[TML] [OT] One for Gun Safty

[Mikko Parviainen]

On Wed, Oct 10, 2007 at 02:53:59PM -0400, John Kwon wrote:
> Having been in the Army before, and having been to many ranges, I can tell
> you that there are plenty of people who have the safety skills and
> situational awareness of a rock.
> 
> I've "almost" been shot more times than I can count, and have seen several
> people shot by "accident" at ranges.

Well, yes. I'm really amazed why there are so few incidents in our
conscription army, from what I saw in the basic training. (I was in an
office for most of the remaining time of my service after the basic.)

> As far as I've heard, none have.  The point of negligence comes up when
> questions arise about "where was the firearm pointed".

It's possible for a relatively sensible person to make a mistake. 
If they're unlucky or smart, they only make the mistake once. 

I almost did myself in, on a range. I pointed my rifle at my chin from
below during an exercise, with the rifle in the single-shot position.

I got a very, very light yelling-at and never did it again. It still
scares me quite a lot. My stupidity, that is. 

> Always stay away from the business end.

Considering that something like 80% of our males goes through the army,
which means at least basic gun handling exercises, I see too often people
handling real-looking guns pointing them pretty much anywhere.
(Mostly at rpg cons. The role playing ones, not rocket propelled ones.)

Myself, I don't like having guns pointing at me, even if they are mock-ups.
I get really angry, but usually people stop doing that after talking with
them. Nowadays if somebody did that with a real rifle  (like one guy did
in the army), I'd beat them. Even if the gun had no magazine and even if it
was cleaned ten minutes ago. 10 years ago I was much more shy.

-- 
Mikko Parviainen
http://www.iki.fi/pare/
http://mikkop.livejournal.com/