WOW... Good thread!
I applaud your bravery and admitting it. Yes, if ANYONE has been around guns for ANY length of time they are 100% going to have a story or a close call (even a far call). And, if not, you are either lying, it has slipped your mind, or it will happen tomorrow. It's going to happen! Even if you are pulling the trigger and it goes off unexpectedly, live round or not - you are there! You just became a member of the club.
This might be a long one, you may want to grab a cup of coffee.
In my youth all of my hunting buddies were (are) the safest bunch to be around. Living where I do (Idaho) you practically grew up with a rifle, pistol, or shotgun in your hand. We never thought anything about going out after school (we brought our guns to school - the horror!) and doing some hunting, plinking, etc. Yes, we were all brought up around the golden rules and they were strictly enforced. We were about 14 when we were 1st allowed to drive (common here, farmers and everything). So here were, all of these 14 year olds and up, out doing God knows what and where. We NEVER even had a close call till one year we came back from some pheasant hunting, we were dead tired and we all crashed on the lawn at one of my friends houses. It was actually a ranch with a pasture backing up to the yard. We ranged from about 16-18 yo. Well, one of 'em thought he would really be funny because Bessie, the old milk cow started to act up in the pasture by the fence. He yells, "I'll get her", and grabs his 12 ga and clicks one off... It was not empty - it was loaded. Well, needless to say... we all miss Bessie. Talk about all hell breaking loose! That was the 1st time.
Another, same situation, different guy (probably the safest guy of us all), come back from hunting, we all go into his house and sit down with his Dad. We're all talking and my friend is cleaning his shotgun, the muzzle is pointing straight up and BANG! His Father didn't say a word... got up and said, "You boys all fix that roof... ya hear"? His mother came in madder than a wet hen (that is the only phrase I could come up with right now),..., boy did we get an earful! I learned how to fix a roof that day.
Next time: Much older (shall I say adults?), one of our huntin' buddies turned into a cop. He was cleaning his S&W revolver in his apartment (we were all poor then - nothings changed!) and it went bang and shot a hole in his ceiling and the upstairs neighbors floor. Quite a ruckus..., no one hurt! Don't ask me how his revolver went off accidentally..., I don't recall - it does happen even with revolvers - and from a professional.
Then there was me, fast forward to about a year ago. We were out in the local gunshop. This is more than a 'gunshop' this place is awesome! Anything from peashooters to 5 figure dangerous game double rifles, etc. One of my old buddies was looking for a pistol to buy and there were two of us with him to help make up his mind. The place was packed with people 2-3 deep. I spotted a freestyle pistol on the back shelf and asked one of the guys I know there to take a look at it. I am seriously into competitive shooting and this was a serious competition pistol and the salesman knew nothing about it (I hate that... if I was behind the counter I would know something about everything in there. In a lull - your educating yourself - sorry, I digress). I had to point out exactly which one I was referring to. He hands it to me and it is one of those compressed air pistols - He didn't know anything about it - let alone how to check it, this isn't a 'normal' pistol! Beautiful! I was looking it over very closely and turned it over in my hand and I must have brushed the trigger. This was set at about 1 ounce! If you have never experienced a 1 ounce trigger... you are in for a real surprise. Well, like I mentioned this was an air pistol and someone had cocked it with no round in the barrel. So, when it went off it sounded like a real .22 had gone off. I was obeying the golden rules and it was pointed right over and to the side of the sales clerks shoulder. His eyes were about the size of silver dollars and he was looking down at his chest expecting to see a gaping hole (as gaping as a .22 could be - I'd say pretty big if you are the gapee!). Of course... no harm, no problem. I was looking at the salesman and then I immediately became aware that the entire place was quiet as a church. A second before this you could hardly hear yourself think! Everyone was staring at me and I said, "Shees... you could hear a pin drop in here!" The owner was not pleased!
We are the safest people that I know and I am very picky about who I choose to be in the field holding a gun with. These are some of the best... I would include myself in there and I am sure they would as well.
AD's are going to happen... it's just a matter of time. If all of the safety checks are in place, they will simply be a well learned lesson and nothing else!
Good luck out there everyone!
WHEW... I think I'm done. Thanx for hanging in there.