Negligent Discharge

I'm a daily reader of SaysUncle.com, along with a number of other top notch gun nut blogs. A recent posting stood out. As one of the instructors for the county 4-H rifle program, I'm a bit of a safety nut. I don't ever want anyone ever getting hurt from handling or using a firearm....EVER. So the day this summer that the pals from work came over to shoot was interesting, to say the least. We were taking turns firing each others' handguns. Being here on the farm, we shoot in the back yard. I've got a good backstop, I put some tables up, and we have a blast. I had ran a few rounds through Brian's 9mm something or another. I wasn't that impressed, so I put the safety on and laid it back on the table. We went on firing over at the line, and then behind us we hear POW. Uh oh. Yep, Brian picked up his gun, and instead of clearing it he pulled the tricker to de-cock it.

Luckily, nothing was hurt except Brian's pride, my pride, and they guy's (now soiled) shorts that was standing next to Brian when the gun was discharged. Brian was pointing the gun in a safe direction. Remember, you have to break at least 2 of the rules of firearm handling to hurt someone or something. Anywho, I didn't sleep that well that night, and I hear that Brian didn't either. We talked about what we would do right next time, and how we'll be reviewing the backyard range rules before the next shootingpalooza.

I should have never laid a loaded gun back down on the table, even among friends. And Brian should have checked the chamber as soon as he picked it up. My bad....I don't empty the mags every time I'm "at the line". For defensive shooting practice, I go two or three rounds, holster, and repeat. Emptying mags in one stand isn't something I'm used to. But when the guys come over....I think I'll change my method of operation.