OGCA show accident - OGCA Roberts Center Shows Canceled

[bph9]

In another thread on the forum, someone mentioned a shocking accident at last weekend’s OGCA show in Clinton Co, Ohio.
I was not there. However, details of the incident are described here:

This Forum Costs Me $$$

This incident has been confirmed in various independent news sources. They are not hard to find, so I’ll refrain from posting them.

We must all be aware that the inherent potential dangers in handling firearms are always present and an accident can occur whenever basic safety precautions are relaxed or overlooked.
Consider the safety fundamentals that could’ve prevented this from happening:
1) Most importantly, when handling a gun, confirm it is unloaded, the chamber is empty, and the “source of ammunition” (magazine) is removed or rendered inoperative (open that cylinder!) if possible. Whether it’s on a table at a show or on the bench at the range, ask if you can confirm the unloaded status before handling.
2) When handing a gun to another person, open the action, confirm it is unloaded and hand it to the other person so they can visually confirm the same.
3) When a firearm is handed to you by another, either ask them to open the action or allow you to do so.
4) Don’t handle firearms whose loaded/unloaded status is not personally verified by you.
5) Be aware of the direction the muzzle is pointed at all times whenever a firearm is being handled, either by yourself or others!
(The more people and/or guns you’re around, the more important this is!)

Unfortunately, these rules only work when people have been trained to follow them. Once ingrained, through training, they become part of your gun handling regimen, and your observance of others when they are handling firearms.
Obviously, both the owner of the firearm at the OCGA show, and the person who discharged the firearm violated a number of the above rules and are both guilty parties of this negligent accident.
The show organizers also bear some of the guilt for relying on inadequate safety precautions and/or inspection practices.

Incidentally, the above rules are/were conditions for acquiring a Firearms Acquisition Certificate in more than one British Commonwealth country. One could be expected to pass a test by regional firearms officer before issuance of said permit. (And, they would try to trick you!).
Having been both a competitor and range officer on some of the most regulated ranges, in some very restrictive countries, I can assure you these rules work.

Clearly, the “zip tied action” practice is no guarantee of anything. It is a false indicator of safety status and led directly to sloppy gun handling.
Unfortunately, this show with either be cancelled permanently and/or new, more onerous rules, none of which will ever obviate potential accidents or be able to act as a substitute for poor firearms safety, will be enacted.

Let’s keep the two victims of this avoidable tragedy at the OCGA show in our thoughts and prayers, and hope a sensible investigation will lead to a more robust attitude towards firearms safety that still allows us to enjoy ourselves.
And, let’s use this accident to remind us to be attentive and vigilant in our own gun handling, and whenever with others in circumstances where guns are present.

I offer the above with my humble respect to all of our forum members.

Down through the years I have been at many gun shows where accidental discharges or loaded firearms were found.

I just got my O.G.C.A. monthly letter this morning 5-7-2025 and I just found out about this.

1. At the O.G.C.A. back in the late 80's my buddy (who I was standing next to) found a loaded Mini 14 .223 on a table. The gun who owned the gun was a real "You know what". I tried to get his attention but he ignored me until I got mad and yelled as loud as I could "This gun is loaded!!! Then this Moron took the gun and pointed it right into the crowd while trying to unload it and people were ducking for cover and screaming back at him "Don't point that gun at me"!!!

2. At the Stark Gun Collectors show number of years ago a guy picked up a handgun and pointed it at the wall and discharged it. He never bothered to check to see if the gun was loaded when he attempted to dry fire it. The man then quickly left and the owner of the gun claimed the guy had probably loaded it but never the less the owner was banned for life from attending the show.

3. Down through the years when attending other Ohio gun shows I witnessed numerous times an announcement that came over the PA system that warned people they had just found a loaded gun on a table,

4. I worked at Buckeye Sporting Goods back in the 80's in Canton, Ohio and you would not believe the number of Morons who brought in loaded guns for either repair or sale. One guy walked in one day and then nonchalantly handed me a .12 ga pump shotgun while telling me "Oh by the way I might have left it loaded"! When I checked the gun (which I always did anyway for safety) it was loaded. Again this was not a isolated incident at the store.

5. Even gun shops can be Morons. I watched a video that showed an employee at a gun store hand a handgun to a customer who was also a complete Moron. Instead of checking the gun to see if it was loaded he pulled the trigger and shot himself in the hand with it. Naturally the gun shop got sued for having a loaded handgun in the display case but the customer was not without some fault either.

6. I was at the range shooting with a guy one day and his 9mm German Luger jammed. He then pointed the gun at my stomach and said "Hey this gun is jammed". I looked down and could see the loaded round half way up the feed ramp and his finger was still on the trigger. I gently took the gun from him after jumping out of the way of the barrel of the gun. I felt like beating him over the head with it and probably should have.