My Wake-Up Call: A Lesson in Firearm Safety

I recently had a terrifying experience that I want to share—not for sympathy, but as a warning to other gun owners. Like many of you, I’ve handled firearms for years and considered myself careful. But one moment of complacency nearly cost me everything.

The Incident

It was a routine evening. I was at home, handling one of my handguns, convinced it was unloaded. I had checked it earlier, or at least I thought I had. Then—BANG! A negligent discharge (ND) right in my own home. The bullet struck a wall, missing me and anyone else by sheer luck. My heart pounded as the reality set in: I had just broken the most basic rule of gun safety.

What Went Wrong?

1. I Assumed Instead of Verified
2. I believed the gun was unloaded because I didn’t remember loading it. But belief isn’t enough—I should have physically and visually checked the chamber and magazine again.
3. I Got Too Comfortable
4. Years of handling firearms made me overconfident. I skipped steps I’d drilled into beginners, thinking, "I know what I’m doing." Turns out, experience doesn’t make you immune to mistakes—it just makes you more likely to overlook basics.
5. I Wasn’t Focused
6. I was distracted, handling the gun while thinking about other things. Firearms demand 100% attention, every single time.

How I’m Changing My Habits

This scare forced me to reevaluate my entire approach to gun safety. Here’s what I’m doing differently:

1. Recheck, Every Time – No more assumptions. Even if I just cleared the gun, I check again before handling it.
2. Secure Storage – I’ve added a quick-access safe for my HD firearm, ensuring it’s both ready and protected from negligent access.
3. Dry-Fire Discipline – If practicing, I now triple-check that the gun is unloaded and use a dedicated backstop (like a bullet trap) even for "empty" drills.
4. Mental Reset – Before touching any firearm, I pause and consciously run through the Four Rules. No autopilot.

A Humbling Lesson

I’m sharing this because if it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone. Maybe you’ve never had an ND—great. But ask yourself: When was the last time I got lazy with safety checks?

Guns don’t forgive. One mistake is all it takes. Let my close call be your reminder: Complacency kills. Always respect the weapon.