When is Training dangerous?

This might be the most dangerous training scenario I have ever seen. Check out the camera man!!

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/06/17/highly-controversial-training-video/

There was interesting debate about this video on another forum that I read recently. My initial reaction was disbelief that people would actually train like this or that someone would actually put themself in that situation. Then I kept reading. My opinion was not as solid. Perhaps this idea wasn't so crazy.

At no point was the photographer down range swept by anyone's muzzle. Someone also brought up the thought that if we're ever put in a shoot/no shoot position there probably will be good guys or non combatants "down range", we don't want to shoot them do we? What better way to train for that likely scenario than put someone down range.

Now I'm sure that the trainees in this class were most likely not beginners but trained and accomplished shooters. I know that I wouldn't miss the target at the distances they were shooting.

There is a great rebuttal video out there from the man who runs the school where this training happened and he made an excellent point for his case. I wish I could find it.

I understand the thinking behind having a friendly downrange but actually putting a guy down there for "realism" is pretty crazy to me. I personaly would not trust those guys on the line not to accidently put a round in me. Whether from poor firearm handling or from a complete freak chance like getting stung by a bee and flinching.

If locate the rebuttle video please post it up as I would love to see it.

Here ya go.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YYd8Rh50g4

Interesting video thanks for posting it.
I have heard a lot of good things about Tactical Response over the last few years and have read some of Yeagers articles in Swat. He does make a good argument for the camera man down range but not a strong enough argument for me to think it's a valid training tool.

It didn't seem like the guys directly in front of him fired much if any. That guy in the white t shirt stood up and looked around like WTF... That was funny. If I owned the range I would have never allowed that due to the liability factors. Now if someone wanted to be down range that bad and have me shoot near them, I think I would pass since if I messed up or there was a ricochet then there could be big law suit on me. A tort lawyer would say I had the last clear chance to avoid the accidental shooting by picking not to fire my weapon in this guys direction. I would never be the camera man either. getting shot at while hunting is more than enough for me to handle....