Kids & Parenting

The Leading Cause of Accidental Shootings In America, The Empty Gun

by RikCharbonneaux. To Your Health  
04/15/26
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The Leading Cause of Accidental Shootings In America, “The Empty Gun”

With the higher levels of education among the USA 20 to 50-year-olds, it is really disturbing that this age group kills the most people by handing over an “unloaded” gun to another person after removing only the clip, but not removing the live round still in the chamber.

Most people having an automatic pistol in their inexperienced hands will eventually pull the trigger and discharge this “empty” gun, usually killing or wounding some innocent person. (Forty-Two Americans of all ages died in such accidents in 2021 alone.) 

It is a practice that is totally based on an insufficient amount of firearms knowledge and should not be tolerated in public places.

If you see such reckless activity (not in a gang-related setting, just leave*), call it out and demand that the weapon be made safe and re-hostered.  Do so quickly, as the discharge occurs soon after the handover.more

With more and more Americans purchasing handguns for self-defense every time a major social incident happens, the risk of death and wounding by the “empty” handgun increases.

Be observant and aware. Save a life. This can happen in your home.

* 80% of West Coast gangs are well-skilled with handguns and 
kill with head shots.