People like this are responsible...

[bdickens]

There has to be more to the story that we're not hearing.


Like the history of "accidents" in this household, among other things.

 

[Gungnir]

People like this are responsible...
...for us losing our rights.

Tragic story.

Using the term "gun went off" is reasonable, since there is at this time no allegation of intent to cause harm, and from a language perspective it is correct. Yes we all know the rules of firearms, there appears to be a failure to follow those rules. 'nuff said on that.

The thing I find interesting is how 'we' all jump on stories like this like some weird contrary reflection of the Brady Bunch. They jump on it saying "guns are evil and should be banned", we jump on it saying "this is why our guns will be banned".

Sh*t happens, the media reports it, get over it.

 

[6_gunner]

I know many non-gun folks who have told me they believe that guns are capable of going off accidentally. I have patiently explained that a modern firearm will not fire without something or someone pulling the trigger - not even if it is dropped. They are still somewhat sceptical.

+1

There have been numerous times when I've heard people insisting that guns "just go off." Even my mother, whom I've been trying to educate about firearms for several years, recently said something to that effect.

In my experience, some people not only believe that "guns just go off," but believe it with such a passion that they go on the defensive if anyone tries to challenge their cherished belief.

 

[sohcgt2]

feedthehogs wrote

The phrase " treat every gun as if it were loaded" should be burned into everyone's mind.

In some cases that phrase should be burned into the back of careless gun handlers hands, that way they can read it and remind themselves every time they pick a gun up. Last year I had a chance to purchase a used Glock G21-c for cheap because the previous owner shot himself field stripping the gun.

There are so many people that carry half loaded guns with the idea it only takes a moment to chamber a round, but they can't remember to take a moment to make sure there is no round in the chamber when they clean their guns. Its a shame for those of us who take responsible gun ownership seriously.

 

[ConstitutionCowboy]

Instead of "went off", what phrase would you use that does not imply the father is guilty of a crime?

As has been said, "Negligent Discharge".

Woody

 

[Duke of Doubt]

sohcgt2: "Last year I had a chance to purchase a used Glock G21-c for cheap because the previous owner shot himself field stripping the gun."

Another Glock ND. "Glock Precision."

 

[TRGRHPY]

We hear about this kind of thing where someone gets shot while someone else was cleaning a gun, but how in the world do you shoot someone cleaning a firearm? I think "cleaning a firearm" is code for something else entirely, like "screwing around".

 

[Duke of Doubt]

For years "accidentally shot himself while cleaning his gun" was Obit Code for "tagged himself". Just as "died suddenly" was Obit Code for either "tagged himself" or "was the victim of a homicide."

 

[sohcgt2]

In the case the person whose Glock I considered purchasing I just believe he was too stupid to own a gun. Field stripping a Glock requires the trigger to be pulled (poor design? maybe). It takes only a moment to cycle the slide and check the chamber to verify its empty. I own 2 Glocks and even after double checking to make sure they are empty I still point them in a safe direction to remove the slide. Guns don't go off by themselves, stupid people who have no business owning guns thoughtlessly shoot them.

 

[coloradokevin]

It seems I sure stirred up a pot of opinions when I started this thread

While I'm not one to normally beat the political drum around here, I chose to comment on this particular issue as the result of a conversation that I recently had with some of my anti-gun relatives. To summarize that debate, my uninformed relatives firmly believed (as do many anti-gun folks) that a gun is capable of 'just going off' as a matter of normal function...

While we here at THR all realize that this is a completely foolish notion, many folks who are not accustomed to handling firearms do not. As such, I feel that the media has played into those fears quite a bit when you consider their choice of verbage. I'm far from a black helicopter watching conspiracy theorist, but I do think that today's media outlets thrive on using attention grabbing titles and creatively pointed statements! This issue goes far beyond just firearms issues... Surely anyone who regularly reads any form of print media has laughed at some of these misleading stories in the past (for that matter, ever notice how the stories that are teased throughout the evening news rarely live up to the hype?).

Anyway, I felt that this thread also had another point to be made, beyond just looking at my over analyzation of the article itself! That second, and perhaps far more important point, is that a person lost his life as the result of some moron's foolishness. And, beyond all of the obvious ramifications to that particular family, I feel that incidents like these tend to turn the tide of public opinion against gun owners.

Most of us already safely handle firearms, and that means that I'm largely preaching to the choir here. Nevertheless, we should always be mindful of those opportunities where we can help to educate a gun owner who doesn't have the experience and/or presence of mind that we do!

 

[solareclipse]

So you are saying that stupidity trumps the constitution?

 

[coloradokevin]

So you are saying that stupidity trumps the constitution?

Not like the constitution has ever stood in the way of other potentially unconstitutional restrictions on our gun rights!