as a result, has been unable to continue his work as a service technician.

Jaeger filed a personal injury lawsuit against the city of Elmhurst, alleging that the work-related accident occurred as a result of the city’s negligence. On Friday, October 5, a DuPage County jury found that the city was negligent and awarded Jaeger $4.16 million in damages. The jury reached its verdict following a five-day trial.

Jaeger Hired By City to Provide Estimate for Broken Garage Door Spring

Jaeger was a garage door service technician hired by the city of Elmhurst to provide an estimate of the cost to repair a broken garage door spring. At the time, he worked as a serviceman for Accurate Garage Door Service, a company owned and operated by his family.

Using a forklift, a city employee lifted Jaeger up on a platform so that he could take a look at the broken spring. The platform was suspended 16 feet in the air. When Jaeger stepped to one side of the platform to measure the garage door spring, the platform fell to the ground. Jaeger landed on the concrete floor below.

Jaeger was 26 years old at the time of the accident. He suffered a broken right femur and claimed that he had significant back pain as a result of the fall.

Jaeger Physically Unable to Continue Work as Service Technician

According to Joshua Weisberg, Jaeger’s lawyer, attorneys for the city argued that Jaeger’s fracture had healed completely and did not cause him a substantial loss of income. They argued that, because Jaeger worked for a small family business, his losses are minimal because he may have the opportunity to run the business with his brothers in the future. Weisberg claims that the city denied that the back injury was related to Jaeger’s fall.

Weisberg argues said that Jaeger suffers from chronic pain and is unable to continue his work as a garage door service technician. He is no longer able to climb ladders and is only able to lift objects that weigh no more than 70 pounds. He currently works for his family’s company in an administrative capacity.

The $4.16 million verdict is a state record for a case involving a fractured femur. The award included $1.86 million for his lost capacity to earn money and $1.3 million to cover his pain and suffering. The jury also awarded him $1 million for the loss of a normal life. Weisberg claims that this award is fair compensation for the injuries Jaeger suffered due to the city’s negligence.

Weisberg stated that Jaeger was open to settling the case prior to the jury trial, but he was unwilling to accept the $650,000 that was offered by the city and its insurance company.

Norman Barry, the city’s attorney, released a statement claiming that the city accepts responsibility for the employee’s negligence. However, he was surprised by the size of the jury’s award. The city may appeal the case or seek to have the award reduced.

 

Kelly Rutherford is a legal writer interested in personal injury cases. When serious back injuries that prevent you from working are sustained, it is important to find good legal representation for yourself.

What’s Behind The Pradaxa Lawsuits?

(According to U.S. law) When Pradaxa was released in 2010, many people were overjoyed by the simplicity that it offered them over its only competitor. The blood thinner represented the only medication on the market that would enable stroke victims to not have to make drastic lifestyle changes and receive regular checkups as part of their treatment plan. Unfortunately, however, there have been thousands of adverse reactions to the medication, and several lawsuits have begun as a result.

Pradaxa Statistics

Instead of providing a more worry free lifestyle, Pradaxa has killed at least 542 people and caused negative side effects in almost 3,800 others. All of these issues occurred during the year 2011, and the statistics for this year’s issues have not been released. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Pradaxa was their number one most complained about drug in 2011. This has caused the FDA to begin an investigation into Pradaxa, but so far, the drug is still legal to manufacturer and prescribe.

Lawsuits

Individual Pradaxa lawsuits have popped up all over the country, but a large class action lawsuit, formed by attorney Mikal Watts, has the potential to bring about the end of Pradaxa. Watts has a history of both filing and winning multi-million dollar lawsuits against major corporations, and he is confident that he has obtained enough evidence to turn his latest case into a blockbuster settlement. If this happens, the company that manufacturers Pradaxa will probably have no choice than to either pull the product altogether or to make significant changes to it.

How Does a Harmful Drug Get Approved?

The manufacturer is supposed to run a series of clinical trials that proves the drug’s effectiveness and its safety, but unfortunately, these trials are not always conducted for long enough. For example, if a trial is only run for one year but the medication causes a long-term heart problem, then the evidence may not present itself for a number of years. This is not the case with Pradaxa, however. In fact, many patients who were prescribed the medication began experiencing issues in as few as three weeks. Intestinal bleeding is one of the major side effects, and this is definitely worse than the problems that the drug is supposed to prevent.

What Should I do if I was Taking Pradaxa?

If the drug caused you any major issues, such as intestinal bleeding, then you should definitely contact an attorney. You might even want to consider joining Watts’ class action lawsuit. Keep in mind, however, that any money that is awarded in cases like that will be split up among hundreds or perhaps even thousands of people. A class action lawsuit would allow you to avoid any legal fees, however, and in most cases, it would also allow you to stay away from the actual court proceedings.

Because the issues with Pradaxa are becoming so well-known, it would be really irresponsible to continue taking the medication if it causes you any serious complications. Before you stop taking it, however, make sure that you consult with your physician. As soon as you are healthy enough to do so, you should contact an attorney to determine your next step.

Anthony Joseph is a researcher/freelance writer, and a contributing author for the Doyle Raizner Law Office. Pradaxa lawsuits and litigation surrounding the drug is increasing and the lawyers of Doyle Raizner are very experienced in handling personal injury claims which rise from adverse side effects of pharmaceutical drugs. They have experience fighting cases all over the country and have earned a reputation for putting their clients first.

Can Facebook Postings Affect a Personal Injury Lawsuit?

Many people believe that what’s on their Facebook page is private, and they can be a little careless about things they post to Facebook. A prime example is a group of Pittsburgh, PA burglars who posted pictures of themselves posing with $8000 in cash that they stole from a grocery store.  A family member saw the pictures and turned them into the police.

What about if you’re involved in a lawsuit?  Can something you posted on Facebook be used against you?

Technically, the answer is “it depends.”  State laws vary as to the discovery procedures that lawyers can use in a lawsuit. Furthermore, some people think the Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution provides a “right to privacy,” but it doesn’t really.  The Fourth Amendment provides for protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, which isn’t exactly the same thing.

There is a Supreme Court case, Katz v. United States, from 1967 which says that information may be considered private if there is a “reasonable expectation of privacy.”  Is there a reasonable expectation of privacy for things posted on Facebook?

One could argue if you use restrictive Facebook settings – not allowing anyone other than friends to see your posts – you are indicating that you expect some privacy for your posts.  On the other hand, the Facebook user agreement states that any content that would be governed by Intellectual Property Rights – such as videos and pictures – are the property of Facebook for the time they are posted and some time afterwards.  This could very easily be construed as meaning there is no expectation of privacy at all for your Facebook pictures.

How can this affect a personal injury lawsuit?  Let’s say you are in a lawsuit claiming that you have a serious back injury that prevents you from being able to work.  Post a Facebook status with a picture showing you dancing at nightclub and you’ve just destroyed your personal injury case.

Lawyers cannot tell you to “clean up your Facebook page” during a lawsuit.  One Virginia lawyer, Matthew Murray, was sanctioned to the tune of $542,000 for telling a client to do that.

Lawyers can, however, tell you to be very careful about what you post to Facebook.  The safest assumption is “don’t post it to Facebook if you would not want to see it in the newspaper.”

About the Author

Nussin S. Fogel, Esq., has been practicing for over 25 years as a New York slip and fall lawyer. Mr. Fogel founded Fogel Law, a firm specializing in Motor Vehicle Injuries, Slip and Fall Accidents, and other areas of Personal Injury Law. He has published on various aspects of Personal Injury Law across the web.

How are split liability claims different to normal car accident claims?

Split liability is a term used for when two or more drivers are involved in an accident where there is no single driver who is clearly responsible.

These car accident claims are far more complicated and stressful than normal accident claims, as the liability will be apportioned to the individuals involved appropriately. For example, if two drivers are involved in a collision because of poor observation or careless driving, this would result to a 50/50 split liability claim. This means both parties each have to pay half of the costs of the repairs.

 

How is the liability apportioned?

Split liability claims are usually considered by insurers or a claims management company; they will decide how the claim will be split proportionately. In extreme cases, split liability claims can be taken to court.

In court the individuals’ responsibility will be considered in terms of percentages.  For example, someone who is 70% to blame will be liable for the majority of the accident, where one or more people may be responsible for 30% of the accident. If the judge believes someone was 100% liable, it would mean they are entirely to blame and  no-one else is responsible for causing the collision.

Can I still claim for an injury, even if I was involved in a split liability car accident?

You should always consult a solicitor to discuss split liability claims. These claims are complicated and often need accident claim solicitors to help form strategies and guidance relating to your particular accident. You will be able to make a claim, for the proportion you are entitled to.

The percentage to which a person is liable for causing your accident directly links in with the amount of compensation you would be able to recover from them in a claim.

What information will help me make my claim?

It is important to gather as much information as possible to support your claim.

-Picture or video evidence of the position of vehicles at the scene

-Pictures of the vehicles involved and the damage they have sustained

-Skid marks on the road can help judges identify the cause of the accident

-Capture the other vehicles’ number plates for evidence

 

JaviC / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA

 

Never admit to causing the accident on the scene, you are not legally obliged to admit liability at the scene of an accident, so don’t feel that you have to. Just make sure you jot down a list of conditions that may have affected the decisions you made when the accident happened.

If you need further advice on split liability claims or any other form of car accident claims, contact personal injury experts Burt Brill and Cardens.

 

 

Proper Training is Needed for Safe Conceal Carry Laws

The Constitution is the supreme law of the United States, and despite an evolving culture and advancing society, the document is still given deference. While there is some dispute as to how the Constitution should be interpreted, both judicial activists as well as strict originalists agree that nothing in the Constitution is to be ignored or overlooked, even if there is disagreement about the Founding Fathers’ intent on the matter. An ever-topical example of this is the Second Amendment. Whether the right to bear arms is limited to a citizen militia or was intended as it is interpreted today, this amendment has been held dear by many and has been construed broadly, leading to state’s having laws such as “concealed carry”. If you decide to get a firearm, make sure you are getting them from a legal source like these Hunting Rifles for Sale.

Concealed Carry Laws Vary by State
According to the NRA, 49 states offer permits allowing for conceal carry, and as of December 2011, there were 8 million permit holders in the United States. Regulations vary in terms of specific requirements, such as so-called “Constitutional Carry” provisions that allow for concealed carry without a permit, to the “May-Issue” laws that require permits, and local authorities have some discretion in whether or not to deny applicants.

Controversy Surrounding the Laws
Despite the apparent Constitutional grant of gun ownership, the practice is the center of constant controversy due to the fact that gun deaths occur daily. From individual gang hits to robberies gone wrong, the reality of gun violence is inescapable. Typically, discussions on controlling gun violence focus on the appropriateness of the nation’s current interpretation of the Second Amendment as well as each state’s conceal carry program. If you’re looking for a gun that is perfect for concealed carry, check out this glock 38 review.

Civilian Injuries in New York Highlight Need for Proper Training
The NYPD received much criticism in August 2012 after nine civilians were hit by officers’ bullets as the force shot a knife-wielding man in Times Square. According to the New York Times, officers followed their training protocol and tried to use non-lethal force before shooting. And while “at least seven” of the NYPD’s bullets hit the man with the knife, civilians were still hit by the spray of bullets opening the city up to serious personal injury claims. Some defenders of the officers have noted that in Times Square, it would be virtually impossible to fire a gun once and not hit someone. Others have suggested that NYPD officers, who are paid and trained to carry weapons, should have been more accurate, recognized the danger behind the target and resisted the phenomenon of tunnel vision.

Should There Be Training Standards for All Concealed Carriers?
The idea of holding officers to a higher standard does make sense, but it also broaches the point that for those with conceal carry permits, there is no standard. When considered in light of the fact that the typical argument in favor of conceal carry is that having a gun on one’s person at all times is vital for self-defense, the lack of a training requirement is particularly troubling. If even trained police officers can’t take down a target without hitting more than half a dozen innocent bystanders, how would the average conceal carry permittee fare? With no proof of skill or experience required, the potential for dangerous situations to turn even more deadly is high.

Ensuring effective training for the average citizen would be difficult, however. As the Times Square incident shows, even experienced shooters may react differently when faced with a large crowd and imminent danger. Clearly, a target at the end of a gun range is not comparable.

Bryan Sartin is a firearm safety instructor. Besides teaching the basics of shooting and carrying, he also teaches about the importance of keeping firearms locked in a proper gun safe