'Fun' with Guns

The NRA and its friends are fond of highlighting those law-abiding citizens who use their handguns to stop criminals in their tracks. Fair enough. We've got no sympathy for thieves and other sleazeballs.

But we also think its fair to point out that handguns can bring unwanted injury to their owners. As evidence, we cite the case this week of an Oklahoma City woman who was practicing with her 9 mm pistol at an indoor firing range when a hot shell ejected and slipped down the front of her shirt.

Oops!

The 23-year-old jumped, reached for her chest (can't blame her!) and promptly shot herself in the leg. Her next stop was the OU hospital.

When she fully recovers, we trust her next outing will be to one of those NRA-sponsored gun safety classes. She might want to wear a turtleneck next time.

P.S.—This incident reminds us of the October mishap at a gun show at Tulsa's Expo Square in October. In that case, a dealer wounded two men when he accidentally fired a double-barreled .410 shotgun he thought was loaded with a dummy round. Fortunately, the men's injuries were minor. But more safety training and a little less gun play might be warranted around town.