Opinion
Begging the Question!
Nearly all “gun accidents” do not involve some “mechanical failure” on the part of the gun itself. I’ve been involved in the investigation of many such “accidents!” The gun itself, in virtually all these cases, functioned normally and as designed.
In rare cases, there have been “defective guns,” defectively designed, and/or defectively manufactured. The vast majority of these are long-since out of production, and the companies that manufactured them, long-since out of business.
SIG’s flagship 320 Pistol is currently at the center of one of these alliaceous debates. I’d comment further if I knew for certain what is going on (if anything) with the 320, but I don’t.
Discounting the foregoing, two human factors, always in concert, are at the root cause of the vast majority of “gun accidents”:
- (1) ignorance, and
- (2) carelessness, both on the part of the person handling the gun.
With competent training, most gun owners can be adequately prepared to own, handle, carry, and use guns with as high a degree of “safety” as is possible, given normal human limitations.
I tell my students, “safe gun-handling” is probably impossible, but “careful gun-handling” is surely within the ability of nearly all of us.
Yet, there is another human factor. The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) has coined the term “willful blindness,” that is, “the willful ignoring of substantial and obvious risks.”
We might call it “begging the question.” Such people apparently consider “playing with sharks” cool!
There is no possible “benefit” associated with careless gun-handling, so deliberately ignoring risks so involved would appear to be a form of mental illness.
That is, until you add “arrogance” to the equation!
I’m reminded of the self-appointed Apostle who blithely handles poisonous snakes with his bare hands, because he is persuaded that God has selected him for special protection.
Of course, he is promptly bitten by one of the snakes he is annoying, and then dies!
His “famous last words” are inevitably:
“I had no idea…”
“God must have me mixed-up with someone else”
“This is so unfair”
… ad nauseum
“Who sets himself up as judge of truth and knowledge is shipwrecked by laughter of the gods.” ~ Albert Einstein.
/John
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About John Farnam & Defense Training International, Inc
As a defensive weapons and tactics instructor, John Farnam will urge you, based on your beliefs, to make up your mind about what you would do when faced with an imminent lethal threat. You should, of course, also decide what preparations you should make in advance if any. Defense Training International wants to ensure that its students fully understand the physical, legal, psychological, and societal consequences of their actions or in-actions.
It is our duty to make you aware of certain unpleasant physical realities intrinsic to Planet Earth. Mr. Farnam is happy to be your counselor and advisor. Visit: www.defense-training.com
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Air Force Pauses Use of Sig Sauer M18 Handgun After Airman Killed
How the Army Ditched the Beretta, Snubbed GLOCK, & Bet Big on SIG—Was It Worth It? ~ VIDEO
Who among us has not had an unplanned discharge? In 50 years, I have. More than once. Fortunately, the muzzle is ALWAYS controlled, in a safe direction. So, besides embarassment, no damage.
I carry a 100 year old 1911 on many occasions if hammer is down and you drop it and hammer hits it will fire,if it is ready cocked it will not so safe for the way it was intended to be carried ,many revolvers of the era are the same many early revolvers were black powder ,which is an explosive and can be very sensitive ,were carried on an empty chamber because of this ,only close call I ever had was caused by static electricity with a flintlock pistol
IMOA, complacency and a know-it-all attitude will surely make one unsafe when handling firearms.
I had my first a 6 years old, and embarrassment was the least of it. No one was injured, and no property was damaged, but my father was not happy. Since then I’ve had two close calls, both while putting guns in a bag or safe. When in doubt check the chamber. I also separate an AD from a ND. “Accidental” is down range into a berm or the ground in a shooting situation. “Negligent” is when only pure luck, happenstance, and muzzle orientation avoided an injury. I also think two groups are most likely to have ADs and NDs.… Read more »
What’s wrong with “playing with sharks” in a general sense?
Now if you are talking adult bull sharks, whites or tigers one cannot be cavalier – but watching nurse sharks or swimming with whale sharks is reasonably safe.
Hello Fellas and Fellettes,
Looking down the barrel of a gun doesn’t have to be literal, it can be figurative. Progressive Liberals do it every time they think. With every bright idea, Progressive Liberals have, they basically look down the barrel of a gun.
Everyone seems to be ganging up on the P320, even owners that had no issues are afraid to carry/use them. A shooting buddy and myself both have one and not one safety problem. Our holsters are made for the P320 and we haven’t dropped them so at least our pistols are safe.
I agree. In the recent case an Airman supposedly put a Sig pistol on a table and it fired itself. Who would put a pistol down pointing at himself? Then the Airforce overreacts and stops the carry of the pistol. The obvious reaction should have been direct Airmen to carry “Israli style” while the claim is being investigated.
The Japanese combat rifle in WW2 was the defect supreme! Just bumping it made it fire.
The guy in the picture knows guns. Even though he knows it is unloaded, he is pointing it where if it were to have a Alec Baldwin happen it might shoot his hat and not his face.
He is not a demoncrap and is a gun owner.