Risk Management Magazine

It is commonly noted among safety professionals that there is no such thing as a new mishap. Unfortunately, year after year we see Soldiers making poor decisions that result in tragedies we have seen before.

Any time you handle a firearm, the basic principles of weapons safety should always be followed, regardless of how many guns you own or how often you go to the range. If you don’t follow the basic principles both on and off duty, you can probably count on a future trip to the emergency room or morgue … or at least a visit from a local authority tasked with investigating your negligent discharge.

I placed my thumb on the hammer and proceeded to ride it forward when, suddenly, I sent a .45-caliber hollow-point bullet into my thigh!