Given the increase number of inexperienced folks moving firearms around I wouldn't be surprised if there is an increase in ND's. The "panic" has incited many folks without basic firearm safety discipline to purchase and/or otherwise handle firearms, often in unsafe ways. From those panic buying, often their first guns to those trying to get rid of grandpa's old army gun to take advantage of panic prices.
After being flagged no less than 3 times at Academy last weekend by folks at the gun-counter I really wondered what resources new gun-owners would find, if any, to prepare them for the responsibility of safely owning a firearm... One gentleman was very indignant to discover that the revolver he just jammed in is pocket and snagged upon retrieval didn't have a safety, so he bought a SA .40 pistol and one box of SD ammo instead... First-time gun-owner. I wonder how much practicing he'll do with those 20 rounds, or if he'll pursue any training or safety material at all?
I'm thinking that this would be a good time to really step up firearm safety education to help out folks who might not have been quite ready to purchase and did so in haste. Before they have a possibly tragic accident. The new (panic) owner, dealing with their (panic) selection and paperwork very likely didn't even hear the basic safety drill most firearms dealers run through as part of the sale.
Many may will look to the NRA after they get home and perhaps consider safety, but the NRA Gun Safety rules are a bit confusing.
http://training.nra.org/nra-gun-safety-rules.aspx... For example:
When using or storing a gun, always follow these NRA rules:
Know your target and what is beyond.
...
Good rule, but generally speaking, when I'm storing my gun, it's already unloaded/safe and not being directed at a target... I think this website could be better, providing basic safety rules, clearly and I would think some brief videos covering the safety basics and perhaps operation basics for common weapons wouldn't be such a stretch for the NRA. Did Bing steer me to the wrong NRA website for gun safety? A strong safety and education site might save lives, be good PR and also provide channel to boost membership and a marketing mechanism/lead-in for additional NRA/partner training classes. I sure wish the NRA would do better here... Start with simple safety priorities like the 4/5 basic rules then continue to educate.
Seems like a opportunity to usher more folks into -safe- firearm ownership to the benefit of all...
So how do you get the new gun owners attention and make them realize the importance of basic gun safety? I really like Clint Smith's Guntalk.tv safety video and rules. I'm thinking about printing these on business cards entitled "The Rules" and handing them to folks as necessary...:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... 7LIJm5gI#!
- All guns are always loaded.
- Don't point the muzzle at anything you don't want to destroy.
- Keep your finger off the trigger until your willing to shoot.
- Be sure of target and back-stop.
Many of the safety lists I'm seeing cover some of that, but also throw in a number of other items such as know how to operate your gun, use the right ammunition, don't drink and shoot, ear/eyes, have your gun serviced regularly(?)and so forth. Maybe a timely "So I just bought a gun. Now what?" type safety article somewhere. Something else? Or would it just be lost in the noise, such as my TLDR post here? (sorry about that, getting this off my chest)
Anyhow, my trip to Academy reaffirmed my drive to pay attention to the folks around me at public ranges as they may not be as safe as they need to be. And that maybe body armor isn't
that expensive...
, and I never thought that day would come. While he may have created a gun buying frenzy, it is not his fault that these people didn't know how to use, unload or holster their weapons. That is on them.