Left a round in the chamber: Gun show vendor shoots self

**RussP** · 01-31-2012, 10:39

Naw, loaded firearms at gun shows are not a problem, just negligent people.

Bill Adams, a licensed vendor at the event, apparently was showing his personal concealed weapon

Let everyone carry loaded - see how much more of this there will be...

Yang332 · 01-31-2012, 10:44

DOH! How does someone forget the round in the chamber?

ithaca_deerslayer · 01-31-2012, 10:48

...pointing the gun at something human, and about to pull trigger... "It's ok, the gun is unloaded."

Bruce M · 01-31-2012, 11:05

I am guessing maybe this is the reason the promoters want the guns left unloaded at shows?

**RussP** · 01-31-2012, 11:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce M

I am guessing maybe this is the reason the promoters want the guns left unloaded at shows?

Yes...I believe this would be a good reason.

glockaviator · 01-31-2012, 11:11

Most common cause of an unintentional discharge. There's a round in the chamber that the gun user doesn't know about. He thinks the chamber is empty. So he dry fires and, BOOM!

Chaos88 · 01-31-2012, 11:13

Why do these storys always say the gun " went off " not the idiot pulled the trigger

guyandarifle · 01-31-2012, 11:51

I was at the show when it happened. Soon as I heard the sound I thought "That's just effing great...can't wait to hear about this on the news."

I know people that have met the guy and by all accounts he's a good fellow but, just damn...

eruby · 01-31-2012, 11:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chaos88

Why do these storys always say the gun " went off " not the idiot pulled the trigger

+1.

Darn guns discharging themselves for no good reason.

itstime · 01-31-2012, 12:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by guyandarifle

I was at the show when it happened. Soon as I heard the sound I thought "That's just effing great...can't wait to hear about this on the news."

I know people that have met the guy and by all accounts he's a good fellow but, just damn...

My thoughts exactly.

gunslinger3 · 01-31-2012, 12:18

"Ya have to be smarter then that chunk of brainless steel you are carrying there sport."

xXGearheadXx · 01-31-2012, 12:22

It was an interested day at the show. A guy got busted after stealing a couple guns from one vendor and then reselling them at the show...i watch him get hauled off.

The guy that shot himself did so about 30 minutes after i left...

***TBO*** · 01-31-2012, 12:23

I've been to some gun shows that left me a tad nervous.

JuneyBooney · 01-31-2012, 12:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by RussP

Naw, loaded firearms at gun shows are not a problem, just negligent people.

Bill Adams, a licensed vendor at the event, apparently was showing his personal concealed weapon

Let everyone carry loaded - see how much more of this there will be...

I am sure that was an "Oh, damn" moment.

But at least he didn't shoot anyone else. I hope he does not lose the use of his hand. Man, that hurts just thinking about it.

OctoberRust · 01-31-2012, 12:25

I'm not sure how VA laws but, you can't CC loaded in a gun show, much like Texas correct?

Now if you were ALLOWED to carry concealed in a gunshow, why would you pull your defensive weapon out for show and tell? That's the stupid part, prohibit that, not concealed carry to defend ones self.

broncobuddha1 · 01-31-2012, 12:34

If I hadn't been sick I woud've been at the show. Craziness. A buddy of mine is a vendor and was about 40 feet from the guy when it happened. Said after the shot went off you could hear a pin drop.

Not sure if its state law or just the house rules but they are always posted outside at the entrance:

No loose ammo
No loaded magazines
No loaded concealed carry
All weapons must be checked and actions zip tied.

These are for patros and vendors alike.

So this guy not only violated the house rules, he violated all four principles of the safe handling of firearms.

**RussP** · 01-31-2012, 12:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by OctoberRust

I'm not sure how VA laws but, you can't CC loaded in a gun show, much like Texas correct?

Now if you were ALLOWED to carry concealed in a gunshow, why would you pull your defensive weapon out for show and tell? That's the stupid part, prohibit that, not concealed carry to defend ones self.

Not Virginia law, just C & E Gun Shows' rule.

Allow loaded carry inside the show, just outlaw/prohibit taking a loaded weapon out of the holster/pocket/purse/bag/waist pack, is that what you mean?

**RussP** · 01-31-2012, 13:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheeBadOne

I've been to some gun shows that left me a tad nervous.

Yep, every time I hear, "Hey, what ya selling there?" Then some guy opens the case/pistol rug/bag/whatever. I look for a security tie. If there isn't one, I'm gone.

See, some people get the security tie and cut it off once on the floor of the show...hmmmmn.

ithaca_deerslayer · 01-31-2012, 13:08

If you have to pull the trigger of your gun, triple check that it is empty first.

1. Pull the mag, and rack the slide open, look at the mag well and the chamber, making sure both are empty.

I can pull the trigger now, right? No, check again.

2. Ok, closing the slide, open it back up, mag well is empty, and chamber is empty, let the slide close again.

Now can I pull the trigger, I really want to pull the trigger, can't I pull it now? No, finish the triple check.

3. Alright, darn it, open the slide, see clearly there is no round in the chamber, I can even feel that it is empty with my finger, and the mag well is empty too, nothing in there, see my finger is sticking up from the bottom waving at me as I look down through the open ejection port.

Can I pull the trigger now? Sure, just point in a safe direction where the gun couldn't hurt anyone even it there was an AD.

Why go to all this bother? For one thing you are physically making absolutely sure your gun is empty. And for another, you are creating a mental break that gives you time to ensure you are checking properly.

glockfan2327 · 01-31-2012, 13:09

was a kimber 1911 the safest gun in the world , how that happen i though ND only happen with glocks >>>
the only safety is between your ears

glocked1 · 01-31-2012, 13:12

Never understood how these things happen. Luckily this type of gun owner is the minority (I hope)

**RussP** · 01-31-2012, 13:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by ithaca_deerslayer

If you have to pull the trigger of your gun, triple check that it is empty first.

1. Pull the mag, and rack the slide open, look at the mag well and the chamber, making sure both are empty.

I can pull the trigger now, right? No, check again.

2. Ok, closing the slide, open it back up, mag well is empty, and chamber is empty, let the slide close again.

Now can I pull the trigger, I really want to pull the trigger, can't I pull it now? No, finish the triple check.

3. Alright, darn it, open the slide, see clearly there is no round in the chamber, I can even feel that it is empty with my finger, and the mag well is empty to, nothing in there, see my finger is sticking up from the bottom waving at me as I look down through the open ejection port.

Can I pull the trigger now? Sure, just point in a safe direction where the gun couldn't hurt anyone even it there was an AD.

Why go to all this bother? For one thing you are physically making absolutely sure your gun is empty. And for another, you are creating a mental break that gives you time to ensure you are checking properly.

glocked1 · 01-31-2012, 13:17

1. Pull the mag, and rack the slide open, look at the mag well and the chamber, making sure both are empty.

That would be enough, but I agree with the whole list.

Bruce M · 01-31-2012, 13:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by broncobuddha1

.... Said after the shot went off you could hear a pin drop.

....

I remember here when a certain large ammunition dealer from an adjacent state somehow dropped a round on the floor and it somehow went off - same thing, you could hear a pin drop.

ithaca_deerslayer · 01-31-2012, 13:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by glocked1

1. Pull the mag, and rack the slide open, look at the mag well and the chamber, making sure both are empty.

That would be enough, but I agree with the whole list.

Yes, of course you are right. I made the decision long ago to go with the triple check. I've been doing it for decades.

What I have found is that not only is the process of racking the slide 3 times going to increase the odds of ejecting a round that you missed with the first check, but that the mental break, the PAIN IN THE BUTT process, of making yourself check 3 times gives you a respect for the seriousness of what you are about to do (pull the trigger of a gun).

So, yes, a proper single check will of course work, but so often that single check is sped up, done in a hurry, done without real thought, and done in a way that you are progressing from "loaded" to "unloaded" state of mind too quickly, and perhaps too casually.

And while YOU (whoever is reading this) might only need a single check because you are so proficient, the reality of there being many accidental discharges by people in general makes it clear that there is a problem. And sometimes, part of the self-reported information is that the guy who had the AD is usually careful but at that moment did a half-butted check, and at that moment did not take the process as seriously as he should have. My solution, and my effort here, is to say to one and all, TRIPLE CHECK