lawdogso
Member
I'll bet you don't do that again. Lesson learned!
I had a non-intentional discharge today
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Black Knight
Member
I had an instructor once who said that guns are like cars, the more we handle them the closer we get to the time we have an accident. Learn from it and thank God that no one was hurt. Property can usually be replaced, people can't.
The 4 Rules aren't just words - I think a lot of people new to firearms take the approach of "Oh, those apply to everyone else, but I'm Special".
They're there for a reason, and each of those rules was written in someone else's blood. No sugarcoating here - you f***ed-up royally, but forgive yourself and do it properly next (and every) time from now on.
They're there for a reason, and each of those rules was written in someone else's blood. No sugarcoating here - you f***ed-up royally, but forgive yourself and do it properly next (and every) time from now on.
wyocarp
Member
I don't see this as a major problem at all. As was pointed out, he followed one of the best rules which would be pointing it in a safe direction. We learn better by our own mistakes. We live in a world that doesn't look favorably on mistakes of others but we should. Just because someone hasn't had an accidential discharge doesn't mean they won't. The best practice is to check your weapon every time you pick it up and keep it in the same condition all the time.
U.S.SFC_RET
Member
The normal reaction is to feel ashamed and to want to sell your guns off. I have seen it happen. Don't do it. Feelings do not count when it comes to rationality in cases like this. Do feel fortunate that you feel ashamed instead feeling cool about it. It would be foolish to be thinking otherwise so consider yourself passing the test. ND's happen and the rarer the better.
On top of the safety rules, I own snap caps for my handguns, and have a personal policy of always using them when dry firing.
Sort of a belt and suspenders approach, but if you tried to put a snap cap in where a round was, you'd have noticed.
I also think that using a snap caps shows some respect for the weapon - but that's just a personal opinion.
Mike
Sort of a belt and suspenders approach, but if you tried to put a snap cap in where a round was, you'd have noticed.
I also think that using a snap caps shows some respect for the weapon - but that's just a personal opinion.
Mike
Doggy Daddy
Member
Learn the 4th rule??
Just kidding. But, you do know that "all guns are always loaded", right?
SamG.
Member
Every great shooter has has that terrible time in thier life. I personaly have not (yet). My brother discharged his m-4 through the floor
. That scared the crap out of me! Anyway we'll both check the chambers next time. You don't need to sell your guns man.
. That scared the crap out of me! Anyway we'll both check the chambers next time. You don't need to sell your guns man. shep854
Member
Think of it as "an expensive lesson learned cheap." I've had mine, thankfully no one hurt, but definitely humbled. I also know a firearms safety trainer who blew one of his legs off with a shotgun he thought he had unloaded.
Respect your guns, but don't fear them.
A suggestion; if you are going to do any training with the gun unloaded, place a piece of paper in the ejection port of an auto as a flag that the piece has been cleared. For revolvers, see if you can come up with one of the discs that makers frequently place behind the cylinder of NIB guns. Also, many people remove ALL ammo from the room they will be training in.
Respect your guns, but don't fear them.
A suggestion; if you are going to do any training with the gun unloaded, place a piece of paper in the ejection port of an auto as a flag that the piece has been cleared. For revolvers, see if you can come up with one of the discs that makers frequently place behind the cylinder of NIB guns. Also, many people remove ALL ammo from the room they will be training in.
mejeepnut
member
You checked the guns out the night before ! ! ! Then the following day picked them up and without checking them out again played cowboys and indians with a phone socket ! ! !
Don't get rid of your guns,get rid of your friends!I would hate to see one of them nominated for a Darwin Award because they were to dumb to stay away from you!
Don't get rid of your guns,get rid of your friends!I would hate to see one of them nominated for a Darwin Award because they were to dumb to stay away from you!
Looks to me like we now have someone who understands what went wrong, why it went wrong and how to proceed from now on until forever.........
He now understands all this a thousand times better than he did yesterday, doesn't he? The point was brought home, wasn't it? That's education in the true sense of the term.
Most of us have had similar, or similar enough experiences. Haven't we?.............Haven't we?
He was man enough to admit it in a pubic forum and, from the looks of it, adult enough to have learned from it. I am convinced that he is sincere....at least in this regard.
I would submit that he don't need no more lecturing.
He now understands all this a thousand times better than he did yesterday, doesn't he? The point was brought home, wasn't it? That's education in the true sense of the term.
Most of us have had similar, or similar enough experiences. Haven't we?.............Haven't we?
He was man enough to admit it in a pubic forum and, from the looks of it, adult enough to have learned from it. I am convinced that he is sincere....at least in this regard.
I would submit that he don't need no more lecturing.
Yeah, I have a hole in my couch and living room wall, and further hearing damage, from an "empty" ruger 45. semiauto pistol that discharged while it's owner was sitting on my other couch and accidently discharged. Luckily I was sitting in another chair outside the line of fire.
shep854
Member
"He was man enough to admit it in a pubic forum and, from the looks of it, adult enough to have learned from it. I am convinced that he is sincere....at least in this regard."
Not to mention, humble enough to want to help others by sharing his mishap. The best way to learn is from someone else's mistakes.
Not to mention, humble enough to want to help others by sharing his mishap. The best way to learn is from someone else's mistakes.
rainbowbob
Member
Thanks for sharing your distressing incident. None of us should ever become complacent and believe it could NEVER happen to any of us.
Everyone with a revolver should see this link at "The Cornered Cat". Very illuminating visual on how such an event could occur - and how to make sure it doesn't.
http://www.corneredcat.com/Safety/empty.aspx
Everyone with a revolver should see this link at "The Cornered Cat". Very illuminating visual on how such an event could occur - and how to make sure it doesn't.
http://www.corneredcat.com/Safety/empty.aspx
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Funderb
Member
I'm going to laugh when you take out a lamp.
but only when I fin out that everyone is okay.
but after that, oh man am I going to laugh.
but only when I fin out that everyone is okay.
but after that, oh man am I going to laugh.
RancidSumo
Member
You could get a bust of Hilary or Obama and keep them pointed at that.
Funderb
Member
eeeee! careful where you point those word weapons!
RancidSumo
Member
Not very High Road.
rainbowbob
Member
Am I the only one who is bugged by this oft-repeated maxim? It bugs me because it doesn't say what it means...
How about:
I'm pretty sure we all agree that unloaded guns aren't loaded...and can be safely handled differently than a loaded gun.
justin 561
Member
Don't sell your guns, learn.
If you stub your toe on the corner of the bed, you going to stop sleeping in it?
If you stub your toe on the corner of the bed, you going to stop sleeping in it?
dmazur
Member
Excellent advice from all. I can't add much.
My wife and I have been shooting for around 30 years. We practiced safe handling and never had a ND.
However, after reading about other's experiences a few years ago, we realized we weren't being compulsive about safety. Just observant.
IMO, you need to be compulsive. And not laugh at each other when you are. Support compulsive gun safety.
For us, that's 1911 slides racked back to "show open" when we hand pistol to the other person, even in our living room. We don't cover each other with muzzles, (except when pistol is field stripped for cleaning, and that doesn't count!), including holstering.
Muzzle angled down at floor for ejecting chambered round...
So, when we go to the range, we aren't trying to remember range safety -- it's really part of our routine for CCW.
My wife and I have been shooting for around 30 years. We practiced safe handling and never had a ND.
However, after reading about other's experiences a few years ago, we realized we weren't being compulsive about safety. Just observant.
IMO, you need to be compulsive. And not laugh at each other when you are. Support compulsive gun safety.
For us, that's 1911 slides racked back to "show open" when we hand pistol to the other person, even in our living room. We don't cover each other with muzzles, (except when pistol is field stripped for cleaning, and that doesn't count!), including holstering.
Muzzle angled down at floor for ejecting chambered round...
So, when we go to the range, we aren't trying to remember range safety -- it's really part of our routine for CCW.
physics
Member
I can't agree more. I think everyone needs to be OCD about their guns. KNOW YOUR CHAMBER STATUS, AND THEN CHECK IT AGAIN. I won't say I will never have a ND, because I can't predict the future, but by being just a little OCD about my guns will protect my pride pretty dang well I think. I know for a fact every time I pull that trigger that my weapon is not armed, because I checked... multiple times, every time.
U.S.SFC_RET
Member
I have posted the version of the four rules below for a while now in my signature for two personal reasons. the first personal reason was my uncle. He violated #1 and #2 and killed himself with an unloaded gun in the neck in 1973 with a .38 revolver.
The second personal reason goes for my brother in law for the same. He killed himself with a .45 ACP. I warned him when he was bragging about the bullet holes in his apt and yep three months later.. Tragedy struck.
Respect firearms like it is the gospel, it royally pisses me off when I get swept at a gun store or anywhere.
When you receive any firearm even when it gets cleared of ammunition, you clear it by opening the chamber and not only looking into it but inserting your finger into the chamber. Your eyes will play tricks on you and there will be a time or two where you will think the chamber is unloaded when it is not.
Any time a gun is passed to you clear it and then check it just like a poster said. If a store clerk gets offended then either walk out or get a manager.
The second personal reason goes for my brother in law for the same. He killed himself with a .45 ACP. I warned him when he was bragging about the bullet holes in his apt and yep three months later.. Tragedy struck.
Respect firearms like it is the gospel, it royally pisses me off when I get swept at a gun store or anywhere.
When you receive any firearm even when it gets cleared of ammunition, you clear it by opening the chamber and not only looking into it but inserting your finger into the chamber. Your eyes will play tricks on you and there will be a time or two where you will think the chamber is unloaded when it is not.
Any time a gun is passed to you clear it and then check it just like a poster said. If a store clerk gets offended then either walk out or get a manager.
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