Two men received a lifetime ban from a gun range after deciding that it was a good idea to take a selfie that included one gent pointing a gun at the other man. All in good fun, right?
Well, the gun range leaders didn’t agree. Oddly enough, it happened in Texas — the one state where you would expect a little leeway when it comes to gun-related crimes.
There have been quite a few shocking gun mishap videos in recent years, including one where an FBI agent decided to take a turn on the dance floor which ended in tragedy. In that instance, he attempted to perform an acrobatic back tuck and instead managed to drop his gun — which then went off and shot someone in the foot. The FBI agent faced assault charges, but a judge is going to allow him to carry weapons again. Apparently, his moment of bad judgment was allowed to ride mostly because the bystander who was injured was amused enough about what happened to not press charges. However, that accident pales in comparison to the bad decisions made by these gents at a Texas Top Gun Range.
Gun ranges focus a great deal of time, attention and energy on providing a safe and secure location for patrons to visit. To that end, Top Gun Range manager Kyle Harrison knew exactly what to do when he glimpsed two guys taking a selfie, and one had a gun pointed at the head of the second man. He immediately jumped into gear and separated the two, escorting them from the premises immediately to ensure that no one got the wrong idea about what the guys clearly thought was a lot of fun. This incident was called a “cardinal safety violation” by gun range staff.
While this incident is causing some people to chuckle, it’s truly not a laughing matter. Firearm safety is of critical importance, and teaching these skills to children can begin as young as age 2 or 3. When you’re going to have weapons in the home, there are simple gun safety rules that should always be followed. The NSSF, the Firearms Industry Trade Association, notes that there are 10 rules for gun safety that should always be followed. The first four rules are particularly critical. They include:
1. Always point the muzzle of your weapon in a safe direction
2. Unload your firearms when you’re not using them
3. Don’t rely on the “safety” mechanism of your gun
4. Be sure not only of your target — but of what lies beyond it
5. Always use the correct ammunition for your weapon
6. Treat a gun that fails to fire as an explosive device — handle carefully!
7. Always wear ear protection and protective glasses
8. Check your barrel for obstructions before shooting
9. Regularly service your guns
10. Learn the details of the firearm that you’re using and how to fire it safely
The unwritten rule of gun safety should also be followed at all times: Don’t point a weapon at your buddy’s head so you can take a selfie!
~ Firearm Daily
