DEBJENROB Loc: DELRAY BEACH FL

it is more than gun safety ..... I used to shoot at both a public and private range .... and it always gave me some concern shooting at a public range ... they draw a different crowd .... I would be shooting my .22 caliber competition target at NRA approved targets .... and next to me would be some guy shooting a 9mm semi automatic handgun at silhouettes .... he would be dressed in camouflage holding a $900 gun but be driving a $300 car .... there are some scary people out there with guns ...

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

My friend, you are absolutely wrong! First of all lets get the terminology straight. You are referring to the slide(when you say the bolt). Letting the slide go forward by the recoil spring pressure will never fire the chambered round unless the trigger is pulled! When one is clearing a malfunction it is imperative to keep the trigger finger out of the trigger guard during the whole process. that way, when you let the slide go back into battery there is no chance of the gun firing until you intentionally pull the trigger, got it?

Leon S Loc: Minnesota

Every kid and adult is expected to remember that all guns in my home are loaded. No one picks up any fire arm without first clearing the chamber. So far no one has ever found a round in one of them. That practice has carried out over the years to all who have entered my home and has spread to our friends homes. No one in our circle treats this practice as a joke.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

This is true! I have seen people at the range trying to load the wrong caliber ammunition into their pistol! This doesn't mean that one can legislate stupidity though. In my vast experience as a firearms instructor I have to say that the large majority of firearms owners are responsible and knowledgeable about what they are doing. The ones that aren't make the news(as it should be)but all gun owners shouldn't be judged by what these few do.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Exactly.
I live in West Virginia where everyone owns LOTS of guns and kids to grandparents shoot. There is a BIG emphasis on gun safety and everyone is very aware of them.

I'm a transplant to WV so I didn't grow up around guns, therefore I really have to pay attention consciously to gun safety when I'm around them. That's also the reason that I don't carry even though WV is a state where you can open and concealed carry without a permit. I don't trust myself. I know my limitations.

peteto Loc: Las Vegas

That's a fact!

DEBJENROB Loc: DELRAY BEACH FL

sorry ... you are correct about my terminology .... I sold all of my guns 15 years ago ..... but you are incorrect as to what can and can not happen .... I had a Marlin .22 cal semi auto ... a round jammed in the chamber ... I angled the rifle at 45 degrees and attempted to clear the round .... the rifle was pointed down range .... I did not realize me son had gone down range to check targets .... my hand slipped off the slide and the round in the chamber discharged .... as I looked up .. I saw my son walking towards me .... he was not hit ... but I could have killed him ....yes I was careless ... but the round did discharge and my finger was not on the trigger ...

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Well, you were talking about a rifle that I am not familiar with. I am referring to handguns, of which I have a lot of experience with as a police Firearms trainer. Many times there are discharges and the shooter absolutely swears that they did not touch the trigger, but I know that you cannot fire the gun without pulling the trigger on the modern handguns that I am a factory qualified armorer on.

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

In our town I believe the Gun safety program is more of a revenue device than safety. (Us Army Retired)

RichieC Loc: Adirondacks

I have quite a few guns of various sorts in my house. Ever since my kids were old enough, I have played a "game" with them. I hold up any one of them and ask them "is this loaded?"...... "Is any gun you ever see or find loaded?" Then I open the action and show them it isn't, (of course) immediately close it in full view of them... and hold it up and ask again... "is this loaded?" "Is any gun you ever see or find loaded?"

There is only one correct answer... and they know it. They know what to do if anybody they see ever treats one as if it isn't loaded.

While keeping a round in the chamber is sound self defense strategy in terms of quick response.... extra special care must be taken and only under special circumstances. . Personally, I would never do this... unless actively hunting- I'm not as worried about me as i am someone else handling it or an unintentional discharge. The dope that shot himself — shot the guilty party.

kd7eir Loc: Tucson, AZ

Just to expand on your response, you also keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction at all times.

mdfenton

We must wonder about the brains of some people:

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/06/29/stoneham-man-faces-charges-for-shooting-and-killing-his-friend-while-playing-with-gun/F4fnXTIDRtGkuf0FPNNmQM/story.html?s_campaign=email_BG_TodaysHeadline&s_campaign=

farnsworth52 Loc: W. Pa.

It's called natural selection.Survival of the reasonably intelligent.

Bill Munny Loc: Aurora, Colorado

I have been a shooting instructor for over 20 years, teaching for concealed carry, SWAT, local police and even the FBI/CIA. Most of the responses here are close but some show their lack of knowledge and continue to talk. Very few pistols have a "bolt". Just because a gun is loaded does not mean it is cocked (there are a lot of double action pistols out there, a Glock is a single action). If you have a single action pistol that is loaded (meaning a charged magazine is in the pistol) and a round in the chamber the pistol is ready to fire and all that has to happen is pulling the trigger to enable it to discharge. Rule #1 with us is "do not point the muzzle at anything you are not willing to destroy". Pretty straight forward. I have failed many students who think they need to be aggressive with firearms instead of treating it like it is the "tool of last resort". People do not rise to the occasion, they fall back to their training. This young man was not trained well, if at all, and the result was final. If you are a responsible gun owner, you have been thru some good training and practice those safe habits often. Just like practicing fire drills for you family in you own home. The only true safety on any firearm is your brain.

RLSeipleSr Loc: North of Boston

No such thing as an "accidental discharge" ... should be considered a "negligent discharge" ...

Bob S