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Pastor's daughter accidentally shot with "unloaded" Ruger

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 9:28 am
by johncanfield
Story here. Just amazing :shock: .

"...So after a Sunday morning service let out and parishioners were still milling about inside the Lealman church, he asked Zambrana, 48, to show him his Ruger 9mm.

The men took precautions. They walked away from the crowd in a recreation room at Grace Connection Church and into a closet. Zambrana removed the Ruger's magazine, the Sheriff's Office said, and started to explain the gun's safety features.

But he forgot about the round in the chamber.... "

Edit - oops - transposed words in the subject.

Re: Pastor's accidentally daughter shot with "unloaded" Rug

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 9:33 am
by fishman
It goes back to basic training. ALWAYS treat a gun as if it is loaded. :rules: Prayers sent.

Re: Pastor's accidentally daughter shot with "unloaded" Rug

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 9:45 am
by Oldgringo
I think that incident would fall under the heading of ND rather than AD...and several folk will be asked to pay.

Re: Pastor's daughter accidentally shot with "unloaded" Rug

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 10:24 am
by v-rog
very tragic and definitely a ND.

Re: Pastor's daughter accidentally shot with "unloaded" Rug

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 10:38 am
by johncanfield
I guess now we know why some handguns have magazine disconnect safeties - there are people walking around in a perpetual brain fog that need to be protected from themselves and to protect others - part of the dumbing down of society.

Racking the slide after a magazine is removed is so very basic.

Re: Pastor's daughter accidentally shot with "unloaded" Rug

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 10:54 am
by speedsix
...idiocy can overcome any "safety" feature...the disconnect here was between the ears, not in the weapon... :roll:

Re: Pastor's daughter accidentally shot with "unloaded" Rug

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 11:19 am
by Seabear
This is why I harp and harp on people in my CHL classes about keeping their finger off the trigger. Every ND I have ever read of or seen videos of has one common denominator...someone had their booger picker on the trigger.

How sad for everyone involved in this one. I pray she recovers.

I wonder how long it will take for a lawsuit to be filed against Ruger. :headscratch

Re: Pastor's daughter accidentally shot with "unloaded" Rug

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 11:41 am
by A-R
I realize this did not occur in Texas, but under Texas law I believe the gun owner is culpable under criminal negligence provision. This is certainly NOT an accident.
Texas Penal Code Sec. 6.03.  DEFINITIONS OF CULPABLE MENTAL STATES.

(d)  A person acts with criminal negligence, or is criminally negligent, with respect to circumstances surrounding his conduct or the result of his conduct when he ought to be aware of a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the circumstances exist or the result will occur. The risk must be of such a nature and degree that the failure to perceive it constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care that an ordinary person would exercise under all the circumstances as viewed from the actor's standpoint.
Far as I'm concerned they broke ALL FOUR rules.

1. All guns are always loaded.
2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.
4. Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.

Re: Pastor's daughter accidentally shot with "unloaded" Rug

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 12:03 pm
by philip964
So what is the point of pulling the trigger while it is pointed at somebody? Loaded unloaded old new, is it a thrill or something? Yes violates all four rules. Senseless.

Re: Pastor's daughter accidentally shot with "unloaded" Rug

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 2:14 pm
by Keith B
philip964 wrote:So what is the point of pulling the trigger while it is pointed at somebody? Loaded unloaded old new, is it a thrill or something? Yes violates all four rules. Senseless.
Wasn't pointed at anyone in the closet. If you read the article it was pointed at a wall, but the bullet went though the wall and hit the girl on the other side.

Still, they broke at least 3 of the first 4 rules (Gun is loaded, finger off trigger, know what's beyond your target.)

Re: Pastor's daughter accidentally shot with "unloaded" Rug

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 3:20 pm
by johncanfield
I would love to know what kind of ammo the shooter had loaded. I wonder if frangible ammo would have made a difference in the outcome?

Re: Pastor's daughter accidentally shot with "unloaded" Rug

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 5:29 pm
by SRH78
speedsix wrote:...idiocy can overcome any "safety" feature...the disconnect here was between the ears, not in the weapon... :roll:
:iagree: absolutely

Re: Pastor's daughter accidentally shot with "unloaded" Rug

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 7:00 pm
by philip964
Keith B wrote:
philip964 wrote:So what is the point of pulling the trigger while it is pointed at somebody? Loaded unloaded old new, is it a thrill or something? Yes violates all four rules. Senseless.
Wasn't pointed at anyone in the closet. If you read the article it was pointed at a wall, but the bullet went though the wall and hit the girl on the other side.

Still, they broke at least 3 of the first 4 rules (Gun is loaded, finger off trigger, know what's beyond your target.)
Your right.

U S A Today newspaper said the owner had a CHL and was showing it to a friend in the closet.

Re: Pastor's daughter accidentally shot with "unloaded" Rug

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 11:46 pm
by ajwakeboarder
i never let anyone handle my weapon with making sure they know the 4 rules. After verifying they do, I "unload" it and make sure they "unload" it.

Re: Pastor's daughter accidentally shot with "unloaded" Rug

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 1:17 am
by JackRR
This guy has a CHL according to the article..concealed means concealed right?

OK, he is showing a friend in a closet so somewhat concealed. He forgets the 4 rules and now someone is gravely injured.

I carry a Glock27 hot.
I touch it 2 times a day. 1. Strap in on 2. Unstrap at end of day.
Rarely will I "show" it. Maybe at home talking to my friends or at the gun range.
Even then I do the exact same 3 things every time.
After withdrawing the G27 and pointing it to the ground
1. Announce to whoever "this suckers hot!" or something simular.
2. Eject mag
3. Eject chambered round, lock slide back and only then hand firearm to buddy.

My prayers go out to the Pastor's daughter.

JackRR