Just because you have never caused a car accident doesn't mean you never will.

The same is true of gun accidents. Every firearm is loaded.

I don't care how many times you think you checked it. When you touch it, treat it as if it is loaded, even if you "know" it is not.

Airport shooting accident out of character for experienced hunter

More here:

Airport shooting came after passenger improperly inspected gun

Many years ago I had an experience with a gun that could have turned out bad. I learned my lesson and like you I treat all guns as if they were loaded. Don

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"Don't worry be happy"

Let's hope the injured ticket agent sues his employer for maintaining a manifestly dangerous policy requiring handling of weapons in a crowded public space, with no bullet trap, no backstop, no safe direction in which the muzzle can be pointed, probably no training in handling guns ... The articles neglect to mention such salient facts as who actually was manipulating the rifle, but I've had ticket agents insist on "inspecting" my firearms, with no clue as to how to work the mechanism, etc. These inspections really irk me (can you tell?) because they violate numerous rules of safe gun handling, contribute absolutely nothing to anyone's safety, and invite accidents such as this.

The second link states: If we treat every firearm as if it were loaded, then we would never place our fingers within a trigger guard unless we prepared to put a bullet into whatever was in the line of fire. When we pull the trigger, if we think "it's OK, it isn't loaded" we are inviting an accident.

Ah, I see that I missed the second article's account of the trigger pulling --- these inspections are still unsafe, bad policy.

You are surely joking, aren't you?

The numbskull who brought the loaded weapon to check-in and pulled the trigger should be sued. He should also be in jail.

Be safe.

That would have NEVER happened to me, I'm 100% sure of that. That gun never would have went loaded to any airport. That's no "accident", that's negligence.

The owner is responsible for bringing a loaded gun to the ticket counter not some TSA agent. The owner was the one who "checked" his gun resulting in a round being discharged.

What happened to personal responsibility?

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Sure you did

I was not joking ...

Self-assured, sanctimonious pronouncements aside, the "inspection" of firearms by untrained/unqualified personnel, in unsafe areas for firearms handling ,is bad policy, nevermind the failings of the individual in this incident. If anyone can advance an argument for untrained/unqualified persons (including, as this example illustrates, the firearm owner) being required to handle/brandish firearms in a public place, I'd like to hear it, and am all ears...

"The owner of the weapon was handling the gun in an attempt to assure that it was unloaded"

The owner shouldn't be allowed to own guns if he can't see if his own gun is unloaded or not.

I daresay I travel (and have traveled) with a firearm in my checked luggage more than most people and have never, ever, been asked to relinquish control of my gun by any person whilst so doing. On occasion I have been asked to show that it was unloaded and have done so. Of late, the agent usually just asks.

I can assure you it has never actually been loaded.

The failure in the instant case is solely that of the gun owner.

Be safe.

Before anyone gets hurt by patting themselves on the back to hard and saying "I WOULD NEVER DO SUCH A DUMB THING"
Remember,, if you are around anything long enough you WILL let your guard down at some point.
I've screwed up more than once in handling a gun.
Lucky for me I did know enough to not have the gun pointed at anything that couldn't be replaced.
No real harm done ,(not counting my pride.)
Before you get down on me, consider that I've had a gun in my hand at least once a day everyday for the better part of the last 40 years.
l also could name quite a few famous gun writers and well known lawmen who let a round go when they were not thinking.
So if the only time you have a gun in your hand is when you are at the range or hunting a few times a year you may never pull a dumb stunt.
But if you live with a gun everyday there is a good chance you will some day let a round go without wanting to.
Just make sure when that day comes that the gun is not pointed at anything you care about!

This statement is one I find a bit concerning. Things like this take place when you "think" it can't ever happen to you.

IMO it's much safer to take the approach that it can happen to you and remember that every single time you handle a firearm. Doing so will keep you a bit more cautious and mindful of what you are doing.

Note to Ladder 13. Perhaps you take a similar approach and thus your statement. However, keep in mind the text of your statement and the attitude that text reflects.

I suspect that if asked prior to this accident that person with that rifle would have said the exact same thing. Now, he is likely reconsidering the thought that it couldn't ever happen to him.

It wasn't the "usafe", "unqualified", "untrained" personnel person that pulled the trigger. It was some Liberal Safari Club International DOUCHE!!!

Uhh, we were talking about bringing a loaded gun to an airport, not everyday gun handling. I referred to a specific situation. I stand by my comments.
I check my firearms incessantly, over and over. Follow all the rules of safe gun handling, including keeping my finger off the trigger unlike the guy at the airport.
Can an "accident" happen? Sure, but it won't be from "negligence" on my part.

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Sure you did

I agree with JKC - allowing untrained, unqualified TSA personal or anyone else to inspect a firearm is a recipe for disaster.

But I still can't think of any good reason to treat any gun as if it were unloaded. Normal people don't purposefully pull the trigger of a gun they think is loaded unless they intend to shoot what they are aiming at.

Comment from Jeff Cooper, the occasion was some sort of pre-shoot orientation where he overheard this comment from a Russian; “is gon….. gon is NOT safe”.

The point is that if a gun is of any use, it is not safe, or perhaps you might say only relatively safe because it may be unloaded. Like a chainsaw a firearm that is safe is a club.

I never travel with a bolt in a rifle. The bolt comes out before it is cased. I certainly would not ship a rifle with its bolt in place.

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Ipsis Rebus Dictantitbus

I would be first to admit accidents happen but in this case the accident should not happen, ever. The person was in the act of making sure the gun was unloaded. I'm assuming its a bolt action rifle. So, when he pulled the bolt back, he should have checked the MAGAZINE. Pulling the bolt back would eject any round in the chamber so, naturally it would be empty on a working rifle but its the magazine which should be checked.