Originally Posted by Protected One

A friend of mine was participating in his families annual Thanksgiving Day tradition: The men hunt while the women cook. He is well versed in all the safety protocals and never before violated them..until this day.
When they went in from the field to eat he didn't unload and pack away his gear, figuring to do it after they ate. After dinner (and watching some football) it was dark, so he and his wife drove home with the loaded weapons in the back of his bronco. When they got home his wife went in, and he lowered the tailgate and grabed his duffle bag - containing his .44 Magnum sidearm and his rifle. As he pulled it toward him the muzzle hit the gate and sent a round through his upper thigh. When his wife found him the only thing holding his leg together was his femoral artery and bit of leg muscle!
He survived, but it took two years to go from hospital to wheelchair, then to a walker, then to a cane. Today, he can walk without the cane, but not without the limp that serves to remind him how dangerous even ONE failure to follow safety rules can be.