Posted on 03/03/2016 9:17:13 AM PST by Gamecock
His girlfriend told police he thought the gun wasn’t loaded
At least 27 people died in “selfie-related” incidents around the world last year
It wasn’t the first photo the 43-year-old Concrete, Washington, resident had taken with his gun.
But it would be the last.
The Skagit Valley Herald reported Wednesday that the man, who officials did not name, fatally shot himself in the face while attempting to take a selfie with what he thought was an unloaded gun.
The man’s girlfriend, who was with him when the gun went off, told authorities that the pair had taken several selfies with the gun throughout the day.
The man unloaded the gun before each photo session, then replaced the bullets when they were done.
But before the final photograph, he left one bullet inside the gun.
The man’s girlfriend was with him when he died, Skagit County Sheriff's Office Chief of Patrol Chad Clark told the Skagit Valley Herald. Police are investigating his death as accidental.
The Washington man is not the first to accidentally shoot himself while taking a selfie, or even the first to die doing so.
Last fall, a 19-year-old from Houston died while taking pictures of himself with a gun and posting them on Instagram. He also thought the gun was unloaded when he held it to his head for a photo, police told KPRC.
It’s been reported that more people die while attempting to take selfies than in shark attacks.
At least 27 people died in “selfie-related” incidents around the world last year, the Washingon Post has reported.
The problem seems to be worse in India than anywhere else: the country was home to half of those 27 deaths. To confront the apparently growing public health hazard, the Indian government decided to ban some selfies outright.
No-selfie zones have been established around some large religious gatherings (where organizers fear that selfie-induced bottlenecks could lead to a stampede), beaches, ledges and other treacherous spots where selfies might turn deadly.
In Russia, where a woman almost died after inadvertently shooting herself while posing for a photo with a gun she found, Russia's ministry of internal affairs published a brochure instructing residents on safe selfie habits.
“A selfie with guns kills,"” read the warning next to an image of a stick figure holding a camera and a gun, slashed out by a red line.
“Along with all the advantages of the modern world there appear new threats,” Russian official Yelena Alekseyeva said at a press conference, according to CNN. “We would like to remind the citizens that the chase for 'likes' in social networks can lead to the road of death."
Look at the hole, wait for the flash??
I agree with you about Jeff Cooper’s writings. While you probably already know, I thought I’d let any others know that his “commentaries” can be found in their entirety on the web. Here’s but one venue...
http://www.molonlabe.net/Commentaries/
I had a rule for my kids that any gun infractions would mean they were banned from guns for a year. I never had to follow through, but they believed me. Their gun handling was perfect.
One of them asked what would happen if I broke a rule. I told them, “same thing, your Mom will supervise any shooting you do, and I will not touch a firearm for a year”. That never happened either.
A gun is not a toy. I inherited my great-great
grandfather’s S&W revolver. Common sense. Cultivate it.
After a long career in the military I just got a concealed carry permit and a Glock 42.
I actively practice safe handling techniques several times a week, to include keeping my finger off the trigger when I have it out of the holster.
***what he thought was an unloaded gun***
Standard rule has been to consider all guns loaded, even when they are not!
I only laugh about 27 times a year.
<><><><
Sucks to be you.
I try to get 27 good laughs by lunchtime every day.
Likely too late for a Darwin but could still be eligible for the Moron Hall of Fame.
If I was ever inclined to take a ‘selfie’, 50/50 chance it would be with a firearm. But I still wouldn’t be stupid enough to point the bullet-exit end towards myself...
Darwin award
Yea, I hate it when that happens
Be very sure to keep the gun away from kids or visiting
grandchildren. - Husband’s family had a horrible tragedy
with a gun. His grandfather kept a loaded gun on a top
shelf in their bedroom closet. The kids were small; but
still piled things up sufficient to reach the gun. One of
the little boys (5 yrs. old) climbed on stuff and got the
gun down. His sister was a babe in arms. He shot her in
the neck. They grabbed her up & took her to the hospital;
but the little boy was left at home in the chaos, hiding
behind the sofa, terrified he’d killed his sister. The
baby lived; but the little boy was left with a terrible
debilitating bowel disfunction from the experience. HE
died at 9 yrs. of age from the disease. - Their father
also passed away in his early 30’s from lung cancer. A
doctor had told him if he did not quit smoking; he would
die judging by his x-rays. But; you did not tell him
ANYTHING. Not about a loaded gun where children could
reach it & certainly not about smoking, which he enjoyed.
So; he did it his way. (DO NOT THINK KIDS WON’T FIND A WAY
TO REACH STUFF. THEY DO. THEY WILL. SECURE THE GUN!!)
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