I had an AD once. I'm not proud of it, I'm actually quite ashamed. If telling my story can help someone else avoid it, then good can come of it. Fortunately, nobody was hurt, and no damage was done. And, it made one heck of an impression in me. Here's what happened:
My dad (absolutely great with firearm safety, one of the best I have ever seen) and I were cleaning multiple handguns and inventorying the ammo supply for each. (a common event in our home) I think we were getting ready to go for a shoot or something. I was young, I think I was about 8 or 10 so, and we were talking about how different guns feel, different designs, different methods to check chambers of different mfgrs, etc. And I picked up a gun that looked so similar to one I had just been handling, (I had checked the first one) and went to point in a safe direction, to dry fire, and 'BANG!' It was obviously (then) not the gun I had just been handling. It was one of only 2 guns my father kept loaded in the entire house, both kept in his room (the other was a 12 ga.), both for quick access in case of a home-defense need.
In my case I was lucky. It was loaded such the first shot to fire (revolver) was a 'snake shot' round, with the magnums to follow. And, I was pointing it at a window, that was covered by one of those lovely late 70's heavy roll down wood and cloth shades. No damage done at all. Man, it scared the waddin' out of me.
My dad was quite surprised, (as was I) did not get upset, and was able to quickly recognize that was a mistake, a lucky outcome, and an event that would likely make a lifelong impression on me. It did.
To this day, EVERY time I pick up a firearm, even if nobody else is around, and I just set it down, I check it again the FIRST thing when I pick it up. It was an easy mistake to make, given the similarities in the firearms involved, but ultimately, the responsibility lied with me.
There are many rules about safety and firearms. I have taught several people to shoot, (my father has taught many) and the first 3 rules we discuss before any guns get touched are:
1) always treat every gun as if it is loaded
1) never point a gun at anything you do not intend to shoot
1) when you pick up a firearm, the first thing you do is to confirm it is not loaded, and still treat it like it is.
Notice how they are all labeled #1
- that's not an accident.
For those of us that have had an AD, I think its safe to say that is one of those events in life that is burned into our memory, and certainly underscores the importance of the safety rules.
Best wishes, and be safe.