Pistol Fires at Event for Rep. Barr

Drudge/Yahoo News | Aug. 7, 2002

[EggsAckley]

Pistol Fires at Event for Rep. Barr Wed Aug 7, 9:47 AM ET

ATLANTA (AP) - An antique .38-caliber pistol accidentally discharged as it was being handled by Rep. Bob Barr ( news, bio, voting record) during a reception in his honor. The bullet hit a glass door, and no one was hurt.

Georgia lobbyist Bruce Widener said Tuesday that he had removed the magazine from his 1908 Colt but did not clear the chamber before handing the weapon to Barr, a board member of the National Rifle Association.

Widener said "one of us hit the trigger" just as he gave Barr the gun during Friday's reception at Widener's home.

"Nobody was in any danger. We were handling it safely, except that it was loaded," said Widener, an independent lobbyist. "I am thankful Bob was careful to always keep the weapon pointed in a safe direction."

Through a spokesman, Barr said: "This accident only underscores the importance of proven gun safety measures, especially when owning and handling antique firearms."

Widener had opened his gun cabinet to Barr and others at the reception and acknowledged that it is unsafe to store a loaded weapon there.

Barr is locked in a tight Republican primary with fellow incumbent John Linder in Georgia's redrawn 7th Congressional District. Barr has tied his NRA endorsement closely to his campaign.

Of the gun accident, Linder said: "The first time you hear this, it's funny. But it's not funny. The guy's a loose cannon. I've been around guns a lot. I just don't pick up other people's guns."

The election is Aug. 20.

[EggsAckley]

Admin. Moderator: Couldn't find this posted. Please remove if it has been.

[Lizard_King]

"Nobody was in any danger. We were handling it safely, except that it was loaded,"

It was up, except it was down. It was black, except it was white. It was safe and safely handled, except it was A LOADED CHAMBER...

Didja really have to make it so easy for the gun control froots? Just glad the hon. Bob is ok.

[griffin]

Ya know....even handing off a weapon, I don't usually grasp the trigger and pull. Jeepers. Seems like the only rule of safe firearms handling they didn't break was aiming it at an unintended target. Sheesh.

[alpowolf]

Who is this guy a lobbyist for? The Million Misguided Moms?

[End Times Sentinel]

The idiots at D.U. have GOT to be having a field day with this one. Thanks for giving ‘em the ammo Barr.

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

[EggsAckley]

Yeah, it sounds like that bunch was suffering from an epidemic of the "stoopids."

[martin_fierro]

Widener = This guy?

A bonehead move, in any case.

[Physicist]

Georgia lobbyist Bruce Widener said Tuesday that he had removed the magazine from his 1908 Colt but did not clear the chamber before handing the weapon to Barr

This clown should have "I'M A MORON" branded to his forehead.

[Sacajaweau]

One of us hit the trigger???said Widner who had handed it to Barr.

You mean you weren't paying attention and don't KNOW if you hit the trigger??

I hope someone taped this.

Sac

[TeleStraightShooter]

A Lobbyist hands a Congressman a loaded weapon

Is there a metaphor here?

[elbucko]

Even when I have watched someone "clear" a weapon right in front of me, then hand it to me (butt first, muzzle down), I STILL CLEAR THE WEAPON MYSELF, AGAIN, before handling the piece any further. With friends like these, who needs Sarah Brady.

FMCDH

[dyed_in_the_wool]

Seems like the only rule of safe firearms handling they didn't break was aiming it at an unintended target. Sheesh.

I was thinking the same thing. It's like, "Hey, at least we didn't break ONE of the rules of firearm safety. Just 20 others."
Dipsh*ts. Especially storing it with a chambered round. Was this transported with a chambered round? That's what I'm wondering.

[JennysCool]

Georgia lobbyist Bruce Widener

Geek o' the Week

[TheDon]

Agreed. And that probably was pure luck. There is so much with this incident that is so wrong. They got careless, and they got lucky.

[TeleStraightShooter]

he had removed the magazine from his 1908 Colt but did not clear the chamber before handing the weapon to

That's one reason why Browning Hi-Power that I have is a superior weapon. It will not fire when the mag is disconnected.

John Browning (who designed the weapon just under 100 years ago) was a flat-out genius.

[cincinnati65]

So what genius in security allows a loaded weapon at a public reception that a Congressional representative is attending?

[Malcolm]

Does anyone know what Barr's primary opponent's position is on gun rights? I'm not in their district, and I like Barr, but believe that John Linder is more effective in the House.....

[Willie Green]

Who is this guy a lobbyist for?

Probably Lindner.