Except that if you, me, or someone else already loaded a double load, or loaded smokeless, or some other not great idea, popping a cap is going to have a potentially catastrophic result and doesn't actually prevent this kind of incident, but instead actually increases the odds of it occurring vrs confirming you're starting with an unloaded firearm in the first place.
I went back and re-read my posts on this thread to see what sort of claims I had made, and frankly I'm not sure how what I said generated this kind of a response.
1. I haven't claimed that following the commonly recommended procedure of snapping a cap as the first step in the loading process would prevent every possible type of incident. It won't. But it would have prevented this particular one, assuming that the information provided is correct.
2. I haven't claimed that the practice will, by itself, totally render the process of shooting a blackpowder firearm safe. One can still load it with smokeless powder, put multiple charges in, point it in unsafe directions, etc., etc., etc. and cause damage to the gun or injury/damage to property and others as a result. BUT, following the commonly recommended practice will insure that one doesn't put another load on top of an undetected load already in the gun as happened in this incident. Or at least it will insure that won't happen if the first load will still fire--which would have also prevented this incident.
3. I haven't claimed it's the only way or the best way or the safest way to determine if a blackpowder gun is already loaded. There are other ways, other safe ways, even other safer ways, but this is certainly ONE way. It provides sort of a failsafe for those who either don't use those other ways or meant to and forgot.
Which means that not only is it a good way to clear the channel and ready the gun for use--the reason it is commonly recommended--it can also provide a sort of safety net for certain types of potentially dangerous incidents.
