OH MY HECK! Gunshow gone wrong

[sidheshooter]

^^^ I disagree. owning a gun in and of itself is not negligent. Violating the four rules, resulting in injury is.

I would say that anyone who picks up any gun and pulls the trigger without chamber checking and gets surprised by an unwanted "bang" fits your own criteria:

In order to rise to the level of negligence someone has to do something that they know, or should have known is dangerous that led to the accident. There is no reason to believe a gun on a table at a gunshow would be loaded.

There is every reason to believe that a gun *could* be loaded, however. Here we have yet more proof of this under discussion, once again.

JMNSHO.

 

[ID-shooting]

I strongly disagree. The vendor didn't check an clear and the customer didn't check and clear. Both are negligent in performing that duty. Basic safety proceedures that are common. I do not pick up a gun without a check and I don't hand over a gun without a check. I fully expect the person taking it from me to check as well.

You certainy wouldn't test fire without a check and clear would you?

I wouldn't give you an injection without checking a few things first. Guns are no different. They are unsafe if handled in unsafe manners.

If some azz hat didn't check and put a round into me you had better believe I would be pushing for negligence.

 

[gym]

I have to comment that here in FL, where I live, it's the honor system, "as I am sure it is most places", and all you need is one nut case to walk in with a loaded gun. No one would know until it was too late. He wouldn't last long, but it would be horrific for our rights. Also as mentioned, what about a magazine filled with live ammo anyone could slide a mag in and walk away, with the hope of someone racking the slide and firing it. Many times these large dealers are not watching as people pick up guns and fire them without permission when it's busy. I don't know how else it could be done, unless you had each vendor "have" to stand there the full time the guy was playing with his hardware. Which it should be anyway.
It would be impossible to check thousands of weapons on display at these shows for an inspector. Thus it's left up to the seller. This applies to people walking around with guns for sale also. These are not normal times.

 

[Sniper66]

I have heard here and in other venues various hysterical reactions to this accident. If you all calmly think about your own history with gun shows and other public venues, how often does this happen? I have been going to many gun shows for the past 10 years and go with friends who have been big fans of the Tulsa Show and others for 30 years. In all that time and thru all those shows, one of us remembers one accident...ONE. That, to me, is a fantastic track record for safety. What other public event can claim that level of safe fun? I encourage everyone, at every opportunity, to point out how safe gun sports are....please!!

 

[HighExpert]

An accidental discharge happens when a firearm malfunctions as in the sear shatters in a semi-auto. when you have people making mistakes, that is negligence. I have had an AD. A hardball gun that fired when I dropped the slide to load the weapon. (It was aimed in a safe direction and no damage was done.) I sent it back to Clark who found the sear had been "massaged" by an incompetent, (former owner) to the point that it shattered. Clark was very upset as it was one of his guns and he fixed it for free even though it was an idiot that destroyed his work. I don't have an ounce of sympathy for folks who don't follow the rules when it comes to guns, cars, marriages and about 30 other things in life. You don't follow the rules, you pay. Stupidity has a price. IMO

 

[76shuvlinoff]

Most of the handguns I see at shows around here are under glass. Most are flagged. You want to fondle it the attendant checks it flag or not. If I am the potential customer I immediately lay the mag (if applicable) on the table and chamber check it again.

Guns on open tables are ziptied.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Please explain to me how jumping under a table and laying on the floor will protect one from a bullet supposedly bouncing off walls and careening around the room.
I would be far too embarrassed to do such a thing.

It's called instinct. I would think gunfire where it's not supposed to be would cause me to immediately seek cover. And making yourself a smaller target certainly could help with a bulled careening around.

I guess we're just not all as tough and manly as you are. I guess it's a cross we'll have to bear.

 

[rio nueces]

You dive for cover if you've been involved with a shooting before. RC has served in combat, IIRC. He couldn't stand there upright while shots are fired anymore than you could coerce a catfish to get out of the water and walk up a beach.

Anyway, your logic is faulty.

Who says there's only going to be ONE shot?

For all you know some maniac snuck in a loaded 30 round magazine, slapped it in an AR-15, and that first shot is about to be followed by 29 more.

To immediately hit the floor...strikes me not only as excessively cautious but also illogical. You are no safer there than in case of the unlikely event of a bullet ricocheting around than if you are standing. And a proper response may call for a different action entirely.
Anyone who has been in combat has my sympathy, but many of us have been involved in armed and violent disagreements. Indeed the streets of America may be more hazardous than many duty stations.

As far as two shots or more you are correct - but that is a different ball of wax entirely.

 

[rio nueces]

It's called instinct. I would think gunfire where it's not supposed to be would cause me to immediately seek cover. And making yourself a smaller target certainly could help with a bulled careening around.

I guess we're just not all as tough and manly as you are. I guess it's a cross we'll have to bear.

I said nothing about being tough and manly.
It's interesting how we all react when faced with danger, especially sudden and unexpected danger. I, like others, have been a coward - other times I reacted in better ways.
Have you read 'The Red Badge of Courage'? That's the way we are.

I still think it doesn't matter a bit whether you crouch on the ground or stand upright if a single bullet is "careening around", which I think unlikely, and if it was it would have stopped before you reached the floor anyway.