Muzzle Control means everything

[Gary]

Guys, firearms safety is #1 and muzzle control is the most important rule of all.

Posted on Fri, Dec. 30, 2005
Man found dead on rifle range identifiedAssociated PressBISMARCK, N.D. - A man found dead at a rifle range near here has been identified as a longtime dentist, and a colleague believes the shooting was accidental.
Mark Persson, a dentist in Bismarck, died of a gunshot wound Wednesday, said Maj. Nick Sevart of the Burleigh County Sheriff's Department. Sevart said an autopsy by the state medical examiner confirmed the gunshot was self-inflicted.
Final autopsy results, which are not expected before next week, could determine if the shooting was accidental, Sevart said.
"We know this wasn't somebody else shooting him," Sevart said. "We don't suspect any foul play."
Persson, 49, of Mandan, had been shooting a .50-caliber muzzleloading rifle.
Brad King, a dentist and partner at Persson's dental office, said the shooting appeared accidental.
"Just looking at the circumstances - he was at the rifle range, he put out a target and actually took a shot at it before this happened," King said.
Chris Grondahl, a supervisor for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, which operates the rifle range, said he knew of no other deaths there in its 30 years of operation.
Persson, originally from Edgeley, had been a dentist in Bismarck for more than 20 years.
"He was the sweetest, gentlest, most concerned man I've ever known," King said. "He had this absolute sense of caring for his patients."
[url] grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/news/13517493.htm[/url] - cut & paste if you want to bring it up.

 

[bnail]

Thanks Gary.
It hurts hearing these things this time of the year, but it's a sad reminder of how much is at stake in the shooting sports. I may forget a lot of details, but I pray to God I never lose track of where my muzzle is pointing.

 

[gordy]

I'm sure that his passing will cause much sadness to those who knew him,and tha time of the year makes it even harder on those who feel the loss.It would be of benifit to all who enjoy black powder shooting,to know just what mistake caused the accident.If possible a follow-up report on the outcome of the investagation would be of great value. :hmm:

 

[pondoro]

Another sad reminder that we owe it to society to teach safe gun handling every chance we get. If you have a friend or relative that sounds interested in shooting invite them to the range. (At your expense!) Before they shoot make sure that they hear the rules of safe gun handling.

 

[Mulebrain]

Very sad indeed :shake: Makes one wonder how it happened, and what type of muzzleloader??

 

[CrackStock]

Gordy,

As an ML instructor, I would also like to know more about the particulars of this situation -- especially if it was truly an accidental shooting.

But in rereading the info available several times, I have some suspicions based upon my knowledge and experiences.

A few statistical questions to ponder:

What saddest of human events take a dramatic increase near the holidays...
(Note the date of 12/30/05 which is both a holiday and the middle of the seasonal affective disorder period of time)

What job classification has one of the highest rates of this sad event taking place...
(Dentist)

What does the artical say about the personality of the man involved...
(another major risk factor)

I would also note the complete lack of detail regarding the actual shot; coupled with the fuzzy language regarding the autopsy finding "if the shooting was accidental." I suggest that they are being careful to not characterize this as what most investigators will quickly suspect that this is.

CS