And be sure to check all three ways:
[ul][li]Mechanically: operate the slide on a semi-auto or press the eject thingie on the revolver (when the cylinder is out);[/li][li]Visually: look to ensure there are no cartridges in the gun; and[/li][*]Manually: stick your pinkey finger in every possible place a cartridge can go to ensure the gun is empty.[/ul]
That’s really scary to think that so many people are being taught to use weapons carelessly.
A few years ago, one of my cousins threw a halloween party. Several of my other cousins attended. One, whose dad hunts, came dressed as a “dead hunter”. You know, the old saw-a-target-range-arrow-in-half-and-glue-it-to-a-headband shtick. Fake blood, ripped up old camouflage gear, the woiks. But, he’d also brought a real crossbow from his dad’s weapon collection, LOADED WITH A BOLT, and he went around at the party POINTING IT AT PEOPLE! When it swung in my direction, I yelled, “HEY!” and pushed it to the side. He just laughed and said, “Don’t worry, the safety’s on.” The safety’s on? The SAFETY’S on??? That doesn’t fucking matter. When I got home that night, I let my dad, who used to be a very responsible hunter, know. He freaked out and called my uncle, who freaked out harder and tore my cousin a new asshole. Turns out he had taken the crossbow and bolt without my uncle knowing. :eek: