The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The North Corral > Black Powder and Cowboy Action Shooting

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old May 15, 2011, 05:04 PM   #1
Hardcase
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 14, 2009
Location: Sunny Southern Idaho
Posts: 1,909
Something scary happened yesterday

Yesterday (Saturday) was a pretty big day. We had a charity shooting event at the range to raise money for breast cancer treatment. Over the past four years, we've raised over $15,000, so the shooting community is very supportive.

After the event, I hotfooted it over to the semi-monthly gun show that another club hosts at the local fairgrounds. While I was there, almost the worst thing that you can imagine happened. A guy bought a gun at the show, took it out to his truck, loaded it and accidentally shot himself in the chest. When I left the show, the paramedics were desperately trying to save him, but he died at the scene.

I'm posting this here because I consider all of you my friends, even though I haven't met any of you personally. But I'd like to be able to have that chance, someday, so I just wanted to remind everyone to please be careful and deliberate while handling your firearms. Yesterday's news was terrible to hear and I'd hate to hear it about any of you, your families or your friends.

Please take care.
__________________
Well we don't rent pigs and I figure it's better to say it right out front because a man that does like to rent pigs is... he's hard to stop - Gus McCrae
Hardcase is offline  
Old May 15, 2011, 05:39 PM   #2
Hawg
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 8, 2007
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 16,187
That's terrible. Do you know how it happened?
Hawg is offline  
Old May 15, 2011, 06:24 PM   #3
Hardcase
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 14, 2009
Location: Sunny Southern Idaho
Posts: 1,909
No, the police haven't released any details, other than that he had opened the door to his truck and was found slumped over the seat. His .45 caliber pistol was in the truck.

It caps off a rather disturbing weekend - three teens in eastern Idaho were injured on Friday when they were shooting with a 20 gauge shotgun and a convenience store clerk was shot in a robbery. Our little corner of the world is normally very quiet and this sort of thing is well out of the ordinary.
__________________
Well we don't rent pigs and I figure it's better to say it right out front because a man that does like to rent pigs is... he's hard to stop - Gus McCrae
Hardcase is offline  
Old May 15, 2011, 07:36 PM   #4
4V50 Gary
Staff
 
Join Date: November 2, 1998
Location: Colorado
Posts: 21,825
That's sad. Muzzle control is everything.

The late great Walter Cline, after whom the NMLRA range in Friendship is named, died via a firearms accident.
__________________
Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. Molon Labe!
4V50 Gary is offline  
Old May 15, 2011, 08:41 PM   #5
BrittB
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 8, 2011
Location: Oregon
Posts: 554
I wonder if he meant to do it? Not saying he did or anything but one has to wonder.
BrittB is offline  
Old May 15, 2011, 08:51 PM   #6
dalegribble
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 4, 2007
Posts: 861
suicide is painless....or so the old mash song goes.
__________________
Waltzes with woofs
dalegribble is offline  
Old May 15, 2011, 09:02 PM   #7
jimbob86
Junior member
 
Join Date: October 4, 2007
Location: All the way to NEBRASKA
Posts: 8,722
Quote:
suicide is painless....
That there is among the biggest of the lies the Hippie Generation gave us.

Nevermind that a .45 to the chest has GOT to HURT (and would not be intantaneous)...... as the sibling of someone who shot themselves, I can tell you it HURTS those left behind. It has been almost 20 years since my brother shot himself, and I am still angry and hurt about it.
jimbob86 is offline  
Old May 15, 2011, 10:07 PM   #8
bedbugbilly
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 19, 2009
Posts: 3,286
Whether it was a suicide or an accident - there are very two good lessons that go along with it. And I say this with conviction and compassion.

First - As someone who has "worked" suicides as an ambulance attendant many years ago and then later on Fire/Rescue - there is nothing that bad nor serious enough that justifies a person taking their own life. As already stated by a forum member here, those left behind will always have to live with the questions, pain and loss. I have had many sleepless nights over the years from sights that I cannot erase from my mind and from feeling the pain that I hae seen the victim's family and friends experience. We are all human and we all get depressed at times. However, we all need to be aware of the signes that a potential suicide victim exhibits and try and see that they get help to get better. It's a very simple thing to reach out and help another person when they need it and sometimes all it takes is understanding and a showing that someone cares. Nuff said on that.

The second thing we can learn from this is if it was an accident, we all need to stop, everytime we handle a firearm . . . and remember that it is our responsibility to handle it in a responsible manner. We all know the first rule of firearms safety . . . "treat every firearm as if it is loaded". We all need to not only "police" ourselves in regards to this, but others as well. Know where that muzzle is pointing at all times. Firearms are not toys . . and when we see someone handling them as such, they need to be reminded of that. Personally, I have no problem in "chewing a second one" when I observe someone mishandling a firearm. I'd much rather embarass someone than see someone hurt.

This is truly a sad tale but I am glad it has been shared with us here on the forum. Regardless of whether any of us have met each other in person, I feel a "kinship" with everyone here and nobody wants hear about or see another person hurt. Be safe my friends and thank you for the reminder. Sometimes a "refresher" on being safe is the kindest gift a person can give another.
__________________
If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63
bedbugbilly is offline  
Old May 15, 2011, 11:54 PM   #9
BrittB
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 8, 2011
Location: Oregon
Posts: 554
This is something that has stuck with me for some time now;

"You should never point a loaded gun at anyone. This is not a hard and fast rule, however. A hard and fast rule is that you should never, ever, point an unloaded gun at anyone." P.J. O'Rourke

Gun safety has to be at the top of your list everytime without exception.
BrittB is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:12 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.13124 seconds with 10 queries