Four disturbing cases of the negligent discharge of a firearm hit the news this week. They are stark and painful reminders that firearms safety is your responsibility and that, if you let your guard down for a millisecond, the consequences can be tragic.
1-Year-Old-Girl Killed
On November 16, 2024, in Araporã, Brazil, a 1-year-old girl died from a gunshot wound to the head when her 18-year-old father and a 17-year-old friend were “testing” a firearm in the back yard.[i]
The father and his friend were arrested after video surveillance footage contradicted their claims of what went so horribly wrong.
Politician Injures Himself
On November 17, 2024, Indian actor-turned-politician Govinda cut his campaigning short due to medical complications from a month-old self-inflicted gunshot would to the leg.[ii]
Govinda reportedly dropped the loaded revolver he keeps for self-defence on the floor and “it just fell and went off.”
“The Voice” Winner Shoots Himself
“The Voice” winner Jason “Sundance” Head is recovering after unintentionally shooting himself in the stomach.[iii]
“It was not his hunting rifle and no, nobody shot him. He was out of the vehicle reaching in to grab his 22 when he grabbed it the 22 came out of its holster and hit the exterior of the Jeep just right and went off. Sundance said it happened so fast…,” Jason’s wife Misty posted on Facebook.[iv]
Shooting Competition Safety Officer Shoots Contestant in Buttocks
On November 18th, video of a negligent discharge at a shooting competition in Godawa, Poland, came to light.[v]
Footage shows a judge giving a safety demonstration to participants, showing them how to cock the firearm and safely eject the cartridge after taking a shot.
He then talked through other elements of the firearm before a colleague loaded the pump-action shotgun while talking to him and another contestant.
The shotgun was then passed carefully to the gun club member before the judge decided to take it off him to carry out further checks on it.
While doing so, he held the gun above a wooden table, with the barrel pointing in the direction of another contestant who was loading up his gun and a gun association member who was assisting him.
Suddenly, the gun fired and the 68-year-old was hit in the bum at point-blank range.
Accidental vs Negligent Discharge
An accidental discharge occurs when there is a mechanical failure of a firearm. Most firearms owners will never experience an accidental discharge.
A negligent discharge happens when the firearm discharges due to human error, not mechanical failure. If your firearm discharges when you did not intend it to, as in all four examples above, it’s due to negligence, not chance.
Police Magazine takes great exception to the term “negligent discharge”, where they make the case that “negligent” should be replaced with “unintentional.” [vi]
“The unintentional voluntary [discharge] is defined as doing everything needed to make the gun go off simply believing it to be unloaded.”
They conveniently ignore the obvious negligence – “believing it to still be unloaded.”
If you fail to ensure the firearm is unloaded and you unintentionally discharge a round, it’s negligence.
Negligent Discharges Can Happen to Anyone
Former Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney famously said, “To possess a firearm is a right, and it’s a right that comes with responsibilities.”[vii]
While we can debate whether firearms ownership in Canada is a right or not, what we can’t argue with is that possessing a firearm comes with many responsibilities.
One of these responsibilities is to always handle a firearm safety by following ACTS and PROVE.
THE VITAL FOUR ACTS OF FIREARMS SAFETY
- Assume every firearm is loaded.
- Control the muzzle direction at all times.
- Trigger finger must be kept off the trigger and out of the trigger guard.
- See that the firearm is unloaded – PROVE it safe.
PROVE
- Point the firearm in the safest available direction.
- Remove all cartridges.
- Observe the chamber.
- Verify the feeding path.
- Examine the bore.
When you follow these simple steps, you dramatically reduce the possibility of a negligent discharge.
Our longstanding culture of safety and responsibility is the result of taking these firearms safety rules seriously, and training others to respect these principles the same way we do.
Be safe at the range and in the field.
The life you save may be your own or someone you love.
[i] https://news.faharas.net/166776/bebe-morre-com-tiro-na/
[ii] https://www.livemint.com/news/india/maharashtra-polls-2024-govinda-cuts-short-campaign-trail-as-he-fell-sick-month-after-bullet-injury-11731812970620.html
[iii] https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/national-news/the-voice-winner-hospitalized-after-accidentally-shooting-himself/
[iv]https://www.facebook.com/sundanceheadofficial/posts/pfbid02GetRjDUjwQ4jARvWtu4FSsXhp3aVrGXT4QeENaMHN5tFgwrmTpqCPSjcdvLcz1oXl
[v] https://www.the-sun.com/news/12915987/moment-judge-accidentally-shoots-contestant-in-bum/
[vi] https://www.policemag.com/weapons/article/15307827/dont-call-it-a-negligent-discharge
[vii] https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/why-minister-blaney-s-wrong-about-gun-ownership-rights-1.1940232/comments-7.542496
