Old Dog
Member
CCW007,
I am always somewhat bemused by the self-righteousness that comes out whenever a story appears about negligent discharges. Okay, so in your mind, you are incapable of being responsible for an ND because you are an "anal gun-safety Nazi." Fine. Assuming you drive, though -- have you ever in your life done something stupid while behind the wheel of a 3000-pound killing machine? No. I thought not. How 'bout when lighting a barbeque grill? Or fixing your kitchen sink garbage disposal, or trouble-shooting an electrical circuit in your house? Thing is, most of us, as you say, are human and capable of mistakes.
Many NDs with folks who've been well-trained and are entirely comfortable around firearms. Military and law enforcement NDs occur regularly. Are all these folks "morons?" No. Ten years ago, I had an ND, in my bedroom, with a pistol I thought unloaded -- I didn't check the chamber. Am I a moron? No. Was I stupidly negligent? Yes. But at the time, I was carrying a firearm daily on duty, had had some of the best military firearms training and gone through some excellent civilian law enforcement training, plus had been around firearms for over thirty years and shooting 'em for twenty.
Will everyone who's never had an ND eventually have one? No, of course not. But many will, in spite of all they've learned about gun safety, and in spite of all their experience and training. Regrettable, avoidable, but fact.
I am always somewhat bemused by the self-righteousness that comes out whenever a story appears about negligent discharges. Okay, so in your mind, you are incapable of being responsible for an ND because you are an "anal gun-safety Nazi." Fine. Assuming you drive, though -- have you ever in your life done something stupid while behind the wheel of a 3000-pound killing machine? No. I thought not. How 'bout when lighting a barbeque grill? Or fixing your kitchen sink garbage disposal, or trouble-shooting an electrical circuit in your house? Thing is, most of us, as you say, are human and capable of mistakes.
Many NDs with folks who've been well-trained and are entirely comfortable around firearms. Military and law enforcement NDs occur regularly. Are all these folks "morons?" No. Ten years ago, I had an ND, in my bedroom, with a pistol I thought unloaded -- I didn't check the chamber. Am I a moron? No. Was I stupidly negligent? Yes. But at the time, I was carrying a firearm daily on duty, had had some of the best military firearms training and gone through some excellent civilian law enforcement training, plus had been around firearms for over thirty years and shooting 'em for twenty.
Will everyone who's never had an ND eventually have one? No, of course not. But many will, in spite of all they've learned about gun safety, and in spite of all their experience and training. Regrettable, avoidable, but fact.
. I cannot recall ever doing anything stupid, but who knows.. If I did, no one got hurt. I was never much for goofing off with a car in my teen years because of auto accidents I seen when I volunteered at the fire dept.