“Authorities say a 19-year-old man was reloading a rifle [not shown] during a party at his home in Bear when it discharged and struck two people,” Delaware’s wmdt.com reports. Did the word “party” jump out at you, too? I mean, there’s a time and place to show off your firearms. A party isn’t it.
I recommend a relatively quiet, alcohol-free zone in a space without a lot of coming and going and other, um, distractions. But what do I know? My guns don’t discharge on their own, no matter where I am in the loading process. Anyway . . .
Police say Wing was reloading the rifle after he gave the unloaded weapon to a 16-year-old who had asked to look at it . . .
Authorities say a round from Wing’s gun hit an 18-year-old woman in the torso and passed through her, striking a 23-year-old man in the hip during the party.
The man was released from the hospital, while the woman remained in stable condition.
So Mr. Wing unloaded his rifle before giving it to a friend for inspection/admiration. Right answer! And then decided to reload it before [presumably] putting it away. Wrong answer? Well . . .
I’ve unloaded my everyday carry gun and handed it to someone to have and to hold. And reloaded it upon its return before holstering. Would I do the same for my home defense rifle? Yeah. Probably.
So the the irresponsibility here centers — as it always does — on the gun owner’s failure to observe ye olde “always keep a gun pointed in a safe direction” rule as well as the “don’t put you finger on the trigger until your sights are on target” admonition.
To which I can only add what I mentioned at the top of this post: it’s not always a good idea to manipulate your gun in front of folks. A responsible gun owner puts safety above vanity. That is all.
At least the shot wasn’t fatal. It looks like he only…
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Winged ’em.
Hahaha.
Well played sir!
You win the internet today!
My first thought too.
Now if the next winner is Mr. Scratch, we’d have something. First name Tisonlia.
As the old saying goes in Australia and I assume world wide –
“instant idiot just add alcohol”
Idiot or A-hole works for me…
And in the next IGOotD, I present to you…
http://flatheadbeacon.com/2016/11/27/rifle-discharges-billings-gun-show-injuring-two/
I have an SOP designed specifically for guests. Before they come, all family members will dress up, strap on their EDC, and move all stashed weapons to the main safe. That way no one will accidentally find a gun, shoot themselves, and have the cops blame me.
What if your guests bring their own and still perforate someone?
It could’ve slam fired if he tried to store it with a round in the chamber and let the bolt slam home. Maybe? Either way like the article says point barrel in safe direction
I have a level 4 plate by the wall just for this.
…please tell me you’re joking
…or are you gonna send me a free bullet trap?
James, a 5-gallon pail filled with sand has a lot lower ricochet potential…
I have a friend that had a rifle slam fire on him before. It was at the range and the barrel was pointed down range so it wasn’t the end of the world, but after that I am always mindful it can happen with free floating firing pins. I think it was a Kel-Tec SU16.
Hey, a 5 gallon bucket full of sand is cheaper and just as effective, but hey. 😉
I don’t unload/reload without planning and preparation, since I like to wipe my cases of moisture and oils from the tips of my fingers, to prevent corrosion. Work on it.
To quote Joe Pesci in Goodfellows “I got a wing!”. Glad no one dies…
HORK!
There is no safe direction in a crowded house in an urban/suburban neighborhood especially for a rifle. There is an unintended target in any direction. Just rrsist the urge to play show and tell at a party.
This.
The only exception I could really see would be a build party, where you really do want an example of what it should look like after you’re done…
Bear is not one of the safer areas in delaware. There are some nice neighborhoods and there are a lot of just plain hoods.
Let’s not judge the Wingster too harshly. The rifle could have been a Remington 700.
Now, now. Remington 700s will only fire if a round is chambered, the safety taken off, and the trigger pulled.
Or if the safety is on, and the trigger is pulled.
Or if the safety is on, and the trigger is NOT pulled.
Or if the safety is off, and the trigger is not pulled.
Or by taking the safety off.
Or by putting the safety on.
Or by putting the safety half-on and half-off.
Or if the safety is on and the bolt handle is lifted.
Or if the safety is off and the bolt handle is lifted.
Or if the safety is on and the bolt is closed.
Or if the safety is off and the bolt is closed.
Or if the safety is on and the rifle is jarred.
Or if the safety is off and the rifle is jarred.
Other than that, the rifle is completely safe, absolutely safe, and 100% safe. Just ask Remington.
Just remember the cardinal Remington safety rule: “Never allow the muzzle to cover anything at all between unloaded-in-the-safe and aimed at a specific target.”
“My guns don’t discharge on their own, no matter where I am in the loading process. Anyway . . .”
No Remington 700 in the safe, huh?
“I recommend a relatively quiet, alcohol-free zone in a space without a lot of coming and going and other, um, distractions.”
I agree with all of this other than the alcohol free zone thing. I’ve expounded on this before. If you can’t handle your drinks and a gun then you probably shouldn’t have either. The caveats being that you’re at least reasonably experienced with firearms and not a total retard when sober.
Gunpowder and alcohol. Not only does it taste pretty shitty when mixed, it’s a downright dangerous combination. You want to see my firearms? Fine. Ask me at a time when neither of us have touched alcohol, even so much as a single beer. Want to come and shoot here? Fine. The same rule applies. You will not be allowed to shoot on my back acreage if I detect so much as a whiff of alcohol, and if I’ve had anything to drink, the range is CLOSED until you pick a day when I’ve not touched Demon Rum. Harsh? Too (expletive deleted) bad. It’s my range and my rules.
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