Gun Shop Worker Accidentally Shoots Customer
Photo Credit: AP
SILVER CITY, N.M. (TheBlaze/AP) — Authorities say an employee at a New Mexico gun shop was unloading a handgun when he accidentally shot a customer in the back, wounding him. While police haven’t released too many details, some of the developments have been discussed in local media.
The Las Cruses Sun-News reports that, following the accident, the 65-year-old customer was airlifted from Silver City to a Texas hospital, where he is listed in stable condition.
Silver City Police Chief Ed Reynolds says an employee at Copper County Sporting Arms was unloading the .45 caliber handgun Tuesday when the weapon went off, shooting the man.
Emergency responders closed off the street in front of the shop so a medical helicopter could land. The helicopter then flew the man to an El Paso, Texas, hospital for treatment.
Reynolds says the investigation is ongoing, and it’s unclear whether any charges will be filed. No names have been released.
A person who answered the phone Tuesday at Copper Country declined to talk to the Sun-News.
In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.
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Comments (84)
SecSpec88
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 9:33amI spent 20 years in the military handling firearms. I still remember what my first firearms instructor taught me:
“There are zero accidental discharges every year. A firearm will only discharge for 2 reasons:
1. You meant for it to discharge.
2. YOU DID SOMETHING STUPID!!!”
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LBJDIDIT1963
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 10:26amAnd don’t forget another SACRED RULE…watch where you point it when handling it!
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JRook
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 10:31amInterested to know how you can be unloading a handgun and shoot someone at the same time. Particularly given you should be pointing the gun down when your not intending to shoot it.
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JRook
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 10:32amAlways good to see that we are not employing any higher requirements for intelligence and common sense for gun shop employees than we are for gun owners.
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Teufel Hunden
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 11:03amWell JROOK, you can drop a magazine while the pistol is held horizontal. What the idiot was doing with his finger on the trigger while unloading the weapon is puzzling.
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Msgt Ret
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 12:17pmWhy was there a loaded gun in a gun shop, except for the one the owner/employee is carrying which is only to be unholstered in protection of life?
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Jesse_J
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 12:42pmSo you want me to go ahead and wrap up this one for you. Read fresh political commentary at: http://smallcraftadvisorychronicles.blogspot.com/
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skippy6
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 1:06pmRight on the nuts!!!!
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Elena2010
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 2:50pmYou forgot the most important rule of all — assume all guns are loaded, so point them only in a safe direction.
Agreed — Devil Dog — if the gun had a round chambered and he dropped the mag, his finger was on the trigger and thus the discharge. He should NOT work in a gun shop or around guns until he goes back thru basic safety!
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colt1860
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 7:46pmMy first gun instructor told my class, ALWAYS point the gun in a safe direction.
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PatriotSunDevil
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 10:04pmI see the shop was in NM. A blue state. Is there a chance the lead recipient was an Obama/Biden supporter? Intentional shooting? The gun shop employee had enough?
I am just kidding but the gun shop guy should have had muzzle awareness. I have been shooting for over 30 years and I have had 0 unintentional discharges. I hope that does not change of course. I wish the victim a full recovery.
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banjarmon
Posted on November 22, 2012 at 6:56pmThe Four Rules of Gun SAFETY
Rule # 1
Treat all guns as if they are loaded.
Unloaded guns cause the more accidents than loaded ones. Always treat all guns as if they are loaded.
Rule # 2
Never let the muzzle of a gun point at anything you do not want to destroy or kill.
This rule is especially important for those supervising novice shooters. When a child holds a rifle for example, if he hears a noise to the side, and turns his head, the weapon tends to follow. Similarly, if you make a great shot, and look back to brag to your friends, don’t let the weapon follow your gaze.
Rule # 3
Keep your finger straight and off the trigger.
At all times you must keep your trigger finger straight, and off the trigger. Only once you have aimed and have your target in the sights should you permit your finger to gently rest on the trigger. This prevents accidental discharges should you stumble, trip, or be subjected to some unexpected event.
Rule # 4
Be absolutely sure
of your target, and
what is behind it.
Hitting a target even under the best conditions is a very challenging thing. If TV and movies were real, the good guys would kill far more innocent bystanders than bad guys. Bullets tends to miss, ricochet, penetrate through, and fall from the sky at velocities just as deadly as when the bullet left the barrel. If your bullet misses that deer or shoots over the top of that hill
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G-WHIZ
Posted on November 23, 2012 at 11:45amThe worker is a DEMOC-RAT and he is the vicitm now!! Why was a BRANDNEW gun “loaded” in the first place in a gun-store??? DUH?!!
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RRFlyer
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 9:19amEven theblaze is blaming the gun with the DUMB statement, “an employee at Copper County Sporting Arms was unloading the .45 caliber handgun Tuesday when the weapon went off, shooting the man.”
Guns do not just, “GO off.” PEOPLE shoot them.
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braddock66
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 9:31amIt’s just an expression! We all know that guns can’t shoot themselves.
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SacredHonor1776
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 9:43amActually depends on the gun. Some of those german Lugers were said to have pretty **** triggers. There were situations where people were collecting them as souvenirs and had them go off in their pockets…
However, your average modern gun, takes a bit to pull the trigger. You can’t just bump’it or shake it to fire.
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Xyskalla
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 10:08amIt gives the age of the victim, but I want to know the age of the employee who shot him. I’m guessing the employee was young because they forgot the primary rule of gun safety: never point a gun in the direction of another person you don’t intend to kill, even if you think the gun is not loaded.
I also want to know, did they make the sale?
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stevetherealist
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 10:50amspas 12 guage had a history of discharging its self till they fixed the trigger
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Baja
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 9:14amI saw an employee sweep several customers with a 1911 at a local gun shop. When I told who I thought was a manager about it, he got defensive. When I told him the employee was going to end up with a 1911 suppository, I was asked to leave.
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SacredHonor1776
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 9:46amBloody idiot, one should never point guns a someone unless they mean to use it…
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MaximumBobby
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 10:20amThis happens quite often when I’m at my club range. There’s a strict rule about not handling firearms when other people are downrange putting up targets, etc. When I’m walking back, I see a guy pointing his rifle at me, albeit unintentionally. I usually give them a shout, “PLEASE, do not point your rifle at me.” People are starting to catch on.
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ThoreauHD
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 4:51pmI have seen them do this at gun stores as well. They assume everything in there is inert. I don’t hang around too long when they have those idiots on the floor.
I realize that they are working with this all day, and it’s becomes like slugging potatoes. But you don’t then when you work with something that’s loaded, known or unknown to you, you are unprepared and might shoot and old man in the back because of your stupidity.
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80mesh
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 8:52amhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvAvth2sMHc&feature=relmfu
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THX-1138
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 8:49amIt’s one thing for a civilian to screw up; this guy was *supposed* to be a professional. Accidents happen but just *damn*. It’s a miracle he didn’t kill someone.
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forthepeople
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 9:07amPlease do not insult the ‘Professionals ‘ : Anyone can work in a gun shop a cousin , brother in law , the stupid son and this proves it for ‘ A Professional ‘ would have never been in that situation . 45′s are tricky and heavy guns with strong springs but at no time should any gin be pointed even in the vicinity of another person .
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Mr. H.
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 10:24pmA dustoff evac? He may have!
Nobody is accidentally shot! Unintentionally maybe, but not accidentally. When it’s guns and someone is shot it’s usually intentional. When it is unintentional, the gun handler did something really really stupid.
I’ll take part of that back. I accidentally shot a woman when my 22 semiautomatic’s sear broke and 9 rounds went a lot of unfortunate places as I grabbed the slide for all I was worth. I have the scars to prove it.
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DadRocked
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 8:36amDO not waste your breath in repealling the 2nd Amendment.. IT will never happen so to those that want to repeal, read your Constitution, if you don’t have one… then you should get one. https://www.hillsdale.edu/seminars/booklet/default.asp
In a nutshell;
There are essentially two ways spelled out in the Constitution for how to propose an amendment. One has never been used. The 1st is for a bill to pass both houses, by a 2/3 majority in each. Once the bill has passed both houses, it goes on to the states. This is the route taken by all current amendments.
The 2nd method prescribed is for a Constitutional Convention to be called by 2/3 of the legislatures of the States, and for that Convention to propose one or more amendments. These amendments are then sent to the states to be approved by 3/4 of the legislatures or conventions. This route has never been taken.
Regardless of which of the two proposal routes is taken, the amendment must be ratified, or approved, by 3/4 of states.
So get the thought of of your head.
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carnivour
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 10:52amThey can’t search without a warrant either, but that doesn’t stop them.
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Anadara
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 5:49pmThe Obama plan is use Presidential powers which empower him to set foreign policy and establish foreign treaties. Using this strategy he may attempt to negate US sovereignty and Constitutional amendments. If he tries to abrogate the Constitution he will be flirting with treason and perhaps an armed insurrection unless he garners enough political capitol to get a change through the Constitutional amendment process. …I doubt any of this will happen but It sure makes me nervous.
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mgh999
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 8:35ama. If it’s the store’s gun. WTF are they doing with a loaded gun in their store?
b. If it was a customer’s gun. WTF are they doing giving an employee a loaded gun? Why didn’t they go to a safe location (like where they have the can you put the muzzle into to catch accidental discharges while safing the gun).
c. WTF is anyone doing pointing a gun at anybody (loaded or not) – it’s a horrible habit to slip into and a violation of the basic rules of gun safety.
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700P
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 8:21amNot to rush to judgment but I’m betting it was some type of 1911. While it is unquestionably the greatest handgun design ever, some people are too stupid to carry one because you have to be certain the chamber is empty. Two scenarios:
1. Cleared chamber THEN dropped mag (inadvertently loading next round)
2. Didn’t check and dry-fired or decocked and hammer slipped off thumb
Also, accidental is being nice, this was NEGLIGENT
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THXll38
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 7:36pmIts a single action weapon. One must remember that all guns are loaded! That said, when the hammer is cocked on a 1911 or any single action, there is a damn good chance it is loaded. Modern 1911s (not sure about older ones) If the hammer is not cocked it cannot fire even if there is a round in the chamber. I find the 1911 one of the safest and easiest to use handguns.
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Mr. H.
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 10:50pmA 1911 has 5 safety’s built in. It has to be held firmly or it won’t fire. The employee is an idiot. He had to do a lot of things wrong before he shot the customer. I just hope he doesn’t reload ammo. If he gets near gun powder he’ll probably blow up not only himself but also his house and everything near by.
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spfoam1
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 8:20amThe gun owner should not have walked into the gun shop with a loaded weapon. The employee did not handle the weapon properly. If you only sold pitchforks, sooner or later someone would trip and stab a customer with one.
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Landon410
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 8:33amwhy can’t he walk into a gun shop with a loaded gun?
the mistake this employee made is a simple one, treat all firearms as they are loaded and never point at anything you dont want to kill (even if you think its unloaded)
if he was decocking, or dry firing, or trying to empty chamber it should have been pointed at the floor
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Darla_K
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 8:14amI have seen people being careless with guns and it makes me nervous. Stay around from me and let me handle the guns. lol
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grimmster
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 8:09amYou never “unload” a gun,much less load one in a gun shop, while facing the retail area (customers).My question is, why were there rounds in the weapon in the first place,and in the retail area.Even if they have a range,the range master should have unloaded the gun,No facts at all in the story as a back drop to the events leading up to the “shooting”……..
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Landon410
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 8:36amcomplete guess but based on going to gun shops….. someone brought the gun in and was looking at trading or selling it to the gun store, in cases like this the gun store inspects the weapon including hte inside of the barrel, but to do so you have to unload it.
now why was it loaded? because it was the customers daily carry gun. I cannot enter my office with my gun, but it is ALWAYS loaded, so when its on my hip open or concealed, its loaded, so if I’m out and about town, i have a loaded gun on me, if i decide to go to the gun store, guess what, still have a loaded gun on me.
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Magyar
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 8:07amObviously the gun rolled over, raised itself and fired…the employee had nothing to do with it!
This idiot should never work around guns again—NEVER! This incident should have never happened.
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steve-in-pa
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 7:51amRule number one… treat every gun like it is loaded. If someone tells you the gun is unloaded revert back to rule one until you personally have checked that it is unloaded. Rule two never point a loaded or unloaded gun at anything you don’t attend to shoot. Also with hunting season coming up never climb into or out of your tree stand with a loaded rifle. A friend I knew getting out of his tree stand dropped his rifle and the outcome was tragic, please teach your kids about gun safety.
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SacredHonor1776
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 9:45amAmen
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Eastinfection
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 7:50amYou not supposed to “unload” bullets through the barrel.
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DadRocked
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 8:47amRule #1
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Zipit
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 9:03amI hate it when that happens!
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 7:42amClearing barrels people, clearing barrels! Have seen them in a number of gun shops, and all should have something at least similar. Along with firm in store protocols.
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biohazard23
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 7:33amSorry, my bad!
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 7:46amBIOHAZARD, Good morning, and best wishes for you and your family for tomorrow.
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jcldwl
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 7:29amOkay this is why I sometimes get irritated with The Blaze. Read this line from the article closely and tell me what is wrong with it.
“Silver City Police Chief Ed Reynolds says an employee at Copper County Sporting Arms was unloading the .45 caliber handgun Tuesday when the weapon went off, shooting the man.”
Never mind I will tell you. The weapon shot the man? I don’t think so. The man improperly handle the weapon, had his finger where it shouldn’t have been, (that would be on the trigger), and the employee shot the man. Not the gun.
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 7:49amLike all of those evil SUVs running over people. One of Rush’s points since the early ’90s. Its the left’s way of making inanimate objects evil in one’s mind.
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NOTAMUSHROOM
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 8:32amAll one needs to do to understand the genesis of the absolutely ignorant statement written in the article is to see who the author is. Oh. Hallowell the Progressive. That ‘splains it.
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00100111
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 9:36amAgreed. Guns don’t “Go off”. There’s no such thing as “Accidental Discharge”. It’s a Negligent Discharge. He pointed it in a direction not safe, he had his finger on the trigger. It’s not hard to get into the habit of dropping the magazine and racking the slide multiple times before even thinking about squeezing the trigger. The gun didn’t shoot itself. The employee grew complacent, too sure of his “knowledge” and he made a big mistake.
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Xyskalla
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 11:51amWhy are you irritated at The Blaze? They’re just reporting what the police chief said. And it’s pointless to get irritated at the police chief because he really can’t say anything of substance until the investigation is complete. Until the investigation is complete, they only definite statement they can make is that the employee never should have been pointing a gun in the direction of another person. There are too many variables to say more at this stage.
I remember years ago hearing a detailed account of the freak accident that killed Brandon Lee, and it sounded like a very long series of coincidences that resulted in a dummy bullet (a bullet that can’t be fired since it has no gunpowder) killing the actor. Apparently, real bullets had never been in the gun, just dummies and blanks. But for some reason, a fragment from a dummy bullet remained in the gun, and when a blank was fired, the blast propelled the fragment as if it were a real bullet. I’m not saying the movie crew didn’t do anything wrong–I’m saying that there are a lot more possible factors than we tend to realize, so until the investigation is complete, the police have to speak in very vague terms as to what happened. Being vague is deliberate, it’s policy, and it’s a good idea because they might end up getting sued if they make a statement before they fully investigate everything and they turn out to be wrong.
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jcldwl
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 6:14pm@ xyskalla
I base my comment on the fact the statement is not in quotes. If it were his exact statement I would be irritated with the police chief for poor choice of words. If it is his exact statement then the blaze needs to add quotations other wise I am forced to believe they chose the words themselves in repeating the jist of what he said and not putting an exact quote. That is why and thanks for asking.
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ares338
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 7:27amHe should never work in another gun shop. That can be prevented. It gives responsible gun owners a bad name and fuel for the anti-gun fools.
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yougottabekidding
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 7:55amThese types of shootings are always (naturally) because of not following basic rules.
First one always point it away from anyone when handling,and be prepared to use it when pointed! Period, excamation point!
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ClaudeRains
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 7:09amI wonder if the customer voted for Blobama?
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SixX
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 7:39amGalactically irrelevant, and sophomoric humor at best in the face of a tragic event. Thanks for lowering the bar for Republicans crying over a Democratic win, yet again.
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willingtoupe
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 7:08amThe dealer stood his ground…Yay another win for Obama, repeal the 2nd Amendment!
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RepubliCorp
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 7:02amoops………
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Eastinfection
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 7:59amMaybe the employee was “Vincent” from “Pulp Fiction”….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec-8mD_BhrU
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johnpaulkuchtajr
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 7:01amAll it takes is a moment of inattention.
We just had a regrettable incident at our hunt club when a retired Army Colonel who has handled weapons for 50 years, pulled the trigger on a pistol that he had been handed and shot a hole in the barn. He was shaking violently after and confessed that he was about to get very sick.
My condolences to all involved in this incident in NM; but, it can happen only when we forget to practice the golden rule of handling weapons: Treat them all like they’re loaded until you prove to yourself that they’re not!
“Remember Benghazi”
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SixX
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 7:41am“Remember the 99%! Not just the uber-rich white homophobic fundamentalists!”
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kickagrandma
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 7:01amSomething is not quite right about this event…. but I’m sure the left will seize it and squeeze it for all it’s worth.
I have sooooo many solutions to this problem. One is to send ALL, all, everyone of the leftists to europe where they could live miserably ever after with like minded folks. They must leave all guns and ammo here for our use since they will not be needing it there. Don’t kid yourselves, MANY who voice “gun control” are loaded. I just want them to be locked away from the rest of us…. ; )
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Sol Invictus
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 8:19amIt’s called an accident. They happen. I sense little sympathy for the victim – but then that’s par for the course with you.
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rxdawg72
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 6:58amIts always the one bonehead who feels he/she is “too smart” to follow the rules (gun safety in this case) that ruins it for the rest of us. And here come the anti-gun nuts in 3…2….1…..
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Mil-Dot
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 6:52amHow to clear a handgun:
1. Remove magazine
2. Rack slide several times
3. Inspect to insure empty chamber
4. Point gun is safe direction and pull trigger.
5. Done
6. Geez
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NonVictim
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 7:04amAnd here I thought it was just common sense to unload your weapon when taking it in to a gunsmith or gunshop to be worked on or traded in, whatever the intended purpose is… Every gunshop I’ve been to have had a notice stating “Please unload all firearms before entering.”
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Landon410
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 8:39ambefore I hand my gun to anyone, i’ll remove mag, and lock slide open to show its not loaded.
if they want to handle it they can release the slide knowing full well the gun isn’t loaded.
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THX-1138
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 8:52amOne of the reasons I like my wheel gun; it’s so simple even this dufus would have a hard time accidentally shooting someone with it. That and the absolute dependability of a revolver.
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Mr. H.
Posted on November 21, 2012 at 10:29pmA lot of times it is a revolver.
If it is semiautomatic, lock back the slide before inspecting it.
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