I shoot pistols at my local range rather regularly. A "great day at the range" for me, and I suspect most gun owners, does not involve wounding observers. The Democrat challenging Josh Hawley for his Senate seat apparently has a strange sense of joy, as does his friend and endorser Adam Kinzinger. 

Lucas Kunce tried to get out ahead of this story by spinning it as a reminder to have your first-aid kits handy at the range. That's good advice ... especially if you go shooting with Kunce and Kinzinger:

Great day at the range today with my friend @AdamKinzinger. We got to hang out with some union workers while exercising our freedom. Always have your first aid kit handy. Shrapnel can always fly when you hit a target like today, and you’ve got to be ready to go. We had four first… pic.twitter.com/Qu4YxfrtrU

— Lucas Kunce (@LucasKunceMO) October 23, 2024

Great day at the range today with my friend @AdamKinzinger. We got to hang out with some union workers while exercising our freedom. Always have your first aid kit handy. Shrapnel can always fly when you hit a target like today, and you’ve got to be ready to go. We had four first aid kits, so we were able to take care of the situation, and I’m glad Ryan is okay and was able to continue reporting.

Nice try, dipstick. 

Actually, Gamboa went to the hospital, as one would expect, and thankfully he was not seriously injured. There is no doubt that this could have been worse, and both men are lucky that they didn't kill anyone. The first aid kit certainly came in handy, but that may be the only range safety practice that Kunce and Kinzinger followed. 

In the first place, shrapnel does not "always fly" when marksmen hit targets, unless those targets are metal targets. When metal targets are used, experienced shooters will make sure to put plenty of distance between the targets and the rifle as well as any observers for that very reason. Kunce and Kinzinger fired "AR-15 style" rifles at about 5-10 yards, it appears from Kunce's own photograph of the event. I wouldn't shoot my pistols at a metal target at that range, let alone a higher-powered rifle. 

And that's not all that's wrong here, as Robby Starbuck pointed out in a lengthy thread late last night:

Democrat Lucas Kunce SHOT a reporter during a photo op today with Adam Kinzinger. This is the guy running against Josh Hawley.

Shooting a reporter will be the big story but look at Adam, he’s using a scope meant for 100-400 yards to shoot at targets only 15 ft away. Thankfully… pic.twitter.com/1lKDKZ0CqS

— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) October 23, 2024

Thankfully only a campaign got killed today!

Democrats need to stop cosplaying with guns because it’s getting embarrassing. 

If you need a scope to hit a target at that distance, you shouldn't use firearms in the first place. You probably shouldn't even drive a car if the scope is necessary at 5-10 yards. Speaking of vision, take a close look at Kinzinger's head to see where he put his eye protection. It's protecting his scalp. Eye protection goes over the eyes for a reason, and those reasons multiply when someone decides to fire at metal targets at close range. Kinzinger is fortunate not to have shot his eye out.

Next: always check your background. In the pictures, it appears that the targets got set up with an empty field behind them. Rounds from weapons such as these can travel for hundreds of yards. What's on the other side of the field? Does this range have that field secured? Most outdoor ranges put up barriers behind targets such as dirt berms or hay to absorb the rounds and ensure that they don't fly off and hit something -- or more importantly, someone.

And next: what else is on the firing line in these photos? Oh, no biggie, just maybe ... explosives precursors.

So many terrible things in this photo. Oh, I also forgot to circle the tannerite on the table. Reporter got shot because of a ricochet on steel targets from 6yds away. Sweet chicken wing, stance, stock placement and love the eye protection on your head, adam. Bravo. pic.twitter.com/7SdU3shnkX

— B1G Tex Duck (@TMcD_) October 23, 2024

Tannerite is a brand name for a type of rifle target that explodes when struck by bullets. I've never used one—I rarely shoot rifles—but they look like a lot of fun when used properly. And to use them properly, Tannerite warns in their instructional video, you have to be at least 100 yards away from the target:

Their website emphasizes the same warnings:

• Place ¼, ½, and 1 lb targets down range at least 100 yards before shooting. Place 2 lb targets 200 yards down range before shooting. ...
• Always wear ear and eye protection ...
• Never place these targets inside, on top of, or under any metal, rock, or other surfaces that could produce flying debris or sparks, or within another object.  This is dangerous and constitutes improper use of the product.

They'd probably have added "don't place these materials near flying shrapnel" if they thought for a moment that their customers would be dumb enough to try it. Why have the Tannerite on the firing line when the targets could only be placed with 10 yards at best? Why have explosive precursors on that firing line at all if they weren't going to be used? 

In other words, this "great day at the range" turned out to be great only in the sense that no one got killed. Starbuck made that point in a follow-up:

Honestly @LucasKunceMO + @AdamKinzinger are lucky they only killed a Senate campaign today. There’s so many things wrong with this that it’s not even funny. Someone needs to photoshop the targets to say "Lucas Kunce Senate Campaign" because they killed it today! https://t.co/QTX8LKrus1

— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) October 23, 2024

Here's one final question. Did this gunshot wound get reported to local law enforcement? That's usually required even in accidental shootings, regardless of how serious the wound might be. If this involved ordinary citizens, police and local DAs would likely consider charges of reckless endangerment in scenarios like this. Certain jurisdictions that are hostile to gun rights might consider it even more. 

I'll talk more about this with my pal Cam Edwards on today's VIP Gold chat. Suffice it to say, though, that this firearms owner saw red last night when this popped up on Twitter, and I was still muttering about it an hour later when trying to fall asleep. 

Update: On my final question, one person already researched the legal issue. It certainly appears that Kunce could be charged with second-degree assault under Missouri statutes:

I found one place that might match, but the KCS said "near Holt", not in Holt.

Anyway,
Missouri Statute 565.052(1)(3 & 4) pic.twitter.com/RAe0UWIsC4

— Edward Thatch 🏴‍☠️ (@han20223762) October 23, 2024

Subparagraph (4) fits the circumstances perfectly. Kunce recklessly discharged a firearm at a metal target at an unsafe distance and physically injured someone as a result. Who doubts that this would at least prompt a criminal investigation if the alleged perp wasn't a candidate for political office?