I'm in the hospital because I made a near-fatal error
- Thread starter Bearcat1982
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Bearcat1982
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I get that. I have had ups and downs, mixed feeling about it. I was very broken record asking if I could have it though. That small piece of lead with my help of course had me doubled over begging for help and carried out like a child. The amount of humbling is unmeasurable.
Welcome to THR. As many others have noted, we're glad that your mistake wasn't literally fatal, and we wish you a full and speedy recover. It's also a good reminder to all of us that, regardless of the reason(s) for which each of us own guns, they can be deadly.
It is very humbling. It also can be used to refocus on what is important and what isn't. I don't sweat the small stuff anymore.
Don't let one mistake beat you up forever. We just put a lot more emphasis on it because it's a firearm. Every day we do things that are dangerous and can potentially put us in the same hospital bed.
I'm by no means saying don't be more careful with firearms. I've put more checks in the place to make sure accidents don't happen with my firearms and other things I do.
redcon1
member
I have long maintained that reholstering of striker fired saftieless firearms is an accident waiting to happen. That's one reason why I have such a problem with having to store my firearm in the car while I enter an establishment that prohibits concealed carry. When I know I'm going to have to do that for some reason, I make sure I'm carrying my Glock on an empty chamber for the brief period of time where it might be necessary to remove the firearm from it's holster and lock it up in the car. I think this is probably a fairly common cause of UDs.
Sometimes bullets do bounce off of bones.
My step mom shot my dad with a 380 in the left thigh. Luckily she didn't hit what she was aiming for. Bullet hit the thigh bone. Bullet traveled up and around the pelvis. Bullet came to a stop in his right thigh. Only an entry wound and no exit wound. Took doctors a bit figuring out where this bullet went.
What I think is really CRAZY is that he picked her up when she got out of jail. Couple of drunks in true love lol!
My step mom shot my dad with a 380 in the left thigh. Luckily she didn't hit what she was aiming for. Bullet hit the thigh bone. Bullet traveled up and around the pelvis. Bullet came to a stop in his right thigh. Only an entry wound and no exit wound. Took doctors a bit figuring out where this bullet went.
What I think is really CRAZY is that he picked her up when she got out of jail. Couple of drunks in true love lol!
I learned that after a ND about 20 years ago. I was clearing a gun in the trunk of my car. I didn't get a real good angle looking at the gun when I hit the mag release and opened the action- I saw the chamber empty, but didn't see the mag hadn't dropped.
Fortunately, I was using my range bag, a heavy tool bag with a few boxes of 45s, as a clearing barrel. It contained the round, for the most part. Except for a little splatter that came back and hit me in the forehead, and I figured that was a cheap enough lesson.
Since then, I always check the chamber and mag well with my fingers.
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Old Dog
Member
I cannot document this, but I've been told by one of my wife's fellow nurses who's worked in a major hospital ER that indeed, they've seen a few cases over the past few years of this (self-inflicted GSWs from reholstering AIWB or otherwise when only one person is involved). When I asked why this doesn't make the news, apparently hospitals do not issue press releases on every case that comes into the ER, and most of those involved in these incidents do not wish the information to be shared publicly.
While those who are vocal advocates of AIWB carry with striker-fired, no manual safety pistols continue to proclaim how safe and wonderful this mode of carry is, the fact is, that if bad things happen to someone, we generally will never find out about it unless there's a compelling public interest (generally if there's a law enforcement response or it's a second person suffering GSW caused by an ND) or the individual(s) involved want to share any information. So there is a reason statistics on these occurrences aren't readily available.
All I know is, I've personally witnessed two NDs in the past twelve years when people shot themselves while holstering a Condition 1 striker-fired pistol. Neither case made the news.
But I want to thank the OP for continuing to share his story in this thread, and I believe it's given us all a compelling reminder of the importance of following the Four Rules (all firearms safety practices) as well as some valuable insights and productive discussion.
230RN
2A was "political" when it was first adopted.
Yep. Dirt under the extractor so it won't close on the round. I'm not fanatical about gun cleaning, but that's something I check.
Thanks to the OP for bringing up this subject.
Incidentally, I wonder if the NRA still has automatic insurance for a member's accidental death by a firearm. I always wondered about the wisdom of that but don't remember what the exact parameters were or even if it's still valid.
Anyone know for sure? Life member, but haven't seen anything about that in years. This thread raised the question up in my mind.
Terry, 230RN
teerex.otw
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Well said !
This is especially true using tools (power as well as hand tools) while working on firearms or anything else.
I’ve lost more blood and skin working on guns than I ever have shooting them !
Most important is probably safety glasses…not just for shooting…anything that produces chips/flying debris, anything spring-loaded, or chemicals can cause a lot of grief.
old lady new shooter
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I first joined in 2015 and didn't see that at the time. They also AFAIK no longer give free firearms insurance (for $2500 worth of guns).
Wow!
Sir, your post has a very profound message!
(I think I will use a line, or two when allowed to speak in public)
I hope for a complete recovery without serious complications.
The minute we think we have things figured out, stuff happens.
My father suffered a gunshot wound to his leg from a .22LR that he used to carry. One day, the pistol fell from his hip and into his trouser leg. He attempted to grab it before it hit the floor, and, instead, he pulled the trigger. He did not suffer permanent damage, only his ego was forever injured!
It happens to the best of us. Like one big poster reads: Complacency kills.
The minute we think we have things figured out, stuff happens.
My father suffered a gunshot wound to his leg from a .22LR that he used to carry. One day, the pistol fell from his hip and into his trouser leg. He attempted to grab it before it hit the floor, and, instead, he pulled the trigger. He did not suffer permanent damage, only his ego was forever injured!
It happens to the best of us. Like one big poster reads: Complacency kills.
Armybrat
Member
I “shot” myself in the family jewels decades ago with a tear gas pen like the one below. It had been sitting on a closet shelf forgotten, but cocked, for years when I knocked it off while moving a dusty box.
Luckily the old gas cartridge had lost most of its “oomph” and just bruised me a little in that tender spot.
Am very glad it wasn’t a real firearm.
Luckily the old gas cartridge had lost most of its “oomph” and just bruised me a little in that tender spot.
Am very glad it wasn’t a real firearm.
desmobob
Member
I have to correct you... you were in the hospital because you made a near-fatal error. A fatal error would have put you in the graveyard, and I'm sure glad that didn't happen. Thanks for being brave enough to share the story and help all of us remember to be safe.
hemiram
Member
I hope your recovery goes well.
I learned a while back to not mess with my guns when I'm really tired. I had a .22lr pistol, can't remember what it was anymore, and I cleaned it. After I finished, for some dumb reason, I put a loaded magazine in it, racked the slide, and then about 10 seconds later, pulled the trigger. It was in the middle of the night, and I hadn't slept for about 24 hours. It was shockingly LOUD and it went at about a 45 degree angle into the area where the oak floor met the baseboard. My dogs were in the room with me and they bailed out and went into the family room and went to sleep on the couch. My mother was about 80 back then, and she was in the room next door, and never even woke up. I never told her about it. When I sold my house about 10 years later to a friend of mine, he dug out the bullet when he redid the baseboard trim. I decided to never mess with any ammo when I'm tired, and I never put a gun away in a case with a loaded mag in it.
I did mess up when I was about 14, too. I put a bb through my left hand when my CO2 pistol froze up and I was shaking it, trying to get a BB to feed and I pulled the trigger and it went all the way through. It didn't hurt as much as the BB in my face hurt a few months before that, but it hurt a lot. I bit the bullet and poured alcohol on both sides of my hand, followed by peroxide a little while later. No infection,but it took a while to stop hurting and close up 100%.
I learned a while back to not mess with my guns when I'm really tired. I had a .22lr pistol, can't remember what it was anymore, and I cleaned it. After I finished, for some dumb reason, I put a loaded magazine in it, racked the slide, and then about 10 seconds later, pulled the trigger. It was in the middle of the night, and I hadn't slept for about 24 hours. It was shockingly LOUD and it went at about a 45 degree angle into the area where the oak floor met the baseboard. My dogs were in the room with me and they bailed out and went into the family room and went to sleep on the couch. My mother was about 80 back then, and she was in the room next door, and never even woke up. I never told her about it. When I sold my house about 10 years later to a friend of mine, he dug out the bullet when he redid the baseboard trim. I decided to never mess with any ammo when I'm tired, and I never put a gun away in a case with a loaded mag in it.
I did mess up when I was about 14, too. I put a bb through my left hand when my CO2 pistol froze up and I was shaking it, trying to get a BB to feed and I pulled the trigger and it went all the way through. It didn't hurt as much as the BB in my face hurt a few months before that, but it hurt a lot. I bit the bullet and poured alcohol on both sides of my hand, followed by peroxide a little while later. No infection,but it took a while to stop hurting and close up 100%.
OP
OP
Bearcat1982
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Been a tough couple days. But we're mending. Got knocked down a peg or two. Hope you guys are all well. Appreciate the replies.
old lady new shooter
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Somebody here once posted never try to catch your gun if it's falling. Probably good advice, stuck with me at least.
old lady new shooter
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old lady new shooter
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Thanks for reporting in.
Stay hydrated and try to walk around a little, even 5 minutes once an hour.
Glad you’re recovering! This is the kind of stuff that gives me nightmares… I remember one time I almost got crazy at a range day. (Part of it was a tremendous adrenaline dump after a drill!!) a guy with me saw what was up and gently pushed my muzzle back… not a word said, but I (one that quizzes others on safety) was suitably chagrined… I quadruple check everything… a young friend of ours, a young mom, had a holster malfunction and put a hap bullet through both legs… somehow never touched anything vital and she can watch her 14 month old grow up…
230RN
2A was "political" when it was first adopted.
I had one of those penguns once, dangerous to uncock, and dangerous to leave uncocked since the firing pin rested on the primer.
You probably got caught in the nethers by the wadding. Tested one out once by firing it upwards in a closed small bathroom with the fan off. As the "microdust," as they called it, settled down it was unpleasant, but not unbearable, though I would not like to get a cloud of it directly in the face.
I guess it could be classsed as a firearm, if you granted that a load of "microdust" was a "projectile."
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gitarmac
Member
Wow! Being gutshot has to be the worst shot! Glad you survived it. Thanks for posting, it took courage. Don't beat yourself up over it, just get well.
I had colon resection surgery, it was a piece of cake, I'm sure your surgery was much more complicated.
It really is a miracle you survived. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers, hopefully when you feel better you get give a detailed account, I know a lot of people are curious about such things.
I had colon resection surgery, it was a piece of cake, I'm sure your surgery was much more complicated.
It really is a miracle you survived. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers, hopefully when you feel better you get give a detailed account, I know a lot of people are curious about such things.
FlSwampRat
Member
Just recently had an accidental discharge at the range. I say AD not ND because I wasn't negligent, the hammer broke on my Extar EP9 and it didn't stay back, dropped on a live round. The weapon was pointed downrange and nothing exciting happened other than the accidental double-tap. Extar shipped a new hammer and it was a breeze to put in and no more fuss and bother. This is why we always point them downrange until cleared.
kimberkid
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I can completely sympathize with your situation and pray for the best possible outcome.
I have a good idea of what you’re going through. In 2013 doctors discovered a tumor in my colon, just before Christmas. It was only a couple cm’s and I opted to wait until after Christmas, however in the 3 weeks prior to surgery the grew to 6cm (about the size of an chicken egg) and grew “tentacles”. The surgeon completely removed my large intestine to insure he didn’t cut into and release cancerous cells.
I was off work almost 9 months. Mine was any but a piece of cake, it was about 2 years before I was somewhat normal although with a colostomy bag.
I have a good idea of what you’re going through. In 2013 doctors discovered a tumor in my colon, just before Christmas. It was only a couple cm’s and I opted to wait until after Christmas, however in the 3 weeks prior to surgery the grew to 6cm (about the size of an chicken egg) and grew “tentacles”. The surgeon completely removed my large intestine to insure he didn’t cut into and release cancerous cells.
I was off work almost 9 months. Mine was any but a piece of cake, it was about 2 years before I was somewhat normal although with a colostomy bag.
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