Scituate Rod & Gun Club Shooting
This shooting death at a Massachusetts gun club took place last week. I was holding off posting anything about until more details came out. This particular article, however, caught my eye - and raised some issues with me.
Man dies in shooting accident
Sorry, Ron, I gotta hoist the bullshit flag on that one. While it's quite possible that none of the club's range rules were violated at the time of the shooting, the same can not be said about the most basic of gun safety rules.
Let's review: NRA Gun Safety Rules
Mr. Wilson was reportedly shot in the torso by his own rifle. I'd say this safety rule was not being followed too closely at the time.
Something caused the action to cycle, dropping the firing pin on the chambered round. It might not have been his finger, per se. It could have been a piece of equipment sitting nearby on the bench, that got caught in the trigger guard while he was adjusting his sights. It's just that kind of scenario that makes Rule #1 so crucial.
Yes, it is that simple. An unloaded gun will NEVER go off "accidentally". Furthermore, a loaded gun that does go off "accidentally" is much less likely to injure or kill anyone nearby if the muzzle end is pointed in a safe direction.
Funny how that works, huh?
Now, my heart goes out to Mr. Wilson's wife and children in their time of grief of suffering, but this claim that his death "had nothing to do with anything unsafe" is disingenuous, at best.
What's worse is that comments like that can only serve to fuel the fires of the anti-gun rights movement by shifting the blame away from the gun owner, and onto the gun itself.
The anti-gun crowd has made it their life's mission to prevent the private ownership of firearms by ordinary, law-abiding citizens. They seek to do this by portraying guns as evil killing machines, equipped with minds of their own, that can kill indiscriminately, regardless of whose finger is on the trigger.
Unfortunately, they've been quite effective at implementing this strategy over the years. They certainly don't need our "help".
Man dies in shooting accident
Brigitte Norton-Middleton, spokesperson for the Plymouth County District Attorney's office, said state police detectives also responded to the shooting. The gunshot wound, located in his torso area was accidental, she said.
"He was calibrating his hunting rifle when it accidentally went off," she said. "No one else was involved."
[snip]
Ron Rice, president of the Scituate Rod & Gun Club, said Wilson would come in and out "on a regular basis" to the club.
As far as safety measures go, Rice said safety rules are posted throughout the club and all visitors must pass a required safety course on firearm use prior to becoming a member.
The incident was not tied to any broken regulations at the club, he said.
"It had nothing to do with anything unsafe," he said.
Sorry, Ron, I gotta hoist the bullshit flag on that one. While it's quite possible that none of the club's range rules were violated at the time of the shooting, the same can not be said about the most basic of gun safety rules.
Let's review: NRA Gun Safety Rules
1. ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
This is the primary rule of gun safety. A safe direction means that the gun is pointed so that even if it were to go off it would not cause injury or damage. The key to this rule is to control where the muzzle or front end of the barrel is pointed at all times. Common sense dictates the safest direction, depending on different circumstances.
Mr. Wilson was reportedly shot in the torso by his own rifle. I'd say this safety rule was not being followed too closely at the time.
2. ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
When holding a gun, rest your finger on the trigger guard or along the side of the gun. Until you are actually ready to fire, do not touch the trigger.
Something caused the action to cycle, dropping the firing pin on the chambered round. It might not have been his finger, per se. It could have been a piece of equipment sitting nearby on the bench, that got caught in the trigger guard while he was adjusting his sights. It's just that kind of scenario that makes Rule #1 so crucial.
3. ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.
Whenever you pick up a gun, immediately engage the safety device if possible, and, if the gun has a magazine, remove it before opening the action and looking into the chamber(s) which should be clear of ammunition. If you do not know how to open the action or inspect the chamber(s), leave the gun alone and get help from someone who does.
Yes, it is that simple. An unloaded gun will NEVER go off "accidentally". Furthermore, a loaded gun that does go off "accidentally" is much less likely to injure or kill anyone nearby if the muzzle end is pointed in a safe direction.
Funny how that works, huh?
Now, my heart goes out to Mr. Wilson's wife and children in their time of grief of suffering, but this claim that his death "had nothing to do with anything unsafe" is disingenuous, at best.
What's worse is that comments like that can only serve to fuel the fires of the anti-gun rights movement by shifting the blame away from the gun owner, and onto the gun itself.
The anti-gun crowd has made it their life's mission to prevent the private ownership of firearms by ordinary, law-abiding citizens. They seek to do this by portraying guns as evil killing machines, equipped with minds of their own, that can kill indiscriminately, regardless of whose finger is on the trigger.
Unfortunately, they've been quite effective at implementing this strategy over the years. They certainly don't need our "help".
