Originally posted by shegotya
You are right ... treat every weapon as if it were loaded. I can't argue that. I am not going to keep addressing this ... I posted the pics to share what we did not to start a debate. The guns even though it looks good were not pointed directly at anyone. Wonderful world of technology. There is a safe way to do things ... also what you do not realize is I personally have shot with three out of the four guys there almost all my life and trust them all individually with my own life as they do thiers with mine. It is great that you are trying to keep us safe but, you are looking at a picture and not a history or what took place before or after. I believe we all have lost family and friends to Cancer, Car Wrecks, Alcohol And Drug Abuse and so much more yet some of us drink, smoke and never see a doctor. Thanks for the great advise. I just want my post to be enjoyed by all and not picked apart by what was right and wrong. Enjoy the pics ... and I quote the words of Jerry Springer "Take care of yourself and each other"
Thanks for the reply Michelle, please understand that I don't wish to seem like the Grinch. You folks seem to have had a great time. Indeed, I very nearly didn't post as I didn't want to pee in the pool, so to speak. But, I've become something of a gun safety fanatic, having seen too many accidents.
About 6 or 7 years ago, my 16 year-old nephew spent a week at our home, along with his slightly younger cousin. One afternoon, he got the bright idea to open my gun cabinet and take out one of my old WWI Enfield SMLEs. As I walked into the den, he shoulders the rifle and takes aim at his cousin's head. Now, these rifles are on display because they're too old to be fired, thus the firing pins are removed. Nonetheless, this level of foolishness could not be tolerated. So, instead of swimming in the pool with his cousins, my nephew spent the rest of the day sitting at the dining room table reading an Eddie Eagle gun safety workbook. To make sure he actually read it, he was given a quiz.
So what prompted me to be so zealous? Lot's of things, I suppose. But, the real motivator happened in 1995. Recall my mention of dry firing an MP5 in a previous post? Those guys were ATF and they screwed up. MP5s, unlike most subguns, fire from a closed bolt, so it's easy to overlook a round in the chamber...
This one was closer to home, actually in my home. A friend of mine had borrowed two of my Mausers, both 98Ks. He returned them, having only fired one, which he had cleaned and oiled. My brother was visiting (he's a county deputy sheriff) when I removed the rifles from the carry case. As I inspected the rifle that had been used, my brother picked up the other Mauser, pointed it at a sofa, and for some unexplainable reason, squeezed the trigger.
The Mauser discharged. It shot through the sofa, the wall, and through both sides of our garage (and through my Scotts lawn spreader). The round was finally stopped by a fence post, preventing it from reaching my neighbor's house. Not 30 seconds before, my wife was sitting on that sofa.
Needless to say, there were several really upset people in my home.
This was a typical example of event cascading. While my friend did not shoot this Mauser, he had loaded five rounds into the magazine and chambered a round. Distracted by another shooter, he layed the rifle on the bench. A short time later, the rangemaster called the line to check targets. At that point my friend decided to call it a day. He cycled the bolt to empty the magazine and chamber. He apparently miscounted. He then cleaned the other Mauser right at the bench and placed both in the hard case, somehow not realizing that the second rifle was loaded, chambered and cocked. Then my brother, having a lot of experience with firarms, did something equally stupid. There was no good excuse for either of them. Both were careless and lax.
We were lucky, I could repair the damage this time.
So, I'm not talking down to anyone. I'm simply reminding people that even under the most innocent of circumstances, things can go very wrong. Maybe not this time, or the next 100 times. But, sooner or later, someone will find themselves being less than diligent. When that happens, and it will, you want every edge you can have and the way you get that edge is through making safety a habit.
Now, all of that said, you look like a fun bunch of folks to spend a weekend with.
Again, thanks for the thoughtful reply.
My regards,
Widewing
