That term needs to go away. There's no such thing as an "accidental discharge." Period! The four safety rules of weapons handling are there for a reason. You are negligent in your actions if you fail to safely maintain your weapon and should be charged accordingly.

1. Treat every weapon as if it were loaded.
2. Never point your weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot.
3. Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you are ready to fire.
4. Keep your weapon on safe until you intend to fire.

All four safety rules were violated this weekend and resulted in a another needless loss. Not accidental, Negligent!

I couldn't agree with you more, at least in principle. I have often argued that "negligent discharge" happens all too often, but there is no such thing as "accidental discharge." (I usually apply this to civilian experience, but of course it applies anywhere.) Unfortunately I think anybody would be hard pressed to influence a significant change. Just thing of all the daily automobile crashes classified as "accidents" when they are due to negligent driving.

Who cares what you call it......and when you look up both definitions both of them apply. Will that reduce AD's/ND's? Absolutely not, they would only decrease if we got rid of our guns and we're not doing that anytime soon....when this happens, it just plain sucks - for everyone....

Funny you mention the 4 rules.....I've seen a Range Master or Instructor that I would bet money has probably the best credentials on this site........and BAM! Now what? Call him stupid and fire him? Well, no......he had a case of the dumb a- - ! The problem is people's mentality of "It won't happen to me" or "I'm safe and those others are idiots...." Seriously - be careful at being so critical because life has a funny way of showing you how human YOU are.... I once read article that quoted a Chief (Respected one) - "You show me a department with no holes in the wall and I'll show you a department that never trains..." We're stuck in the middle..........don't train enough = carelessness and more AD's/ND's and if you train all the time = complacency, aurogance and superman mentality.....

That's my thoughts... yawl be safe...

If I remember that is how my bestfriends 2nd child came around. I think thats the only text that term should be used.

JFH said:

That term needs to go away. There's no such thing as an "accidental discharge." Period! The four safety rules of weapons handling are there for a reason. You are negligent in your actions if you fail to safely maintain your weapon and should be charged accordingly.

1. Treat every weapon as if it were loaded.
2. Never point your weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot.
3. Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you are ready to fire.
4. Keep your weapon on safe until you intend to fire.

All four safety rules were violated this weekend and resulted in a another needless loss. Not accidental, Negligent!

What bad is most officers only shoot once a year during their yearly quals. I think alot could be said if all officers trained and shot more then once a year.

Most Texas agency's qualify once a year which is mandated by the state.

My agency uses the term negligent discharge for all unintended discharges. A negligent discharge is usually a guaranteed 2-5 days on the beach. We shoot our firearms qualifications every 3 months (1 night qual per year) and also use scenario firearms training. I've never had a ND, but I've been next to someone on the range as they placed a round passed my head. Thank God that person is no longer employed by us.

FF?