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Guns are mechanical devices. Humans are, well....human. I am of the firm belief that when humans interact with mechanical devices, mistakes are bound to happen. Most often, the human fails. Sometimes the gun fails.
There may be a select few firearms enthusiasts that have never experienced an unintended (better term than "accidental", since most could be prevented) discharge with a weapon. Fewer yet that have never been in proximity of one. Personally, I don't know anyone who has spent much time with firearms that can claim they have no experience with this.
This said, I also believe that it is in the sharing of such experiences that others can be prevented. I share my experiences, and I always seek out those of others. It allows my "radar" to activate when I see a similar situation developing.
Here's one: (I was not present, but my "radar" saved me from being present at a later one, as I will relate.) This was first-hand from the police officer that responded.
Guy walks up to a gun counter at a big sporting goods store in Great Falls, Montana. He has a deer rifle to trade in on a new one. Hands the gun to the store guy. Store guy looks it over, sets the gun on the pad on the counter, then both walk a short distance away to examine the new gun off the rack. Enter customer #2.
Customer #2 says howdy to the store guy, picks up the gun, asks the owner about it, sights thru the scope across the store, and kills an employee on a ladder stocking shelves.
Ruled an accident, we all know it wasn't. Three seperate people had the opportunity to prevent it.
Different store, (The old Larry's in Oregon City): I'm a customer at the gun counter. In walks customer #2 with a deer rifle to trade in. Hands the deer rifle to store guy, store guy examines it (exterior only). Sets the gun down on the pad on the counter, starts to walk away with Customer #2 to look at a new gun, and my temples start pounding, and tunnel vision sets in. I start walking toward the gun quickly just as Store Guy #2 picks it up. I disregard any feelings of personal embarassment as I yell, "WHOA!" All eyes on me. I ask very loudly, and with no room for debate, "Open that bolt, please!" Turns out there was nothing in the chamber, but 3 rounds of very healthy 30-06's rest comfortably in the magazine.
Store Guys immediately assure me that they would have checked it (somehow, eventually, I guess). I then share the Great Falls story with them, but I am still made to feel that I over-reacted somewhat. Don't think so.
Ok, fellow humans, what've you got? I have some (very few, fortunately) more.
There may be a select few firearms enthusiasts that have never experienced an unintended (better term than "accidental", since most could be prevented) discharge with a weapon. Fewer yet that have never been in proximity of one. Personally, I don't know anyone who has spent much time with firearms that can claim they have no experience with this.
This said, I also believe that it is in the sharing of such experiences that others can be prevented. I share my experiences, and I always seek out those of others. It allows my "radar" to activate when I see a similar situation developing.
Here's one: (I was not present, but my "radar" saved me from being present at a later one, as I will relate.) This was first-hand from the police officer that responded.
Guy walks up to a gun counter at a big sporting goods store in Great Falls, Montana. He has a deer rifle to trade in on a new one. Hands the gun to the store guy. Store guy looks it over, sets the gun on the pad on the counter, then both walk a short distance away to examine the new gun off the rack. Enter customer #2.
Customer #2 says howdy to the store guy, picks up the gun, asks the owner about it, sights thru the scope across the store, and kills an employee on a ladder stocking shelves.
Ruled an accident, we all know it wasn't. Three seperate people had the opportunity to prevent it.
Different store, (The old Larry's in Oregon City): I'm a customer at the gun counter. In walks customer #2 with a deer rifle to trade in. Hands the deer rifle to store guy, store guy examines it (exterior only). Sets the gun down on the pad on the counter, starts to walk away with Customer #2 to look at a new gun, and my temples start pounding, and tunnel vision sets in. I start walking toward the gun quickly just as Store Guy #2 picks it up. I disregard any feelings of personal embarassment as I yell, "WHOA!" All eyes on me. I ask very loudly, and with no room for debate, "Open that bolt, please!" Turns out there was nothing in the chamber, but 3 rounds of very healthy 30-06's rest comfortably in the magazine.
Store Guys immediately assure me that they would have checked it (somehow, eventually, I guess). I then share the Great Falls story with them, but I am still made to feel that I over-reacted somewhat. Don't think so.
Ok, fellow humans, what've you got? I have some (very few, fortunately) more.
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