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Colorado Shopper Shoots Floorboard Of Car
Setup- A Nervous Colorado shopper was handling their firearm in the automobile to see if it was loaded or unloaded before entering a local grocery store. The firearm discharged striking the floorboard and hitting the pavement under the automobile. No injuries were reported.
Safety Violations- Administrative handling of a firearm in day-to-day life is usually a bad idea. Most likely the trigger was pressed in this situation because guns don’t fire unless someone pulls the bang switch (trigger). I suspect that the person involved had poor loading and unloading skills and touched the trigger in the process of checking the handgun to see if it was loaded. Rule #3 was violated in this instance.
Remedy- Revisit the proper gun safety training techniques for loading and unloading a handgun. A handgun should be loaded and in a holster when leaving your home in the morning. If you are uneasy about having a loaded handgun in public leave it at home. Acquire the training necessary to have the confidence to handle your loaded handgun or leave it at home.
Conclusion- Some people actually believe that you can load a handgun when you need it. This is a big mistake. There is no time to load a handgun when a self-defense situation arises, and many times you will fumble the firearm because of the fear and commotion from the event. That being said, administrative handling of firearms in public is a bad idea. You must be confident with your loaded handgun at all times or you are a hazard to yourself and everyone around you. Gun Safety Training and gun handling repetition will make you more confident about your ability to have a loaded firearm in your possession for self-defense and handle it properly.