Rules 1, 2, & 3 FAIL: PA Gun Store Shooting

[mister_murphy]

ATBackPackin,

Thanks for teaching your nephew the golden rules. i hope that he always remember those lessons you are giving him. I do appluad you for doing this for him and giving a great gift.

 

[gspn]

The saddest thing is that someone else usually underwrites your mistake. In this case it was a precious child.

 

[twofifty]

I don't see the logic behind opening a vehicle door and getting behind the wheel ALL THE WHILE holding a handgun. Getting into a car or pickup usually requires both hands - they're used for support on the door and steering wheel, or to help shift one's weight into the car. Holding a handgun at the same time makes an everyday task into a 3-ring circus act. Clueless.

The use of a holster, gun rug or handgun box would have kept everyone safe and sane. Poor kid.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Getting into a car or pickup usually requires both hands - they're used for support on the door and steering wheel, or to help shift one's weight into the car.

Maybe if you're paraplegic.

I get in and out of vehicles all the time with both hands full. Unless it's a really tall truck or low-slung, narrow entried sports car like a Corvette, it's really not difficult. Heck, plenty of one armed (and even no armed) people drive cars.

PS-

DO NOT use your steering wheel to support your weight, unless you're ok with replacing the column. It will eventually give out. Modern tilt columns are cast aluminum and plastic; They're not the solid steel tubes of yore. And the door handle? Yeah, that'll break too. If you need to aid yourself in vehicle entry with your hands, grab the roof over the door (or use the "Oh s***" handle inside)

 

[9MMare]

Very sad and disturbing event. I cannot fathom why the father had his weapon in hand while entering his vehicle.

The article I read said that he was putting the gun in a car gun safe when it went off. I dont remember exactly but I think it may have referred to the glove compartment too.

 

[EVIL]

Horrible tragedy ... really hits home for me as I have 7 year old son who I am teaching the rules of firearm safety to, with his BB gun as he accompanies me on trips to the range. We are just getting ready to move up to a .22, as his safety has been demonstrated to me for over a year now.

It never hurts to have a tragic reminder to keep you own personal situational awareness & adherence to the rules proficient, and avoid complacency. I am very cautious but as a reminder to myself to be safe when I am so focused on teaching him safe handling & drilling him the 4 rules.

I have on a couple of occaissions seen unsafe behavior at the range, competitions several times and I have always corrected the individual(s).

More recently, a gentleman who I compete with was shot in the abdomen by a .45 JHP in his home by a ND from a friend mishandling a carry firearm. I have never observed him mishandle a firearm after numerous times in competition once. He had to have a portion of his colon removed, lost 50 lbs and was out of work for 6 months. The friend was an 'experienced shooter' who 'cleared' the firearm incorrectly, and was placing it into a pistol case when he had a ND & it riccocheted off a heavy workbench and into the gentleman's abdomen. Thankfully, the gentleman has made a mostly complete recovery --- but I tell this story only to illustrate that this happens to guys like us. You cannot control the actions of others, but you need to have your brain engaged at all times.

 

[Legionnaire]

Another totally preventable tragedy. Guns aren't inherently dangerous, but people who handle them without the proper respect for their power certainly are.

Gotta disagree with you on the underlined part, Kevin. Of course guns are inherently dangerous ... just like chainsaws. It's why you have to treat them carefully.

 

[ExTank]

I think what coloradokevin was saying is that guns, in and of themselves, typically aren't dangerous. Few are of sufficiently bad design to randomly discharge for no reason whatsoever, and those designs/models usually go bye-bye from the market toot-sweet in recalls.

It's that when you add people to the mix (people handling guns, people shooting guns, etc) that they are as you describe; a potentially dangerous tool if improperly handled, but safe it treated and handled with respect.