M-Taliesin
Regular Member
Howdy Folks!
Ya'll may have noticed that I haven't made comment since posting the link to this here story. I guess I am non-plussed.
Not only because of this self inflicted gutshot, but also because of the Terry Gerber accident that I saw months ago and thought "What a DA!"
You might feel my particular comment is a little harsh, but lets go back and review the basic elements of gun safety. I don't mean the exotic stuff, but the basic (day one) stuff every carrier should have learned right out of the chute:
1. Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
Whether you believe a firearm was loaded or not, you still behave as if it is loaded. "I didn't think it was loaded...." Ain't a reasonable defense.
2. Always point the muzzle in a safe direction. Never point your sidearm at anything you do not intend to destroy.
As we all know (or should) that includes anything or anybody we might sweep while drawing our sidearm.)
When a gunshot is self inflicted, this basic rule got violated.
3. Be certain of your target and what is beyond it.
That's the short version. It means that you should be cognizant of your sight picture and understand what is near your target, behind your target, and be doggone certain your bullet will hit your target and nothing unintended. Folks sometimes forget that they are responsible for every single bullet they fire, whether it is intended or not being irrelevant to any charges that may result. If the bullet travels through a bad guy and hits some innocent kid behind him, you're going to prison.
If you've just shot yourself in the belly, that's your responsibility and indicates you've failed in the basic elements of firearms safety.
4. Keep your finger away from the trigger until on target and ready to shoot.
While folks might speculate on clothing or holsters causing an accidental discharge, that is by no stretch of the imagination 'safe gun handling'.
Nothing but a finger should be able to trip that trigger. If clothing or holsters can trip it, then you're not doing it right.
The safety should come off as the gun is brought on target to shoot... not while it is coming out of the holster or as the hand reaches for it.
There is a reason they call it a safety, just as there is a reason they call them a hospital or morgue.
I'd add a couple of my own to the mix:
Never draw a weapon from the holster until you intend to use it.
If you draw it intending to use it, be darn sure you need to use it.
If you're going to use it, shoot as if your life depends on it. It had better!!! (along with the lives of other innocents, of course)
If your life depends on it, do not play around with aiming for the arm or leg. Center mass, 2 rounds, final tap to the head.
Pray, really hard, that you never need to apply the last one on the list.
So far as I am concerned, the safety comes off once the weapon is on target. Not before, and not during the presentation, but only once the basics are covered and just before the finger goes to the trigger.
A neligent discharge ain't the fault of a holster. It ain't to be blamed on clothing. It ain't the handgun either.
It's the man or woman who improperly handled a firearm.
From what I gather, this bloke shot himself while reholstering. Why was the safety not back on????? Really?????????
There just ain't no possible excuse for this type of accident on reholster. The man screwed up.
All the foregoing is my opinion, somewhat. The basic rules of firearm safety are not an opinion; but hard, cold fact.
It is a sad thing when we must carry a firearm for our own self defense.
It is a tragic thing when the only threat our self defense is ourselves.
I don't want to report on any more Colorado gun range accidents.
Or any other Coloradoan shooting him or her self because they played with a deadly weapon and lost the game!
Blessings,
M-Taliesin
Ya'll may have noticed that I haven't made comment since posting the link to this here story. I guess I am non-plussed.
Not only because of this self inflicted gutshot, but also because of the Terry Gerber accident that I saw months ago and thought "What a DA!"
You might feel my particular comment is a little harsh, but lets go back and review the basic elements of gun safety. I don't mean the exotic stuff, but the basic (day one) stuff every carrier should have learned right out of the chute:
1. Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
Whether you believe a firearm was loaded or not, you still behave as if it is loaded. "I didn't think it was loaded...." Ain't a reasonable defense.
2. Always point the muzzle in a safe direction. Never point your sidearm at anything you do not intend to destroy.
As we all know (or should) that includes anything or anybody we might sweep while drawing our sidearm.)
When a gunshot is self inflicted, this basic rule got violated.
3. Be certain of your target and what is beyond it.
That's the short version. It means that you should be cognizant of your sight picture and understand what is near your target, behind your target, and be doggone certain your bullet will hit your target and nothing unintended. Folks sometimes forget that they are responsible for every single bullet they fire, whether it is intended or not being irrelevant to any charges that may result. If the bullet travels through a bad guy and hits some innocent kid behind him, you're going to prison.
If you've just shot yourself in the belly, that's your responsibility and indicates you've failed in the basic elements of firearms safety.
4. Keep your finger away from the trigger until on target and ready to shoot.
While folks might speculate on clothing or holsters causing an accidental discharge, that is by no stretch of the imagination 'safe gun handling'.
Nothing but a finger should be able to trip that trigger. If clothing or holsters can trip it, then you're not doing it right.
The safety should come off as the gun is brought on target to shoot... not while it is coming out of the holster or as the hand reaches for it.
There is a reason they call it a safety, just as there is a reason they call them a hospital or morgue.
I'd add a couple of my own to the mix:
Never draw a weapon from the holster until you intend to use it.
If you draw it intending to use it, be darn sure you need to use it.
If you're going to use it, shoot as if your life depends on it. It had better!!! (along with the lives of other innocents, of course)
If your life depends on it, do not play around with aiming for the arm or leg. Center mass, 2 rounds, final tap to the head.
Pray, really hard, that you never need to apply the last one on the list.
So far as I am concerned, the safety comes off once the weapon is on target. Not before, and not during the presentation, but only once the basics are covered and just before the finger goes to the trigger.
A neligent discharge ain't the fault of a holster. It ain't to be blamed on clothing. It ain't the handgun either.
It's the man or woman who improperly handled a firearm.
From what I gather, this bloke shot himself while reholstering. Why was the safety not back on????? Really?????????
There just ain't no possible excuse for this type of accident on reholster. The man screwed up.
All the foregoing is my opinion, somewhat. The basic rules of firearm safety are not an opinion; but hard, cold fact.
It is a sad thing when we must carry a firearm for our own self defense.
It is a tragic thing when the only threat our self defense is ourselves.
I don't want to report on any more Colorado gun range accidents.
Or any other Coloradoan shooting him or her self because they played with a deadly weapon and lost the game!
Blessings,
M-Taliesin
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