NC man kills self while demonstrating gun safety

[NCTexan]

This is a sad story for multiple reasons.

A "not so bright" 23 year old man was demonstrating the safety mechanism of his new 22 pistol.

In front of his friends, he showed them the safety and that the gun wouldn't fire. He then showed them the slide action and put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger.

This time the safety was off and the gun went bang.

Sanford man shoots himself while showing safety :: WRAL.com

 

[dmar]

Wow, unbelievable, putting a loaded gun to your head! And, pulling the trigger!!! Why do people forget the most important safety on any gun; always point it in a safe direction, and never put your finger on the trigger until you are prepared to fire the gun (and destroy what it is pointed at...)?

I'm sure there are some out there prepared to make some snide remark about Darwin, but this is just a real shame. Ignorance in it's purest form. I feel bad for his friends, and family...

 

[Faulkner]

I've never put an unloaded gun to my head ... no, wait, there is no such thing as an unloaded gun!

 

[Maximumbob54]

I've never put an unloaded gun to my head ... no, wait, there is no such thing as an unloaded gun!

That. Those basic rules that should be followed just don't always get followed. Stinks.

I feel the need to add that he forgot the first safety... the one between his ears.

 

[NFrameFred]

I'm sure there are some out there prepared to make some snide remark about Darwin, but this is just a real shame. Ignorance in it's purest form. I feel bad for his friends, and family...

I know where you're coming from, but there are some things that earn the scorn heaped upon them via ill-advised human behavior.

It is tragic. It is regrettable. It was stupid and it was fatal. It ranks right up there with juggling running chain saws or relaxing in a pool of gasoline and having a smoke. There are some things that are just so dumb, there is no defense when someone calls it what it is.

The only way you could cast this in any kind of positive light would be to observe he at least serves as an example of what NOT to do . . .

 

[mc5aw]

There is no context to the story ... was he truly performing a responsible safety demonstration, or was he showing off? Cynic that I am, I'd say the latter is closer to the truth. It is a terrible tragedy from a strictly human perspective, but it also casts law abiding, safety conscious gun owners in a negative light, something none of us need. This is the type of story that the anti-gun loons love to further their agenda.

 

[Andy Griffith]

I thought one of the safety rules was to always point a firearm in a safe direction. Any body part is not a safe direction.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

There is no context to the story ... was he truly performing a responsible safety demonstration, or was he showing off? Cynic that I am, I'd say the latter is closer to the truth. It is a terrible tragedy from a strictly human perspective, but it also casts law abiding, safety conscious gun owners in a negative light, something none of us need. This is the type of story that the anti-gun loons love to further their agenda.

How does one perform a responsible safety demonstration by pointing a gun to their head and pulling the trigger? What context would make such a demonstration responsible?

 

[OK Hog Shooter]

What a tragedy... especially for his family and friends.

 

[badam0112]

What a horrible thing to witness.

 

[DeadAye]

What a horrible thing to witness.

My thoughts exactly.
THOSE are the folks that I feel for.

 

[DeadAye]

I've just got to add:
This guy WAS NOT demonstrating *Gun Safety*

 

[cussedemgun]

Proof positive that there is no such thing as a "fool-proof mechanical safety"

For every fool-proof device we invent, a new & improved fool will come along.

Each time such an incident hits the news, we all lose ground because many will point & declare the gun at fault & "all guns too dangerous".

 

[ABC]

Automatic Darwin Award and a head shot to top it off. I hope he didn't create too big a mess.

 

[moosedog]

He could have been playing "Russian Roulette" and forgot it was a semi auto.

A postemus Darwin Award.

 

[cal50]

Regardless of ANY safety you never point a gun at any object you do not intend to shoot. Unfortunately the deceased person demonstrated this simple rule graphically and hopefully others will take note.

 

[Steve in Vermont]

This brought back some bad memories of past investigations. The conclusion I have come to, in incidents like this, is that young immature people sometimes make snap decisions that fly in the face of all reality. They simply do things that are dumb to the extreme and, if they survive, cannot explain what they were thinking. And all the movies, such as "*******", that glorify this behavior don't help. This is a tragedy and the best we can do is offer our prayers to his friends and family in their time of need.

 

[NKJ nut]

This is a sad story for multiple reasons.

A "not so bright" 23 year old man was demonstrating the safety mechanism of his new 22 pistol.

In front of his friends, he showed them the safety and that the gun wouldn't fire. He then showed them the slide action and put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger.

This time the safety was off and the gun went bang.

Sanford man shoots himself while showing safety :: WRAL.com

That is like checking the air pressure in your tires and inspecting the brakes then assuming all is well and driving the car over a cliff.

There is simply no way a safety mechanism can prevent fools from hurting themselves.

 

[smith revolver cop]

Ironically, I read this thread right after I read cajunlawyer's post about the penguin who swam to the wrong place and was eating sand... perhaps there is something to be said for Darwinism.

 

[jrd1976]

Firearms accidents are usually caused by Ignorance (lack of knowledge) or Carelessness (failure to apply the knowledge).

This proves that point.

Focus on the gun, not the audience.