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Negligent Discharge

5K views 81 replies 54 participants last post by  Lvs1935 
#1 ·
I am a new shooter. I took a basic firearms class, 3 defensive shooting classes, and practice time on the range. I broke the first safety rule a few days ago and did not check the chamber before pulling the trigger on my Glock 42 preparing to clean it at my kitchen table. Luckily no one was hurt and no damage to the house that I can find. I am absolutely horrified with my negligence and can't believe I did this. I have no defense and take full responsibility. My husband, who was borderline anti-gun has now become totally negative and refuses to allow the gun in the house or allow me to carry when I am with him. I would appreciate comments on the negligent discharge and also how to now deal with a spouse who does not appreciate my love of sport shooting.
 
#62 ·
To the OP
Tell your "husband" to piss off, and I use the term husband loosely because if he is dictating rules to you then he is not acting like the partner a spouse is supposed to be. If he thinks he can tell you what to do you need to cut him loose. I would never presume to tell my wife what she can and can't do and there is a mutual respect in our marriage that she would never presume to tell me what I can and can't do. He has every right to not be a part of it if he does not like it, but to tell you what to do is far over the line.
 
#64 ·
#65 ·
I'd just like to know whether she found the hole. I'd take the same position that I'd been in and take a few moments to just breathe. Then, I'd slowly start to remember exactly the sequence and position of the gun. It was probably pretty traumatic - Since it's already a done deal, why not learn what the round she's carrying can do?
 
#67 ·
I didn't hear the OP making excuses or accepting. In order to be safe shooters, we need to get experience. That's what she's trying to do. Many of our members, myself included, have accepted the fact she made a mistake. Some of us have chosen to lord over their (unproven) claims of never having an ND. This isn't about them, it's about the entire community learning from the errors of others. It's possible the OP may have saved, or will save, someone else through her admission from disaster.
 
#72 ·
So far so good, in over 60 years of shooting no ND's :crazy: I have had a few "near misses" like bringing a gun with mag out, but a round in the chamber home. Now what I do is take an orange zip tie and close it into the action....I KNOW FOR SURE there the gun is safe.
 
#73 ·
DebW...
BTDT (really makes one feel stupid, because... it is/was a classic rectal cranial inversion moment... for moi)

Suggestion: Have hubby and you together, read ALL of the posts in your thread, good and bad. Reflect. Atone. (more, better training) Kathy's Cornered Cat blog is great for all to read and learn as another member suggested.

Ultimatums? I hate those. Deal killers. Controllers. I understand anger and fear and would really really hate to see anyone harmed... but marriage is a series of compromises at times (life as we ALL know it).

and...

Bad guys exist.

Kids in house? None of my business, but I did what my Dad did when we were kids and always kept loaded magazines separate from the weapon but easily accessible should need arise.

Dry fire practice with ALL ammo in other room, ALL the time. EVERY time. Have Your PARTNER check and dbl check initially (he is part of the equation/solution) until he too is assured that never happens again due to the aforementioned momentary inversion.

and... More Training. Always with SAFETY as your Mantra. Coopers 4 rules! Ingrained! (sounds like you had #2 covered at least)

Good Luck. Stay SAFE! Here's hoping Hubby redirects and ultimatums are left behind as you two move forward, SAFELY in this unsafe world, being part of the solution and NOT the problem.

Me? I put a .45 hole in the closet sliding door brass handle, centered. Perfect! Exactly where the IMAGINARY NON bullet should have gone... uh... yeah... right... two shirts with 2 holes each (in & out) and a hole in back wall of closet where things like a few wood studs, stopped it all.
Alone at home at the moment.
It was a perfect shot placement... dammit! One of those head up ... moments for sure. I had been shooting for over 35 years before I killed my first closet door brass handle. (they fear me now)

Don't Do That! (again)
 
#75 ·
Carry chamber empty for awhile until you get more experience. Also maybe consider a trigger that doesn't have to be pulled to disassemble, maybe even a revolver, though that is a crutch, you still need to follow the rules.

There's a reason one of the laws is "keep it pointed in a safe direction". It keeps a ND from becoming a tragedy instead of just an embarrassment.
 
#76 ·
I feel a bit compelled to add this... and it's not directed specifically at anyone.

** A Gun Is Not A Toy **

And anyone that has trouble distinguishing what is and isn't a toy... probably shouldn't own a gun, because you could kill someone before you learn the difference.
 
#77 ·
And the best way to make sure you treat a gun as if it's loaded all the time? Keep it loaded ALL THE TIME. It's what I do.
Same here at my Casa on the Mountain, ALWAYS LOADED ..... Makes it much easier to remember to ALWAYS check before handling.
 
#79 · (Edited)
Deb, I know you feel terrible about the ND and not much to be said that will make you feel better except time, more fun and successful shooting without further mishap. Give yourself some time and you will be fine. Encourage your spouse to get involved in shooting and training of his own.

Be patient with his concern but if he refuses to come around dont let him disarm you and your household. We had a home invasion in my small town this week, very troubling and shocking. The homeowner wasnt hurt but was tied up and robbed. At least she lived to tell about it, but I dont want to find myself on my knees begging for my life anywhere, much less in my own home. So you are doing the right thing in taking responsibility for your homes security by learning to shoot and safely handle a gun.

There are 4 safety rules as you have studied, so consider this---- as bad as it was to violate rule #1 and #3 at least you DID NOT break rule #2 at the same time. Your muzzle was not pointed at anything you wanted to shoot/destroy, therefore yours has an embarrassing yet not a tragic ending. But as others have said, you have a bullet hole somewhere- you need to find it.

Its when you violate the rules all together all at once that disaster strikes. I say this not to minimize or excuse a negligent discharge but to point out that all the rules work in unison to keep you safe. Keep training, practicing, and shoot safely.
 
#80 ·
You have to think of it like falling off a horse or having a car wreck. Nothing to do but saddle up again and go ahead the wiser for the experience. Maybe cool it for a month or two and then tell the hubby your going to the range. Ease him back into it. ND can happen to anyone. Don't let it get you down on yourself. Just be aware and do the best you can.
 
#81 ·
Yep, you can violate one of the Col.'s rules without getting into too much trouble. One you start violating more than one, then it's " Katie, bar the door ".

wp​
 
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#82 ·
Thirty years ago I was sitting in my bedroom handling one of those cheap Davis 380's. I accidentally discharged a round right past my face and put a nice hole in the ceiling. I will never forget it. I thought I had crapped my pants. It really shook me up. I can't believe I was that careless. It was the first and only time it has happened to me. I learned a valuable lesson that day.
 
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