Gun Safety

I meant to post this a few days ago but it slipped through the cracks. Firearm accidents are really tragic because once a gun goes off, you can't call the bullet back. Imagine how these people must feel. Don't end up living with the same guilt. Always be sure of what's behind your target. Always treat a gun as if it's loaded. Never point it at anything you aren't willing to destroy.

3 Year Old Girl Hit By Stray Bullet Dies

WIRE REPORTS
11/03/2009

Updated: 4:36 p.m. Tuesday

A 3-year-old girl from Gasconade County, Mo., has died in a St. Louis hospital after being shot in the head Monday.

Allison M. Schneider, 3, was walking in a farm yard Monday afternoon when a stray bullet hit her in the left temple, according to the Gasconade County Republican newspaper.

The incident happened along Route EE south of Owensville, Mo. The girl was taken by helicopter to St. Louis Children's Hospital where she died today.

Sheriff's investigators told the newspaper that they believe the girl was hit by a stray 9 mm round fired toward a target. The weapon would have been fired a distance of about three football fields away from where the girl was struck, police say.

The neighbor who may have been firing at the target was cooperating with police and surrendered a 9 mm handgun and a rifle. The handgun had been fired but the rifle had not, the Gasonade County sheriff told the newspaper.

Another tragedy, this time with two friends on a hunting trip. Not sure what they mean by "taking it out of the sling". I think they meant taking it out of its case. NEVER CARRY A CHAMBERED GUN IN A CASE. NEVER PUT YOUR FINGER ON THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO SHOOT. Most of you already know this, but it bears repeating.

Posted: Monday, 16 November 2009 8:14AM

UPDATED: Missouri man shot by hunting partner dies


AUXVASSE, Mo. (KMOX) -- A deer hunter from St. Louis who was accidentally shot on Saturday has died.

The Callaway County Sheriff's Department says 67-year-old Bernie Breer died Saturday at University hospital.

Authorities say the shooter, a 57-year-old man from Frontenac, was taking his deer rifle out of its sling when it went off.

The Missouri Department of Conservation is investigating, but no foul play is suspected.

Here's a couple of things I do to make sure my weapons are safe:

1. If I am dry firing or practicing stance or aim, I make sure there are no loaded mags anywhere around. If I want to practice speed changing mags, I make sure they are empty or have snaps in them.

2. Some may disagree, but when I carry I do not chamber a round. it only takes me half a second to rack the slide to load the weapon, and my thoughts are the sound of metal slapping metal instills a little fear in anyone I would want to shoot and probably go a long way in preventing a confrontation. Just my thoughts.

With Rifles, they should be transported unloaded and if you are out hunting then have the safety on when it's chambered. Learn to love your safety, and learn to keep your finger off the trigger. Make it second nature. Try walking around the house for a while holding your trigger finger in the right position. Set it down for a few, then pick it up the correct way and repeat. Try this every day for about two weeks, then do it once a week, then after that maybe once a month (this is assuming you haven't been out shooting for a while.)

Remember when doing all that, keep the ammo away from the gun.

Here's a video by Tom Gresham from Gun Talk, but embedding has been disabled. Worth a watch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKC03Q84Np0

Just some tips I use. Anyone have other safety training tips, please share. Remember, we need well trained insurgents for the coming war, and friendly fire is for the enemy, not us.