Accidental Discharge while driving?

[longdayjake]

(By Jakemccoy) Do you see nothing wrong with any of the gun handling here? That’s not a rhetorical question. I honestly want to know.

I have always wondered why people seem to think that because someone else made a mistake that they are somehow smarter and incapable of fault. Because your question was obviously an attempt to imply that I am an idiot and that I don't think there is anything wrong with what happened, I will answer it in the same tone.

No, I don't think it is smart to load a gun in a truck and then shoot a hole in the floor. No I don't think it was smart of me to let him play with my gun. No, I will not pull my hair out and cover myself with sand because I and my friend made a stupid mistake. I admitted that I was complacant because I never had a reason to doubt my friend's safety with guns. I admitted that I was lucky not to be hurt. I admitted I learned a lesson. I mentioned that I laughed only to keep myself from "wetting my pants."

Now, I have a question for you. Do you believe your gun handling is so good and perfectly safe every time that you will never have an accident? I hope not because your pride and complete confidence in your godliness with firearms will probably end in getting someone hurt. It was an error in judgement that caused him to load a round into a gun that he was confident was safe. His confidence in his gun safety was what ultimately made him comprimise his and my safety. I suggest that you stop thinking that everyone around you is so stupid and take this as a reminder for how sometimes thinking that you are safe with guns is the one thing that you lack in gun safety. The best we can do is admit that we are all idiots by nature and try not to be tempted to believe that we are somehow unable to make mistakes. If you honestly believe that you will NEVER make a mistake when handling firearms then the powers that be will probably show you just how wrong you are. The Titanic sank simply because they said it couldn't.

One more question --what did you really expect me to say to a comment as insulting and egotistical as what you posted? I am more disgusted with your rudeness and lack of productive criticism then I was with having a hole in my truck. It's sad that we have people so mean on this site.

 

[jakemccoy]

Hi longdayjake,

I make mistakes with firearms. I beat myself up for any negligence much more than I've beaten you up. However, this particular incident was your negligence, not mine. You messed. Your gun handling was negligent. If that makes you defensive, man up. Stop being a baby. I come down on myself much harder.

I played basketball in college. I was the guy on the team who stayed an hour in the gym after practice for missing too many shots during the game. I'd tear into others for making bonehead mistakes. I'd tear into myself even harder.

There's some perspective. That's me. The opposite type of guy provides anti-gunners with convincing reasons for gun control.

Regards,
-Jake

 

[pyle]

That is Negligent, not Accidental. A gun is designed to fire when the trigger is pulled. Guns do not "go off" unless there is a physical mechanical failure. Pulling the trigger is a 'human' failure

I did say it was an ND - not an accident.

Are you saying that he checks to see if his guns are on safety by pulling the trigger? You might want to talk to him about that.

It's been about 25 years since this happened. But yes, me and the other guy gave him a good "teaching" that day and you can bet he was MUCH safer after that. Neither one of us (me and the other guy walking in front) were particularly happy about a 12 gauge going off a few feet behind us - with us completely turned away from him - not expectng a shot of any kind.

 

[coloradokevin]

This was a negligent discharge, not accidental. There was no mechanical malfunction, only a malfunction of the brain.

I agree with this.

I don't say so to criticize the OP, but rather to suggest that some safer practices should be observed in the future:

1) Don't play with the gun, or let anyone else. It isn't a toy

2) Don't handle the gun while in a moving vehicle, if at all possible

3) Don't keep ammo in the same place that you are practicing dry fires.

This was a careless incident, but fortunately no one was hurt. Just learn from it!

No one is immune from mistakes of the mind, but we need to take appropriate precautions when dealing with serious equipment...

I know a fellow officer who nearly died a few years ago after shooting himself in the leg outside of our shooting range. He was disassembling his new Glock in his patrol car, and forgot the round in the chamber before pulling the trigger (with the gun pointed at his thigh). To this day this officer has medical complications from this incident, and he nearly died as a result of that wound (in all honesty, he probably would have bled out from the artery hit if another officer wasn't in the parking area to hear the shot and render first aid).


In short, thanks for the story! It is a great reminder for all of us to be careful!

 

[longdayjake]

Thanks coloradokevin,

My job requires that we watch several different surveilance videos of our officers either getting beat up or doing something stupid. The point of watching our co-workers do stupid stuff was not to say, "hey you are stupid and should go into severe depression and try and kill yourself." But rather we look at all of the things that the officer could have done different to change the outcome of the situation. The videos range from getting caught by an administrator while reading the want ads in the news paper to getting beat up and choked out by a tweaker. I have even been the star in one of these videos (sorry, I wasn't the one that got choked out.) We learn from these videos so that we can make better decisions. I hope that anyone that has read this thread does not make the same stupid mistakes. Thanks coloradokevin for understanding the true purpose behind this thread. If admitting to my mistake helps keep someone else from doing the same thing then what do I care if it gives anti-gunners more "ammunition" to use against us. My biggest concern is the safety of others and not what some liberal-nut job thinks of me or our gun community.

 

[RaferJanders]

Glad he did not hit his femral and bleed out in front of you, I got buddy
he whatch his buddy a Western Washington football player bleed out on the I 5 in traffic, I don't let non gun savy people handle my weapons period, Just because of stuff like this,Glad he is ok, Man free Jerkey Cool, maybe a couple of gallons of gas a week?

 

[longdayjake]

maybe a couple of gallons of gas a week?

I don't want to bankrupt the guy. Jeez!

 

[ZeSpectre]

Okay so the guy was flat out negligent with that pistol. You can't change the past but maybe it's time to get a view on the future.

1) Print out a copy of Col. Cooper's "Four rules for safe gun handling".
2) Make sure your friend reads, memorizes, and UNDERSTANDS the rules and why they are important.
3) If he gives you any (and I do mean ANY) crap over the issue then you need a new friend.
4) If your friend displays any further dangerous gun handling habits then you need to find a new friend (Hey he already deafened you and put a hole in your truck).

He's used his "damn that was lucky" moment and if he doesn't learn and do better then you don't need to be putting yourself in danger.

That's my advice, take it or leave it.

 

[SN13]

My worst and only ND: I fired at the trap house as I Called "Pull"

PULL!-BANG!

I was working on getting onto the bird as fast as possible.... I guess I jumped the gun.

 

[romma]

Neglidental... Accident, negligent= semantics to me.

To me accident means not on purpose, or without intent.

I don't mean not intentionally pulling the trigger, I mean intentionally intending to fire the gun.

 

[DAVIDSDIVAD]

I've got one question for your buddy, though:

Why would you rack the slide on a glock to dry fire?

hahah

 

[glennser]

I'm really saddened sometimes by the holier than thou attitudes sometimes expressed on this site, the OP was kind enough to share his experience with us, in no way was he condoning or encouraging unsafe behavior, we all make mistakes and should feel comfortable sharing with others so we can all learn from it rather than be told over and over "I would never be that stupid, what were you thinking? Let me tell you again what you did wrong (even though you already told us) and why that means you're a complete idiot....."
We all make mistakes sometimes and I for one am very grateful to the OP for sharing.
There seems to be universal agreement that he was completely wrong to let his friend handle the gun with ammunition nearby but I'm confused, is everyone saying they never ever hand a loaded gun to any of their friends or family? Also I don't really know what difference being in a vehicle makes, this particular accident could have happened just the same at a range or in a sitting room, local laws regarding firearms in vehicles not withstanding what difference does it make as long as you're being careful?
And please spare me a lecture on AD vs ND, I get the difference, just let it go.

glennser

 

[Aguila Blanca]

okay so negligent discharge then. Either way it was an accident.

No, it was not an accident. He pulled the trigger. The gun did not fire due to any mechanical malfunction. Your friend loaded the gun and pulled the trigger. The gun went off because he wasn't paying attention to what he was doing. That isn't an accident. That's negligence.