SHOOTING is a comparatively safe activity, statistics show the risk of injury is greater in rugby, rock fishing, using a ladder and driving a car, for example.
But firearm mishaps do occur occasionally, and we ought to ask if there is any pattern to them.
Australian shooting ranges have a splendid safety record by any standard. Nearly all the mishaps occur in the field, in camp, in the car and at home - places where the percentage of inexperienced and unsupervised shooters is highest.
Some time ago, an Australia-wide survey looked at 374 incidents spanning several years and linked with recreational shooting or pest control.
All involved the discharge of a firearm, in most cases unintentional. Though the majority caused no injury or property damage, the possibility of a nasty outcome was always there.
Sadly, the survey has not been replicated, but anecdotal evidence suggests the patterns it disclosed have persisted. So let's look at the survey's main findings:
Heading the list, 11 per cent of the discharges happened when the shooter stumbled.
A further 9 per cent took place when triggers snagged on bushes, fencing wire and the like. Half of these occurred when someone was carrying a firearm through or across a fence. In 8.5 per cent of cases, the firearm discharged during loading or unloading.
Fully 8 per cent of the discharges occurred while riding in a vehicle or boat with a loaded firearm. Another 6.5 per cent saw the firearm fall from an insecure resting place and fire.
Ricochets were involved in 9 per cent of the mishaps, and someone moved into the line of fire in another 8 per cent.
By now, experienced shooters will be shaking their heads. Why? Because those mishaps occurred when someone flouted at least one of seven basic safety rules:
Firearms should remain empty until we are ready to shoot. If there is no immediate reason for a firearm to be loaded, there is no excuse for having it loaded.
The open, unloaded firearm is the ultimate guarantee of safety. It is also a courtesy to others, who can see its status for themselves. Therefore, wherever we are, it is wrong for a firearm to be closed without good reason.
Keep your finger off the trigger until it is time to fire a shot.
Avoid carrying firearms through or over fences. Instead, open and unload, then lay the firearm on the ground or pass it to someone else. Then cross over and retrieve the firearm.
Never lean a firearm against a fence or a vehicle, table or chair.
Always carry a loaded and cocked firearm in both hands, to keep some control over the muzzle's direction in the event of a slip or fall. With a one-handed hold, a stumble often sees the muzzle swinging back towards the shooter.
When shooting with others, keep an eye on companions and avoid wandering.
Finally, we mustn't forget the all-important "fail safe" rule: be muzzle conscious. That is, always know where the muzzle is pointing and make sure its direction is safe. Then, if something goes wrong, no harm can result.
