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I'm not sure why you think we disagree. The dude killed himself either intentionally, or negligently. If suicide, this thread is moot.

If negligence, ths thread reinforces the cardinal gun handling rules. That point is more strongly made when you realize that HE caused the gun to fire, it didn't just go off. The same can happen to you.

I never said that I think there was any disagreement.
What I said was the lesson was being lost by the conjecture and speculation of facts of which there is no possible way to determine unless one were a direct participant in the event.
And yes a gun does "just go off" - each time the trigger is pushed either intentionally or by accident - it still "goes off". In the article there was no inference that the gun fired "by itself" somehow you have read that into the article. The term the gun went off was used to describe that the gun fired - obviously by accident. He lived for several hours after the event before he died and he possibly was able to relay these facts to those around him and the authorities.

When I posted this I had no idea that the purpose of reminding everyone to always be safe would cause such a need to debate the issue.
I give up! Be aware of safety, or don't - your choice!

I think the main lesson here is lost by trying to analyze facts unknown for the purpose of laying specific blame on the individual for a momentary lapse in care or judgment for which he paid the ultimate price. He made a mistake and died for it.

The speculation and conjecture (educated or otherwise) that is being interjected here on this poor soul who evidently (the trigger was somehow pressed rearward negligently) had one lapse in responsible weapon handling and it cost him and his family.
How many of us have made mistakes? How many have said to ourselves, “There but for the grace of God, go I�?
The point here is we are human. And as humans we are always subject to moments of irresponsible behavior.
Be aware of that fact and always be mindful and in control of your behavior when weapons are involved. Even brief lapses may be injurious or fatal.
Remember Mr. Chapman and ALWAYS be aware of the rules of gun safety. Don’t cause pain by a stupid mistake.

KBCraig wrote:My first thought was suicide, which the wife wants explained away. My second thought was murder.

Both scenarios are more plausible than shooting oneself in the chest while unholstering.

Kevin

And you say that you assume nothing?

txinvestigator wrote:

Trainman wrote:

he pressed the trigger, causing the gun to fire

Is that what the police report said or are those words your own personal assesment of the circumstances of the tragedy?

It is a fact that guns don't "go off" without some outside intervention like PRESSING THE TRIGGER, nor ar they evil objects capable of causing death and destruction all by themsleves; thereby, being evil and dangerous in and of themselves as the media wants people to believe.

The media loves to paint firearms as they did in this piece. They never report that the person had to actually press the trigger to make the gun fire.

In this case I see 2 of the 4 Cardinal Safety rules violated.

True, a gun doesn't just "go off" by itself. The fact is this. None of us know what the FACTS of this situation were. To presume that this individual specifically put his finger on the trigger and pulled it accidentally in some manner are PURE CONJECTURE.
Did something overt happen to cause the weapon to unitentionally fire? In the words of Duane Thomas: "Evidently".
The sole purpose of my posting the news item were to remind everyone to maintain a high level of safety awareness.

On a side note, I know some journalists are quick to paint guns and their owners with a unflattering paintbrush. I personally don't think that this occurred in this article.

he pressed the trigger, causing the gun to fire

Is that what the police report said or are those words your own personal assesment of the circumstances of the tragedy?

This article was in the Star Telegram this morning. It is just a reminder to everyone to stay safe!
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Man accidentally shoots himself, dies

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS -- A man died Monday after he accidentally shot himself while removing a handgun from its holster at his home, police said Tuesday. No other injuries were reported in the shooting, which occurred shortly before 9:30 a.m. Monday in the 6900 block of Lincolnshire Lane. The Tarrant County medical examiner's office identified the victim as Robert Chapman, 45, who died Monday night at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth. Chapman's wife told police she heard a gunshot in their home and discovered her husband with a gunshot wound to the chest, according to police reports. Chapman told his wife that he was removing a .45-caliber handgun from a holster when it went off, reports state.

-- Domingo Ramirez Jr.