When accurately describing unintended firearm discharges, accidental covers the smallest number of incidents.
An equipment failure causing a firearm to discharge is accidental. A poorly designed or poorly constructed firearm that fires when bumped (somewhere other than the trigger) is also accidental.
If your finger, body part or part of your gear touch the trigger and cause the gun to fire, it’s negligence. This describes 99% or more of all unintended firearm discharges.
A response to one of Dennis Young’s many Access to Information Requests showed 100% of all RCMP “unintentional” discharges are caused by user negligence, not equipment malfunction.
The same is true of the Fredericton Police Force’s mandatory training incident on December 10, 2019, where a firearm was unintentionally discharged during an exercise involving four officers.
This was a negligent discharge, the second at the Fredericton Police Station in a year.
“We recognize the seriousness of the incident that took place [Tuesday] evening and we are conducting a full investigation to find out what happened, and to ensure it doesn’t happen again. Safety is paramount when handling any type of firearm, and thankfully no one was injured in this case. We are committed to continuing safe weapons handling training for all of our officers,” said Fredericton Police Chief Roger Brown.
Firearm Safety Rules Are Simple
- Always treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
- Always keep the muzzle of the firearm pointed in a safe direction.
- Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
- You are not “ready to shoot” unless and until you positively identify your target and what is beyond your target. Only then should your finger touch the trigger.
When These Rules Aren’t Followed Bad Things Happen
On July 5, 1981, Fredericton Police Force Constable Perley Sidwell Calhoun was killed during a “routine training exercise.” A fellow officer shot Calhoun during holster practice – drawing and re-holstering their sidearms – and killed him.
“Perley just happened to get in the way of the bullet,” a family spokesman said.
From what little information is available on the case almost 40 years later, it appears the two constables were practicing this technique while facing each other. This strikes as insane, especially while using loaded firearms.
When handling firearms, whether you’re at the range or cleaning your guns at home at the end of the day, always pay close attention.
At best, failure to do so could force an unexpected change of underwear. At worst, someone you love could be seriously injured or killed. Nobody wants that on their conscience.
Safe handling of firearms is serious business.
We want our fellow Canadians to place the same trust in us the RCMP place in us when they approve our Possession and Acquisition Licences (PAL).
Let’s take that trust seriously.
How about an article on the RCMP ERT member pointing his rifle at the recent indigenous protesters. You or I would have been criminally charged and rightly so for such a dangerous action.
Thank you for the reminder, Paul. I started researching that a while ago…
Good commentary Chris. Here in Winnipeh the WPS had an incident where an officer was exiting his cruiser when his pistol went off wounding him in the leg. They never came out and said publicly what caused it but I find it hard to believe it was a failure of the pistol/holster. That leaves the officer. I’m sure most maybe many officers are good with their guns but some probably not very which is worrisome. Besides the Fredricton incident (insane as you pointed out) there is the Calgary Police Service incident where an officer was shot and killed during a simple indoor training exercise. Rather sad.
Good commentary Chris. Here in Winnipeg the WPS had an incident where an officer was exiting his cruiser when his pistol went off wounding him in the leg. They never came out and said publicly what caused it but I find it hard to believe it was a failure of the pistol/holster. That leaves the officer. I’m sure most maybe many officers are good with their guns but some probably not very which is worrisome. Besides the Fredricton incident (insane as you pointed out) there is the Calgary Police Service incident where an officer was shot and killed during a simple indoor training exercise. Rather sad.
Thanks Brian. Yes, the Calgary incident was particularly sad. Will research that one, too.
20 years in the military and of the 10 NDs I have investigated ZERO where accidental, example broken safety, worn trigger group etc. The FA was always in working order as per inspection from the weapons techs. Diemaco, Colt is a very reliable & stable Armalite platform.
No accidental discharges of my firearms ever,and they want to take my firearms away?Hypocrites.
A few things is clear for me about your article. First,
you are trying to create a sense of irresponsibility from the RCMP.
Second, at the end of your article, you are cleaning your hands with a false statement about the RCMP (” Safe handling of firearms is serious business. We want our fellow Canadians to place the same trust in us the RCMP place in us when they approve our Possession and Acquisition Licences (PAL).
And third, the only thing positive to learn and that firearms owners need to memorize “Firearm Safety Rules” Are Simple Always treat every firearm as if it is loaded. Always keep the muzzle of the firearm pointed in a safe direction. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot. You are not “ready to shoot” unless and until you positively identify your target and what is beyond your target. Only then should your finger touch the trigger.
Please do not create more tensions in our community of PAL or RPAL with the RCMP. We don’t need this time of advocacy..
The problem we are facing in this country is the Politicians, starting with our PM.
Thank you for your feedback, Mario. I wouldn’t characterize my intention as you did, so I appreciate hearing how the words I wrote reached your mind. Something to think about and I’m grateful you took the time to pass that on.
According to Wikipedia, between 1998 and 2018, there were 49 killings by police in Ontario, since I’m from Ontario myself. Only 3 between 1998 and 2003, 13 between 2004 and 2009 and the rest 33 in the last decade. You see where this is going?
accidents happen when you leave your booger-hook on the bang switch.!!
When civilian accidentally discharges a firearm that’s criminal negligence and he/she/it/ze/… has to be criminally charged and prohibited from firearm ownership for life. Because that’s needed for “public safety”!
When police officer accidentally discharges a firearm: whooops, SOHRY about that, accidents can happen to anyone!
Welcome to double, triple and quadruple standards that pervade human beings, especially when gathered in groups.
An ND in the military gets you a charge of $1000 to start and a blotch on your records. Of all the investigations of ND’s I have seen all have ended in a charge. I recall an ND due to a firing pin stuck forward, still operator failure as the gun was not/never cleaned properly. Many fingers to point at now.
Mating games of large mammals. Her first husband, from what I’ve seen on the net, was neither a rocket scientist to say the least.