Gun Safety

[Fred_G]

As a few of you know, I am a gun owner. And I thought that if many of you are not, some gun safety info might be in order, if you are at a friend's house who has a gun, or if you encounter one in the wild.

Let's get 2 terms defined. ND, and AD. That is Negligent Discharge, and Accidental Discharge. ND is due to operator error. And AD is due to a gun malfunction. If you have an AD, fix your gun, or go to a Gunsmith, and pay to have it fixed.

A modern firearm cannot simply 'go off'. They require a human to shoot. Now, I live alone, no kids, few visitors that I screen. So, I can leave loaded guns around. YMMV. If you have kids, get a gun safe. Be proactive in how you keep your guns. Most gun accidents are caused by ND. Meaning someone was not being safe. Kids and loaded guns don't mix. Use your noggin.

Here is a link for some rules. Honestly, if you follow these rules, you will never have an ND, and if you do, you will just wind up with a hole in a wall. You must follow them by the letter.

http://www.nrahq.org/education/guide.asp

Be safe in whatever you do.

[sibeer]

I think this situation falls under "Know your target and what is beyond".
Probably thirty five years ago my wife's cousin was out hunting with his dad and uncle. I think he was twelve. His dad was scoped on an elk and was waiting for it to move from the trees. When it did, the kid who for some reason was crouched down in front of the adults, got excited and jumped up... just when his dad squeezed the trigger. He was hit in the back of the head and died almost instantly. I remember the family was devistated, and as you would expect they never got over it.
Hind sight is 20/20.

[Fred_G]

Originally Posted by sibeer

I think this situation falls under "Know your target and what is beyond".
Probably thirty five years ago my wife's cousin was out hunting with his dad and uncle. I think he was twelve. His dad was scoped on an elk and was waiting for it to move from the trees. When it did, the kid who for some reason was crouched down in front of the adults, got excited and jumped up... just when his dad squeezed the trigger. He was hit in the back of the head and died almost instantly. I remember the family was devistated, and as you would expect they never got over it.
Hind sight is 20/20.

That is sad. If a child was crouched in front of him, the gun was not pointed in a safe direction. Very sad to hear about something like that. And hard to be aware of what is close to you when looking through a scope. Nothing should be inbetween you and your target that you do not mind putting a hole in.

[gloozit]

Good idea, Fred. Always good to see someone say, guns are dangerous and only wise folks should handle them.
SIbeer, that's a terrible story, but goes well with this. As awful as it was, the kid's dad was an idiot. You do not allow anyone in front of you (gun direction), while hunting.
Terrible lesson.

[silas]

friend and i use to shoot back in hs. little 22. half day of school so obviously video game time with a total of 4. i sat in game chair on ground. got up to pick bud up. another friend sat down in my chair. 5 min later friends all looking for me. saying

Blank. got shot. we live in quite town. i rush there. and see ambulance leaving. then my other bf in cop car. he was cleaning gun and stood up to put into case. it went off. then went through chair i was in 5 min b4 that happen. we all bfs still. but he

But the one who got shot. made hole in lung and barely miss spine and heart. he died twice. but they brought him back. he missing lung tho.

[hrlow2]

"encounter one in the wild"?
Do they run solo or in packs?
If solo, I would probably try to coax it close and try to tame it.

Sorry. Little humor for a very serious topic.
Was trained in firearm safety before I even went into the Army.
Always know what is downrange from you.
Always assume that there is a round in the chamber, and act accordingly.

[Fred_G]

Originally Posted by hrlow2

"encounter one in the wild"?
Do they run solo or in packs?
If solo, I would probably try to coax it close and try to tame it.

Sorry. Little humor for a very serious topic.
Was trained in firearm safety before I even went into the Army.
Always know what is downrange from you.
Always assume that there is a round in the chamber, and act accordingly.

I have seen them by themselves and in packs. Mine seem to run in packs. And the pack expands... I can't stop it.

I put the 'gun in the wild' part in, just in case someone on the forum came across a gun, and had no experience with them.

[Mimsy]

While I personally don't care for guns, they don't particularly frighten me. They don't shoot people unless other people make them do it. So a gun in the hands of a person I don't know makes me nervous, unless of course that person is wearing a uniform that clearly indicates they've been trained in gun safety.

[Fred_G]

Originally Posted by Mimsy

While I personally don't care for guns, they don't particularly frighten me. They don't shoot people unless other people make them do it. So a gun in the hands of a person I don't know makes me nervous, unless of course that person is wearing a uniform that clearly indicates they've been trained in gun safety.

What does the uniform do?

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=...ail&FORM=VIRE4

Someone missed training day.


I have to say, that man kept his cool. He was trained in that. But, he got Glocked. Trigger finger off the trigger when you holster...

[Mimsy]

Originally Posted by Fred_G

What does the uniform do?

Apparently it lulls innocent by-standers into a false sense of security...

[Fred_G]

Originally Posted by Mimsy

Apparently it lulls innocent by-standers into a false sense of security...

And that is why I made this thread. He did not follow some gun safety rules. The gun was pointed accidentally in a safe direction. Nobody got hurt but the speaker.

He did fail, 'keep your finger off the trigger'. I do have to give props to that officer, I think he was shot in the foot, but checked on the kids first. I bet he never makes that mistake again. And also why I started this thread, cause evidently all of you were not raised up having guns.

[gloozit]

And that is why I am against carry laws.
You can be trained. You can be taught. And you can be made aware.
But nothing can remove stupid.
Carrying around instant death, that takes only a moment of of thoughtlessness, to unleash, is not the smartest thing to do.
Yeah, it could possibly save your life OR take some innocent one.
I'm sure we can all agree, that a gun is a tool. Tools deserve respect, caution, and a wise, knowing hand to use them properly.
All the training in the world, can't make everyone proficient in safety I have seen a few well trained cabinetmakers, lose fingers, on saws that they KNEW were dangerous and still weren't fully aware.
And unless, I'm in bear country, I'd just as soon not see some unknown person carrying.

BTW I still have all my fingers. and no bullet holes.

[Fred_G]

Originally Posted by gloozit

And that is why I am against carry laws.
You can be trained. You can be taught. And you can be made aware.
But nothing can remove stupid.
Carrying around instant death, that takes only a moment of of thoughtlessness, to unleash, is not the smartest thing to do.
Yeah, it could possibly save your life OR take some innocent one.
I'm sure we can all agree, that a gun is a tool. Tools deserve respect, caution, and a wise, knowing hand to use them properly.
All the training in the world, can't make everyone proficient in safety I have seen a few well trained cabinetmakers, lose fingers, on saws that they KNEW were dangerous and still weren't fully aware.
And unless, I'm in bear country, I'd just as soon not see some unknown person carrying.

BTW I still have all my fingers. and no bullet holes.

'Instant death'. Hmm, like the car you drive? Like a kid in a pool or pond? Can you show me 50 cases where someone used a legally concealed weapon to shoot someone illegally? Thread drift is fine with me, but if you want to debate the 2A, perhaps another forum would be more appropriate.

32,885 people were killed in auto accidents in 2010. Maybe you worry about the wrong things. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...n_U.S._by_year

[Serious Sam]

well trained cabinetmakers, lose fingers, on saws

Obviously they weren't "well trained" then, were they??

Having owned guns for over 30 years also raising kids thru most of those years (and untold years of carpentry work) no accidents here & all my appendages are intact as are my kids'

[gloozit]

Originally Posted by Fred_G

'Instant death'. Hmm, like the car you drive? Like a kid in a pool or pond? Can you show me 50 cases where someone used a legally concealed weapon to shoot someone illegally? Thread drift is fine with me, but if you want to debate the 2A, perhaps another forum would be more appropriate.

32,885 people were killed in auto accidents in 2010. Maybe you worry about the wrong things. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...n_U.S._by_year

It isn't the issue of shooting someone illegally, it's the issue of accidentally shooting someone or purposefully shooting, when other choices are available.
Gun safety is more than, "Don't point it."
Too many people "know" gun safety and 600 of them died in accidental shootings in 2010.
There is no safe gun. None.
The second they are picked up, they become unsafe, even in the best trained hands.
Accidents happen, do happen and continue to happen.
Lawmakers do what they can to keep cars and roads safe, including revoking licenses. I believe there were only two carry permits, ever revoked in Florida. I read that in passing, while reading about that murder down there.
And I'm not debating.
I am making a statement about gun safety.
Causally carrying a gun around, in anticipation of using it to defend yourself, is asking for an accident to happen.
Yeah, my pistol is loaded, but I don't carry it and it sits in my drawer, in my bedroom, away from accidents.
I also never clean it, when anyone else is in the house. I don't show it off. It has a purpose and that purpose isn't to wave it around and say, "Look what I have"

I follow my own safety rules.

[BILLMCC66]

They have some strange slants on fire arms here in Belgium.
As long as you have a license for short arms you may carry it concealed or open but a rifle must be carried in a case unless in a safe environment (thats how they word it) a shotgun must be carried broken at all times when not in use.
I have just had my license revoked because i have not renewed it for 5 years due to my disability and have donated my 9mm Browning to the local gun club.

[gloozit]

Originally Posted by Serious Sam

Obviously they weren't "well trained" then, were they??

Having owned guns for over 30 years also raising kids thru most of those years (and untold years of carpentry work) no accidents here & all my appendages are intact as are my kids'

Any well trained individual can have a moment of stupidity. Including a well trained gun owner. No difference. How many people shoot themselves or someone else, cleaning an unloaded gun??

This is about Gun Safety. To many people learn the rules, become comfortable with them, and then screw up.
Don't ever think you know gun safety. Practice it!!!

[hrlow2]

But you still go to a doctor who "practices" medicine?
I prefer someone that doesn't have to practice.
Been around firearms a long time.
Only things I have ever shot was what I intended to hit.
No accidents or unintentional misfires.
No unwanted casualties.

[shnerdly]

Originally Posted by gloozit

Any well trained individual can have a moment of stupidity. Including a well trained gun owner. No difference. How many people shoot themselves or someone else, cleaning an unloaded gun??

This is about Gun Safety. To many people learn the rules, become comfortable with them, and then screw up.
Don't ever think you know gun safety. Practice it!!!

On a percentage basis, the number of people you choose to call "stupid" are an extreme minority when you consider the total number of people that own and carry guns and don't "screw up". So based on an extreme minoritys inability to handle a gun safely despite their training we should treat everyone as "stupid"?

Yeah, my pistol is loaded, but I don't carry it and it sits in my drawer, in my bedroom, away from accidents.

I do carry a gun when I feel the need but believe me, there is nothing casual about it. When that gun is not in my physical possession, it's NOT loaded. In fact it's kept in a locked box on a high shelf in a closet and the clip is not with it. I would be afraid of someone finding it in a drawer and being able to use it against me or worse yet one of my Grandkids might find it. If your gun is sitting in a drawer, loaded, it is an accident waiting to happen.

[hrlow2]

Now THAT is gun "safety"