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Gun Safety Demo Ends in Accidental Suicide

By Harry Kimball| Posted May 18, 09 12:13 PM CDT|

(Newser) – A Phoenix gun-safety advocate accidentally shot himself in the head yesterday while demonstrating gun safety, the Arizona Daily Star reports. The man was explaining to two others the necessity of keeping guns unloaded in the house. To demonstrate, he placed his own gun—which he thought was unloaded—to his head and pulled the trigger. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

A Phoenix gun-safety advocate accidentally shot himself in the head yesterday while demonstrating gun safety. (Shutterstock)

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56 comments

VIEWING:

IN RESPONSE:

Robert_Dada
May 18, 09 2:22 PM CDT

Predictable advice. Ignore it and sweep it under the rug lest ye gun nuts risk being emasculated by having your precious guns taken from you.

IN RESPONSE:

ClearSight
May 18, 09 3:37 PM CDT

Judging by Robert_Dada's comments on Newser he's already been effectively emasculated.

IN RESPONSE:

Collusive
May 18, 09 8:38 PM CDT

Liberal Fascists, does that make sense in the genetic train wreck you call home?

IN RESPONSE:

kokuaguy
May 18, 09 10:22 PM CDT

Isn't 'liberal fascist" an oxymoron?

| 0 minutes ago

cnguyen
May 18, 09 12:22 PM CDT

Irony at its finest Reply

IN RESPONSE:

psycada
May 19, 09 11:10 AM CDT

Darwinism for the win!

-2

IN RESPONSE:

nick
May 19, 09 3:31 PM CDT

It's always something!

-1

| 0 minutes ago

NewserHound
May 18, 09 12:23 PM CDT

What an idiot! Reply

| 0 minutes ago

freethemall
May 18, 09 12:28 PM CDT

As tragic as it was, it sure drove his point home, so to speak. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

lo9an
May 18, 09 12:31 PM CDT

Another reason that weapons should be highly regulated! Simply insane that marijuana is illegal, yet firearms are perfectly acceptable. What a sad society we live in! One day we will understand this! Instead we have a bunch of talking heads and 'patriotic' Americans screaming about their protected rights to bear arms. Well, what about my right to vaporize a plant?? Hmmm, seems quite hypocritical! Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Graymatter
May 18, 09 12:37 PM CDT

That's a silly suggestion, regulation doesn't help the problem. It was just an accident that anyone could have made. I'm sure you're not free of doing something mildly idiotic in your time. So don't use this issue as the reason regulation brought on by the FED should be enforced highly.

-1

IN RESPONSE:

NutsInNY
May 18, 09 1:24 PM CDT

"an accident that anyone could have made"? "something mildly idiotic"? WOW!

IN RESPONSE:

ClearSight
May 18, 09 3:13 PM CDT

Simple solutions from simple minds and your drug reference proves that...lo9an

-2

IN RESPONSE:

Sauerkraut
May 18, 09 6:12 PM CDT

dont bring marijuana into gun laws. I love marijuana, and i think i should be able to have a gun in case anyone would try to steal any. Your just a pussy hippy.

IN RESPONSE:

kokuaguy
May 18, 09 10:17 PM CDT

Maybe the poor fool was smoking week a couple hours before the "accident."

IN RESPONSE:

kokuaguy
May 18, 09 10:20 PM CDT

Proofreading is good. Doesn't 'accidental suicide' seem like an oxymoron?

| 0 minutes ago

Circusdog
May 18, 09 12:44 PM CDT

Darwin Nominee Reply

IN RESPONSE:

kirei_gaisuto
May 18, 09 1:08 PM CDT

My thoughts exactly. Guess we're both going to hell.

IN RESPONSE:

Collusive
May 18, 09 8:36 PM CDT

I'll bring the beer?

| 0 minutes ago

JackShephard
May 18, 09 1:25 PM CDT

Shouldn't a gun-safety expert be teaching people not to point guns at themselves or others (and especially not to pull the trigger), loaded or not? Er, I guess that's what he did... Reply

| 0 minutes ago

voiceofreason
May 18, 09 1:50 PM CDT

Several issues here. 1. Considering that this guy was a safety advocate it just goes to show that just because somebody is an athoritive figure doesn't mean he has any clue what is really right, safe, or proper. Any one with any experience with firearms Knows you never point a gun at yourself or anyone else regardless of whether you think it is loaded or not, it just plain stupid. 2. They are calling this a suicide which is no different than calling a death by car accident, fall, electrocution, or any other death that was a direct result of the victims negligence a suicide. Suicide is an intentinal ending of your own life. I am actually suprised that religious folk that belive suicide is a one way ticket to hell aren't a tad bit offended by this headline. 3. I am an avid believer that a hand gun can serve no other good perpose than self defense. That being said an unloaded hand gun will not help defend you in any way. If you are going to own a hand gun it should always be loaded unless cleaning it. The key is to show everybody in the household exactly what kind of damage it can do, and to make sure there is no doubt in their minds that it is always loaded. You might be suprised at how little a child wants anything to do with a firearm after hearing it go off and seeing what kind of damage it does. They would be more inclined to take your keys and try to drive your car than touch your gun with a ten foot pole. In the early days of america children were exposed to firearms from birth throughout their childhood and accidental deaths were far and few between. This was due to proper training and respect for the firearm. I have steak knives and many other dangerous items in my home as I am sure everybody does. it is impossible to completely shield your loved ones from the dangers in the world and your only tool against injury is the ability to teach and train in the proper use of such items. Ignorance is Bliss, and its also DEADLY. Don't hide learn thats why you have a brain. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Sauerkraut
May 18, 09 6:19 PM CDT

You sir, just won the game. 1+ Internets for you :D

IN RESPONSE:

RatsInArabia
May 18, 09 7:17 PM CDT

Perfectly said, couldn't agree with you more!

IN RESPONSE:

kokuaguy
May 18, 09 10:42 PM CDT

There is a lot to disagree with here-- with the exception of the point made by me in 4 words higher up on the page: accidental suicide = oxymoron. Though I agree that having the right to keep one handgun in the household for self defense is a reasonable expectation, letting small children know about them and have access is a bad idea. Curiosity has killed the small boy rather more frequently than it has killed a cat in my experience. If your alarm system tells you that there is an intruder in your home there's plenty of time to retrieve "precious" from her hiding place back of the dresser drawer and load up with the cartridges kept under your mattress before sallying forth to brandish your arms. I'd imagine racing down the stairs brandishing a shotgun might even be more effective a deterrent, but maybe you're more interested in gunplay than deterrence, however. Be that as it may... I would venture to guess that there's probably even a bit of time to call 911 somewhere along the way in this typically American nightmare scenario. Well, that's enough for now. I'm off to check on Ryan and jemikeos.

IN RESPONSE:

Nwambe
May 19, 09 6:26 AM CDT

In fairness, in the early days of your country, hospitals and census statistics were few and far between, so gun deaths or injuries, legitimate or not, were not exactly reported. The 'frontier' mystique that guns seem to have in America cannot be underestimated, but it's reasonably clear that when even a gun safety expert can accidentally kill himself that these weapons require regulation, somewhere along the same lines as tobacco manufacturers received in the latter half of the 20th century.

-3

IN RESPONSE:

RatsInArabia
May 19, 09 7:36 AM CDT

@Nwambe.. The guy is not an expert. He was a 26 y/o "gun-safety advocate". Meaning one that speaks out/pushes for his beliefs or thoughts.

| 0 minutes ago

Strandwolf
May 18, 09 2:00 PM CDT

Treat all weapons as if they are loaded all of the time. Never point a weapon, "loaded or not" at something you do not mean to destroy. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

ClearSight
May 18, 09 3:31 PM CDT

Agreed Strandwolf. There is a law enforcement training school near where I live, awhile back one of the instructors shot and killed a recruit during a training exercise. The facts came out he wasn't suppose to bring his service weapon into class which was against police academy policy. He was held liable and punished for his ineptness. I've lived with firearms all my life and have yet to discharge one by accident. This is because I refuse to deviate from my original training when I was young from my father or the training I received as an adult.

IN RESPONSE:

Mad
May 18, 09 6:25 PM CDT

Far better advice - "Never point a weapon" or how about "never handle a gun". Stop fascinating about how easily it would be to kill another human being, and simply walk away. Don't daydream about how owning a gun will make up for your lack of manhood. It will not. Even the NRA admits, just having a gun in the house increases by 800% the likelihood YOU WILL BE SHOT WITH A GUN

-3

IN RESPONSE:

ClearSight
May 18, 09 7:27 PM CDT

Mad, don't apply your weak ability to identify what constitutes manhood to anyone but what you see in your own mirror. Its obvious what you see in your pathetic reflection, doesn't measure up to anyones standards of manhood.

IN RESPONSE:

kokuaguy
May 18, 09 10:45 PM CDT

Wierdsite--you are disgusting.

-1

| 0 minutes ago

ReggieDoobar
May 18, 09 2:58 PM CDT

Accident? I think not! This guy just happens to be involved with the PSL/R program? C"mon, get realz! Reply

| 0 minutes ago

MackTheHack
May 18, 09 4:32 PM CDT

I think one of the first gun safety lessons I ever learned was that you never point a weapon at something you don't intend to shoot. This is a perfect example of that lesson. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Reader44614809
May 18, 09 4:38 PM CDT

I didn't realize that patriotic americans screaming about their protected rights to bear arms were the same people who took away your right to vaporize a plant. And here I thought it was two entirely separate groups -- average citizens on the one hand and their elected representatives on the other. The things one learns on the web! Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Extrah
May 18, 09 4:48 PM CDT

It just shows unloaded or loaded you should never point a gun at anyone. Although sad, accidents happen. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

sadtimes
May 18, 09 5:56 PM CDT

Wtf? Why would anyone trying to demonstrate the importance of gun safety take a gun to their own head and pull the trigger? I feel horrible for this many and his family, but wtf!? This is just insane...one of the first rules of gun safety is NEVER POINT A WEAPON LOADED OR UNLOADED AT YOURSELF OR ANY OTHER LIVING BEING!!! The second rule is ALWAYS MAKE SURE A WEAPON IS UNLOADED BEFORE HANDLING IT. This guy obviously should not have been doing a demonstration on gun safety. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

RatsInArabia
May 18, 09 7:17 PM CDT

I own several firearms and keep one pistol loaded and chambered at all times. IF i ever need that weapon to protect myself and family, the last thing i want to be doing is wasting time loading the firearm. I've taken a couple firearms training courses and the key rules are ALWAYS treat a weapon as if it is loaded and never pull the trigger (or put your finger in the trigger guard) unless you want to discharge the firearm. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

ksu92
May 18, 09 7:19 PM CDT

"Any questions?" Reply

| 0 minutes ago

anchower
May 18, 09 7:49 PM CDT

Tragic. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

dbeaty
May 18, 09 7:58 PM CDT

To Graymatter "regulation doesn't help the problem.". Wrong! Look at the facts. Compare yearly gun deaths U.S. vs. Japan (where guns are highly regulated). US= 15gundeaths per 100, 000 people. Japan .05 (point zero five) per 100k. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Nagual
May 18, 09 8:03 PM CDT

This is why you don't point the business end of a weapon at anything you don't plan on shooting. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

trigrgrip
May 18, 09 8:21 PM CDT

Always handling a gun as though it were loaded is the first rule of gun safety. You never point a gun in play.You never allow any gun to be pointed accidentally at anyone. You are only allowed to point a gun when you intend to kill a practice target or a human being. Guns are for killing. They are not video game toys. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

HUPOSTASIS
May 18, 09 10:09 PM CDT

"I bare arm like a short sleeved shirt" - Jay Z Reply

| 0 minutes ago

nohuiam
May 19, 09 1:25 AM CDT

A gun safety expert would never point the gun at his own head and pull the trigger during an exhibition. That is a law of gun safety. This was not an accidental suicide. He did this on purpose trying to make it look accidental. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

sailor86
May 19, 09 5:43 AM CDT

Just delicious. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

voiceofreason
May 19, 09 11:14 AM CDT

Kokuaguy, I never said said that you should leave a weapon readily accessible, but training and awareness is imperative. The only way to guarantee your children are never exposed to weapons is to lock them in their rooms for their entire childhood. What if your child goes to a friends house and they have a gun. Now your child is going to be learning about the gun from a peer instead of an adult, and your only hope will be that that child has been taught correctly. Scary thought in my eyes. I hope you don't have the same opinion when it comes to teaching your children about drugs and safe sex. Continuing to shield them from all these things is going to end up with you having grandchildren early in your life, and you raising them as your children will be hooked on drugs. That is if they lived through the process of learning about guns without your guidance.. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

voiceofreason
May 19, 09 11:22 AM CDT

should have said "readily accessible to children" above. Sorry

| 0 minutes ago

kr0318
May 19, 09 1:35 PM CDT

Oh, my little weed smoking friend...for those of us who still have brain cells, your comparison of a gun vs. "mary jane" is ludicrous. Get a new line and stop pilphering other moronic rantings! Your ideas of being a non-comformist hippie actually make you a conformist with all your other pot smoking friends. Time to grow up! Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Reader47184731
May 19, 09 2:35 PM CDT

This guy knew nothing about what he was doing. I am a gun safety advocate myself as well as raised with them and I was taught that there is no thing as an unloaded weapon EVER. I love going to the range, but never point the weapon anywhere other than down range. Guns are not jokes and should be retreated with respect. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Reader78889489
May 19, 09 6:27 PM CDT

OXYMORON: If Suicide is the INTENTIONAL taking of one's own life, how can you have an Accidental Suicide? Reply

| 0 minutes ago

VeteranWW2
May 19, 09 6:55 PM CDT

Oh but for the grace of God go I..... Like just anyone can make a mistake but GUN SAFETY is just not the setting for mistakes. What a terrible shame. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Ioptout
May 20, 09 5:54 AM CDT

This was funnier to see. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

jeangnome
May 20, 09 8:59 AM CDT

When does the video come out? Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Reno
May 20, 09 12:17 PM CDT

El Stupido People have no right to live anyway. Wasting food and water and space. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Reader79117677
May 20, 09 1:04 PM CDT

Which rules did he break? Let's see.... 1) Treat all firearms as if they were loaded - FAIL 2) Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire - FAIL 3) Never point the weapon at anything you don't want to destroy - FAIL 4) Be sure of your target and your backstop - well, I guess he picked out his target correctly, it was just a bad choice. Generally you have to break at least 2 rules of gun safety to have an accident. I guess he really really wanted to have an accident. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

dawgsarge1
Jul 24, 09 1:15 PM CDT

A clear cut case of thinning the herd!! ...but somehow, somone somewhere is going to do their best to link this to liberals! Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 56 comments »

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