Published: June 24, 2008 12:50 am            

Safety stressed after accidental shooting

When Paul Harper was a boy, he once handed his cousin a 22-caliber rifle without remembering to unload it. The cousin pointed the weapon at Harper’s brother and sister before he aimed it at a nearby television.

The gun fired and the television was destroyed.

“That could have been my sister,” Harper said. “That could have been my brother.”

Harper has not been careless with a gun since.

“The most important thing to gun safety lies right between your ears,” said Harper, owner of Hanceville Gun and Ammo. “I’ve seen people look down into the barrel of their guns. It seems like we lose respect for the gun and treat in carelessly.”

According to Cullman County Police reports, a local 23-year-old man, whose name was not released, accidentally shot and seriously injured himself with a 32-caliber revolver Friday while at home.

“He just dropped it and it went off,” said Capt. Max Bartlett of police department. “He was hit in the chin.”

To Harper, such accidents are tragic but easily avoidable.

“Always treat it (gun) with respect,” Harper said. “It will kill.”

Like Harper, Cullman County Sheriff Tyler Roden considers simple carelessness to be the main cause of firearm accidents.

“Either when handling the gun or cleaning the gun, mistakes have happened,” Roden said. “Don’t take your safety for granted.”

Cullman police firearms instructor Officer Jason Mickle said there are a few simple rules citizens should follow when handling guns.

“Treat all guns as if they are loaded, always keep guns pointed in a safe direction,” Mickle said. “And always be sure of your target, what’s around it and what’s beyond it.”

Mickle added that citizens who own firearms should be proficient with their weapons and take gun safety classes if possible. He said even experienced gun users like police officers can benefit from extra safety training.

“We always stress firearm safety,” Mickle said.

Harper said even if a gun has a safety switch, the owner should not think he or she is completely safe.

“Never ever trust a mechanical safety,” Harper said. “Anything mechanical can fail.”

Harper suggested all gun owners purchase a gun lock to increase their safety.

“I don’t sell a gun that doesn’t have a lock,” Harper said. “When you’re not using a gun, it needs to be locked.”

Roden said gun owners should also keep the safety of their families in mind.

“If you have young kids or grandkids, keep guns in a safe place with perhaps a gun lock on the gun.”

Harper added that ammunition should be hidden in a different location from a gun.

“That will prevent a child from finding the gun and ammunition together and trying to load that ammo,” Harper said.

        

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