If you don’t want to shoot off your testicles, pay attention to the four cardinal rules of firearm safety:

• Rule #1: Treat every firearm as loaded until you prove otherwise.
• Rule #2: Keep your firearm pointed in the safest possible direction at all times.
• Rule #3: Keep your finger off the trigger and out of the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot.
• Rule #4: Be sure of your target, AND BEYOND.

And, if you’re stashing a handgun on your body, a holster is a really good idea too.

On February 14th, a Nigerian news outlet reported the death of a 17-year-old identified only as ‘Osaro’.

He died during a violent land dispute between the neighbouring towns of Ayen and Owegie that pitted rival gangs against each other.

At some point during the dispute, Osaro took a loaded handgun, stuffed it down the front of his pants (‘holsterless carry’) and pulled the trigger as he removed his hand.

The resulting explosion sent a bullet ripping through his testicles. The young man died a short time later.

The father reportedly broke down and collapsed when he heard the tragic news.

 

Firearms Safety Rules Are Not a Polite Suggestion

Firearm safety rules are mandatory whether you’re in Nigeria, The Netherlands or New Zealand or elsewhere on Planet Earth because when individuals are negligent while handling firearms bad things happen.

Proper firearm safety training may have saved this young Nigerian man’s life. We’ll never know, as living in a war zone comes with its own unique set of problems.

However, lest anyone climb onto their high horse and think this is a Third World problem, let me assure you it is not.

Every year North Americans shoot their their own penises and testicles, and sometimes much worse. Here are just a sampling of the cases I’ve written about in the past.

• 2010 Airman shot because others didn’t follow basic safety rules
• 2011 Joshua Seto Shot His Own Penis
• 2012 Gun Safety Rules must be followed if you don’t want to shoot your penis off
• 2014 William Rood Shot Himself in the Face
• 2016 Former Indianapolis Colts running back Zurlon Tipton killed by negligent discharge

Lest Canadians forget even the most highly trained of us can screw up, there is the horrific and tragic case Calgary Police Constable Darren Beatty who, in 2001, died at the hands of a fellow officer who did not follow proper firearm safety protocols.