Monday, November 16, 2009

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.

5 comments:

Jeff ( Va. Rebel ) said...

Good points that can never be over emphasized. Careless firearm discharging not only is a great danger to many but the immaturity displayed paints a bad pic of those who are responsible in their usage.

Keeping the finger off the trigger til sighting on your target should be a natural reflex. As mentioned, once that round is let loose it will continue til it finds a mark or expends itself.

"Hurrah Henry's" aren't needed - learn the basics of safety and get serious about firearm discipline and its mechanics.

Kinda reminds me of a really bad ice storm we had here a few years back - lots of trees down. Everybody 'n his grandma had to get a chain saw.

I was up at Lowes and they were bringing
'em in on a pallet - CHAIN SAWS FOR EVERYONE ! Younguns still wet behind the ears, Pops who could hardly lift 'em. Man (thinks I), there is gonna be a backlog down at the emergency room entrance !

lormarie said...

The weapon would have been fired a distance of about three football fields away from where the girl was struck, police say.

Bullets travel that far?

The shooter may feel badly but he should have found a more appropriate place to shoot...like the range.

There's no such thing as being too careful in these situations.

Orion said...

Good analogy, Jeff. Everyone is out buying guns like crazy because of the anti-humans who are out to get them, and there are probably going to be a few accidents. You and I have probably been handling guns since we were old enough to walk, but a lot of people haven't. They need to take some NRA certifed training courses or better.

I can't begin to imagine the feeling of accidentally shooting a buddy, or a 3 year old girl. I don't think I could live with myself. It's too horrible to even think about. Let's hope everyone checks out the gun safety vids I have posted here and always follows the rules. It only takes one time to break them and then it will be too late.

Orion said...

Oh yeah, Lormae, a little .22 can travel almost 2 miles before dropping to the ground. Of course, a bullet begins to drop a few seconds after it leaves the barrel, but that's why you have a scope or use kentucky windage to hit long distance targets.

Better take your gun safety classes, Lormae, you don't want to shoot any of your neighbors!

Jeff ( Va. Rebel ) said...

If I could dredge yet another "blast from the past" ... I distinctly remember 'ol string bean Jenny L. way back in 5th grade.

(yep, I reckon rebels like us were raised on gators 'n taters)

Us lil fellers weren't all that gun saavy but understood a bit more than most. Miss Jenny tried to join us whenever she could, and as she wuz right cute - we tolerated a gurl hanging with us !

She supposed that once a bullet was fired, it circled the globe non - stop ...
forever ! Lord have mercy ... we'd be dodging projectiles all day long !

That sad case you quoted with the 3 yr. old girl - if it was the 9mm involved, then more than likely it was a thrill shot aimed at the moon
(4th of July kinda shooting).

As you rightly quoted the potential range of the meager .22, just think of the AK round, or the higher velocity .223.

I know neither of us are trying to dissuade kinsmen (or women) from purchasing firearms while they can - yes get them now, just get a serious mindset and respect them.