I need advice...

[junior geezer]

i had an acquaintance, many years ago, who asked me to have a look at his 12 bore pump. "the safety doesn't work," he said. he then proceeded to raise the weapon, declared "safety on" and fired the LOADED piece it into a basement wall. "See?"

i retreated from this reprobate's presence in a profound hurry and had no further dealings with him. later, his father would inform me his not so brilliant son had been evicted from his rental for his misfeasance and was now back to living with his mother.

expect to be asked to leave.

 

[rainbowbob]

I understand what happened that night and trust me it will never happen again...

I'm still not convinced based on your responses.

If you really do understand what happened that night, it would perhaps be instructive for the rest of us if you would describe in detail what you were doing, why, and why you wouldn't do it that way ever again.

We could all learn something if you were willing to be more forthcoming with the details.

Your concern about your neighbors should not be that they may be fixing to sue you or press charges (although either of those may be possible responses on their part).

I would be more concerned about their peace of mind after what must have been a very frightening incident for them.

For all you know, they are afraid to come out of their apartment, which would explain why you haven't seen them since.

If I was your neighbor, I don't think I would automatically "trust you" that it would not happen again just because you say so.

A written explanation (to them - not us) of what happened, and a detailed description of what steps you have taken to insure that it won't happen again - together with a sincere apology - are overdue IMO.

Allowing us to help you think through those steps might be to your advantage, as well as ours.

 

[Wile E Coyote]

This is indeed a potentially very sticky situation for you. I fully agree your focus should include equitable reparations towards the neighbors. Seeing as how it could be easy for them to feel forced upon, I feel a written note could state your case and perhaps open any closed doors for later talks.
Like any other regular person, you want this to go away. My advice is to make it go away like a responsible gun owner should. It's not lost on me that this may be a hard pill to swallow, but just trying to give good advice.

 

[buck460XVR]

I understand what happened that night and trust me it will never happen again and yes that it was i am concerned about which is why i asked for advice on the legal issues.

I'm with RainbowBob on this. There was more than one mistake made that night that led to your AD. I too think you need the advice on safe gun handling more than how to keep the neighbors from suing you after you almost kill them.

Landlord is ok with everthing he laughed and made some jokes.

Hard to believe that.....this is far from a laughing matter. Glad he ain't my landlord.

Neighbors still have not seen them. I am aginst leaving anything written.

So, you think that saying nothing about the hole in the wall between your apartment and theirs is better than a handwritten apology? Have you tried to call them? If you have not seen them for a while either they are away or you're not tryin' very hard. If I came home from a trip and found a bullet hole in my wall, I'd appreciate a handwritten note over having to call the landlord or the cops and gettin' the story secondhand. Being apathetic about the damage and the danger you exposed them too is not gonna make them feel safe and will most likely fuel their anger. Time for you to man up and be responsible.

 

[danprkr]

Looks like i got my 1 KaBOOM

Take it and be happy. But more importantly be more careful. I've had one AD, and am so happy my sister didn't get killed I can't express it. Well, at least most of the time I'm happy Anyway, learn the lesson, and it was a cheap class.

 

[mercedesrules]

I predict that a lawyer will advise you not to initiate contact with the neighbors concerning this matter.

 

[BP Hunter]

I am in the medical field. And at times, us doctors can make mistakes. It's the truthful doctor, who admits to the patient of the error made and a sincere apology that can protect us from a suit.

 

[MedWheeler]

Those of you who are asking why he pulled the trigger are missing the point of his post. He's not looking for advice on how to prevent another unwanted discharge. He's looking for advice on how to deal with his neighbors/landlord, or if you think he even needs to. I disagree that that specific advice would be better forthcoming if you had "all the dirt" on him first. He's sick enough over it; no need to make him re-live it.
There are basically two points that lead up to this event: 1) He pulled the trigger. 2) He should not have.
He is painfully aware of those points now, and so are we.

 

[AZ_Rebel]

There are basically two points that lead up to this event: 1) He pulled the trigger. 2) He should not have.

Actually there are 4 points that lead up to this incident. All 4 safety rules were broken at once!

Looks like i got my 1 KaBOOM

Hmmmm.... You seemed to have latched onto the idea that "everybody gets one mistake". Never accepted that premise handling firearms and no-one else should either. That "one mistake" can easily cost a life and you cannot write that off as your "one mistake -getoutajailfree "card".

You ask for advise... Lock up your guns until you have taken a reputable training course in the use of firearms and have learned safe gun handling to an extent where it is a conditioned reflex.

 

[shiftyer1]

I have no legal advise but I gotta say I totally agree with post #7. I was going to post something very similar. I will say that when I remove a gun from the safe or other places I always check the chamber multiple times before I pull the trigger. This is the reason I very seldom practice dry fire sessions, it just doesn't feel right pullin the trigger inside.