[wideawake]

It think that it comes down to this: most people who have handled a shotgun know that it is very hard to accidentally discharge one unless you know almost nothing about shotguns.

If you put your finger on the trigger of a firearm, it had better be to fire it - it's not a resting place for your finger.

His story is, on its face, very difficult to credit.

[Conscience of a Conservative]

If you put your finger on the trigger of a firearm, it had better be to fire it - it's not a resting place for your finger.

Yup. That's not only for safety purposes, either (though that's obviously the primary reason). Intent can legally be inferred from one's actions; if you aim a weapon at someone and it discharges, there is going to be a pretty damn strong presumption that you intended to discharge the weapon.