Hunting, shooting, and responsibility

[lifelongMOgal]

Col. Jeff Cooper's Rules of Firearms Safety

1) All Guns Are Always Loaded (and should be treated as such).

2) Never allow your muzzle to cover anything (or anyone) you are not willing to destroy

3) Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target (and you have made the decision to shoot).

4) Know your target and what is beyond it (what is in front of it, beside it, or anywhere in the vicinity where the round may land).

A wise firearm instructor I know tells his students the following: "You are legally, morally, financially, and spiritually responsible for the terminal resting place of every round that leaves the chamber of your firearm."

I concurr and believe this pretty much covers it. Some people believe in "accidents" but those well trained know avoidable tragedies to be the result of negligence on the part of the individual handling the firearm(s).

A hunter's responsibility is one of safe handling of all weapons, ethical hunting practices, and consideration and respect for: other hunters, the game he/she hunts, the property he/she hunts upon. There are no exceptions and no excuses.

[lifelongMOgal]

Tomorrow morning is the beginning of regular firearms deer season in Missouri. If you are hunting please follow the law and be safe at all times. If you are out and about in the country or decide to go hiking or walking in the woods (not a good idea during firearms season), please wear LOTS of "hunter orange".

Above all, be safe out there; and, don't return with more holes than you had when you left home!

[christina0001]

Timely post. My local newspaper this week had an angry letter on this very topic - the writer's wife was walking down the road and almost got hit by a bullet. Also, I have a friend who nearly got hit this summer by someone who was target practicing next door and the bullet ricocheted off of the neighbor's pond. People need to be more careful.

[ShadowCaver]

Was really hoping that wouldn't have to add to this...

http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/...ting-accident/

... Callaway sheriff’s deputies responded just before noon Saturday to the hunting accident on Falcon Drive, off County Road 1027, east of Auxvasse. Foul play is not suspected. The sheriff’s office said the victim and shooter were returning to a deer camp when the shooter removed his rifle from a shoulder sling and an accidental discharge occurred. ...

[lifelongMOgal]

D*mn shame. A negligent discharge can be harmless as long as attention is paid to muzzle direction/control and the firearm always remains pointed in a safe direction. Thoughts & prayers to the surviving family and the sloppy co-hunter who will live with this guilt for the rest of his life.

There was a similar accidental death caused a few weeks ago in S. Dakota when a man getting into his car with his loaded shotgun negligently discharged a round into the chest of his wife.

Very sad when so many of these hunting tragedies are avoidable with better practice of basic firearms safety.