A simple device could help curb accidental gun deaths, but most firearms don’t have it
A simple device could help curb accidental gun deaths, but most firearms don’t have it
At least 277 people have been killed since 2000 by shooters who believed the gun in their hands was unloaded because the magazine was removed.
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Well there also is proper fucking training.
Always assume a weapon is loaded if you haven't checked the chamber. Even then make sure you point the barrel in a safe direction.
- Treat every firearm as if it is loaded
- Never point your gun at something you are not willing to destroy
- Always know your target and what is behind it
- Never put your finger on the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
Did I miss any? 🤔
Edit: Typo.
- Don't give access to a firearm to the ones who don't know or respect the above.
Never take the safety off until you are ready to shoot
Never pull the trigger if a wabbit has its finger stuck in the barrel
Visibly check the chamber before assuming it is clear.
Always assume a weapon is loaded if you haven’t checked the chamber.
Always assume a weapon is loaded. Period. Even if you've checked the chamber. You can be mistaken on what you see, especially if you're tired or not paying attention.
When I was in Iraq one of the guys in my unit had a negligent discharge. He swore he checked the chamber for a round. My guess is he halfway racked the slide and thought he saw the side of the chamber when he really saw dirty brass. Luckily he fired into the clearing barrel but you don't want an ND ever.
Your eyes and brain can lie to you. Don't trust them.
But with the blast shield down I can't see anything!
I think the point here is that anyone without training can pick up someone else's firearm and fire it believing that it's empty when it's not. A child wouldn't necessarily know that there's still a bullet in the chamber.
Edit: Apparently, I said something unpopular.
Why is your firearm somewhere it can be picked up by someone who isn't trained?
Because accidents happen?
What kind of accident are you imagining where someone untrained encounters your loaded weapon?
People sometimes forget where they left things. Even important things. Even things where somebody can die if you don't remember in time.
It's kind of like asking "what kind of accident are you imagining where someone leaves a baby in a hot car?" Nobody is expecting that to happen to them, but sometimes a person just forgets for no logical reason.
That's not to say they're not still responsible for whatever happens, though. But it's still good to give consideration to the possibility.
Your kids guess the number to the safe is an easy one.
It shouldn’t be loaded in the safe, but it’s not hard to load a gun
That's how most of these accidents happen. Only takes "forgetting" one time.
I realize any sort of regulation whatsoever is anathema to a lot of people who own guns, but I really think we would cut down on gun deaths by a huge margin if you were required to take a gun safety class before you could buy a gun. I'm sure you could give a basic overview of gun safety with one short class and it would be enough to stop a great many accidental deaths.
Something like 50 to 60 percent of gun deaths are self deletions. I'm not sure how many of those are suicide vs negligent discharge though.
it's hard to know, because any of the NDs could be misreported suicides
At least in my state this IS required, people just ignore all of it the second they walk out of the store with their license