Man accidentally fires gun inside Boise Airport (almost Darwin award)

KTVB (NBC) News ^

[WWJD?]

Airport

09/10/2002

Elizabeth Homan
Idaho's NewsChannel 7

A passenger checking baggage accidentally fired a handgun at the Boise Airport early this morning. No one was injured.

The passenger was checking baggage for a Southwest Airlines flight around 5:15 this morning. A Boise Airport spokesperson says that Richie Burrows declared his gun, and was showing the attendant that the chamber was clear. When he closed the slide, the weapon loaded and fired.

The Airport spokesperson says the gun was pointed down and away from anyone at the ticket counter. The bullet hit the scales, and no one was injured.

An Airport police officer working traffic outside heard the shot and rushed inside the terminal. He and other officers helped secure the area. A report will be filed with the Boise City Attorney's office.

[Dog Gone]

Richie Burrows is very fortunate that he didn't kill someone, and I think somebody should take away his guns until he understands how they work.

[hellinahandcart]

"It's not loaded--SEE?"

[.38sw]

Well, duh. The chamber was clear, but how about that loaded mag still in the pistol?

[Mo1]

HUH???

You are allowed to bring an unloaded weapon into an airport but not toe nail clippers??

Okkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

[nevergore]

Doh! I hate it when that happens......

NeverGore :^)

[umgud]

When he closed the slide, the weapon loaded and fired

I think they forgot to mention that his finger was on the trigger when he closed the slide.

[CholeraJoe]

What a dumba$$.

[MileHi]

BUMP

[Redcloak]

Well... At least he followed one of the three basic safety rules: He kept the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. It would have been better, of course, had he been following all three rules; don't load a round until you're ready to shoot, keep your fingers out of the trigger guard until you're about to fire, keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.

Someone ought to ping Mike the Safety Bullet guy. This is a potential market for him. His round could save countless people from acute embarrassment with their firearms!

[cinFLA]

You are allowed to bring an unloaded weapon into an airport but not toe nail clippers??

Uh, Just who was this person and who was his employer?Who besides LEO's are allowed to carry guns on planes? PI's? FBI, CIA, IRS, etc?

[Diddle E. Squat]

Bob Barr ping.

[ladtx]

What a total idiot. You've got a full magazine in the weapon and you're going to jack the slide to show there's not one in the chamber? Well, he was partially correct, there WASN'T one in the chamber,

[cinFLA]

When he closed the slide, the weapon loaded and fired.

My pistols fire all the time when the slide closes. How about yours?

[SLB]

Just don't load the last round into the mag. Works every time. (Big wink)

[Robert357]

... I think somebody should take away his guns until he understands how they work.

This is Idaho, not California. Also, don't you understand that he was the victim, it was the evil gun's fault! Remember California and some liberals want chamber loaded indicators on all handguns (including revolvers). Yes, this is a clear example of the need for more firearm legislation (/scarcasm)

Isn't it amazing how firearm safety rules seem so simple and straight forward after an accident.

[WWJD?]

According to the TV report, he was just going to check it in his luggage and then Southwest Airlines booth wanted him to show them the gun. Not extremely intelligent on September 10th...

[.38sw]

As far as I know, you can still have an UNLOADED firearm in your checked baggage, but you have to declare it and show the attendant that it's unloaded.

[CholeraJoe]

Who besides LEO's are allowed to carry guns on planes?

Any gunowner can carry firearms in their checked baggage provided that they sign a declaration that the weapon is unloaded and demonstrate the same for the ticket agent. OTOH, failure to declare weapons in checked baggage carries stiff penalties.

[IYAS9YAS]

Although I would agree with you, it would seem that a lesson has been presented, but has it been heard and understood? I'll bet he unloaded more than just that particular round in the chamber when that baby went "Bang!". I thought we were somewhat more competent than that here in Idaho...hopefully he's not from here.