According to this news article entitled “Gun rights advocate accidentally shot in the back by her 4-year-old son,” 31-year-old Jamie Gilt was shot in the back by her four year old son in the backseat. Again going only by what is in the news article, the son was behind her with a gun and not in a proper car seat. This is both tragic and preventable. Luckily Ms. Gilt is going to survive. I wish her a speedy recovery.
Accidents happen. We all have lapses in judgment or attention. No one is perfect all the time. It can happen to me and it can happen to you. Do not believe anything else.
As responsible firearm owners we must remember that firearms, like a car traveling at interstate speeds, are pretty unforgiving. Guns do what they are intended with remarkable reliability. If you pull the trigger the gun will discharge regardless of the reason the trigger was pulled. This means we need training, gun safes, and good practices.
Do not be fooled into believing just because you are well acquainted with the four rules of gun safety you and your family are safe from an accident. Safety is your responsibility. It is my responsibility. It is everyone’s responsibility. The four rules are great but they must be practiced with unwavering attention.
