What the Army thinks of ND's and AD's. There are very few if any AD's, and those are almost strictly weapon malfunctions. Have it pointed in the wrong direction, and it's an ND. ND's are severly prosecuted these days, even if it happens in a clearing barrel.
Full Magazine
Bang! Are You Dead?
CHRISTOPHER TRUMBLE
System Safety Engineer
U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center
“Don’t worry, my weapon isn’t loaded.”
“I know mine isn’t loaded. Are you sure yours isn’t too?”
“Yeah, don’t worry—I’m a trained, professional Soldier just like you. These pistols the Army issues us are the safest handguns in the world. Here, let me show you all the safety features.”
“BANG!”
“Oh, man, are you okay? Oh, man. Don’t die, man, don’t die. GET HELP! GET HELP FAST!”
This situation, unfortunately, wasn’t hypothetical; it actually happened in Iraq. A short time after this exchange, the injured Soldier lay in an operating room, dying from a gunshot wound to his chest. The doctor who tried to save the Soldier told me this story. Sadly, the “shooter” now has plenty of time to think about firearms safety procedures as he serves a lengthy sentence at the U.S. Military Disciplinary Barracks in Fort Leavenworth, KS.
Do you think time at Leavenworth is too harsh a punishment for an accident? The Army disagrees—it’s called “negligent discharge,” not “accidental discharge.” Pointing a firearm at an unintended target is negligence. Failing to properly unload a firearm is negligence. Horseplay with a firearm is negligence.
The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) provides definitions for differing levels of negligence. There are a variety of actions under the UCMJ for negligent discharges, including Article 134, “Firearm, Discharging Through Negligence”; Article 134, “Negligent Homicide”; and Article 92, “Dereliction of Duty.” Needless to say, no Soldier wants to ever be tried under any of these provisions. So, how do we stop negligent discharges within the Army?
The answer is simple: Soldiers must act professionally whenever they carry their weapons. When a Soldier is shot unintentionally, either through inattention or indiscipline, it reflects poorly on the whole Army. It’s not a matter of just looking unprofessional; it’s really about some Soldiers being unprofessional. All Soldiers can reaffirm their professionalism, however, by learning and practicing the basics of firearm safety every day.
The basics
• Always assume the weapon is loaded
• Control the muzzle—keep it pointed downrange or in a safe direction at all times
• Do not touch the trigger unless you intend to fire the weapon
• Unload the weapon at times and in places you don’t expect to use it, such as in dining facilities or secure areas
Here’s a practical example of how the basic rules work. Let’s say you’ve just entered a secured room and spot a pistol lying on a table. First, assume the pistol is loaded. Second, control the pistol’s muzzle. Remember, you don’t have to have the pistol in your hand to control the muzzle. If it’s pointing toward you, move out of the way and approach the weapon from its rear or side. If the muzzle is pointing toward someone else, tell them to move out of the weapon’s projected path. These steps should be accomplished before anyone touches the weapon.
Once the muzzle is controlled, evaluate the weapon without touching it to determine if you’re familiar with that particular model. If you’re not experienced with it, send for someone who is. Pick the weapon up only if you’re confident you know how to operate it. When you have the weapon in hand, maintain muzzle control but keep your finger off the trigger and ensure no other items come in contact with it. If the muzzle can be pointed in a safer direction, such as at the ground, do so before attempting the final basic step—unloading. Keep in mind you’re still to assume the weapon is loaded, control the muzzle, and keep your finger off the trigger during clearing. Always follow the proper clearing procedures for the weapon type and ensure the weapon is on safe once it’s cleared.
Someone gave me a piece of advice years ago that still holds true today. That advice was not to rely on only one sense, namely sight, to make sure a weapon is unloaded. After visually inspecting the chamber, double check by feeling the chamber’s opening with your finger. This “fail safe” check should confirm the visual inspection, but if you have any doubt, look again or have a second person check the weapon. You can never be too safe.
Just because the weapon is unloaded and you’re “dry firing” it doesn’t mean you can point it at people, animals, or any other unintended target. Remember, safety always applies! Assume the weapon is loaded, control the muzzle, and don’t touch the trigger.
Operational considerations
There will be times you have to carry a loaded weapon, but you still have to follow the rules. You can control the muzzle and keep your finger off the trigger while working in an operational capacity. You know the weapon is loaded instead of assuming so, which makes muzzle control even more important. Never point the weapon at your buddies, allies, or any known non-combatants, and don’t put your finger on the trigger unless you intend to fire the weapon.
There’s no doubt weapons handling is more complex when you’re in an operational environment. In addition to protecting your fellow Soldiers, you have to consider what’s around any potential targets. For instance, is there a schoolyard full of kids just behind your vehicle checkpoint? If you were to open fire on a bad guy but injure a non-combatant in the process, you can bet you’d make the evening news. Always consider the potential second- and third-order effects every time you pull the trigger.
Storage
You can’t be with your weapon all the time to ensure it’s safe, so you should store it in accordance with your unit’s standing operating procedures. Maintain muzzle control and always store the weapon unloaded, but remember to assume it’s loaded. Place the weapon inside its case or locker so it’s facing away from you when you open the container. If you store a pistol in a holster, point the holster and pistol in a safe direction before withdrawing or stowing the weapon. Pay particular attention to the retention straps on the holster or case and make sure none are close to the trigger guard or can apply pressure to the trigger. Also, never drag a rifle or shotgun toward you by the barrel. If something is tangled around the trigger while you pull the weapon toward you, you’re squeezing the trigger with the muzzle pointed directly at you.
Leadership and additional considerations
You must take immediate action and make an on-the-spot correction if you see other Soldiers or service members engaging in unsafe acts with firearms. Inaction in these situations is unprofessional and irresponsible. Remember, whatever you’re willing to tolerate just became your new standard.
Never use ammunition or weapon parts not issued by the military. You’re mistaken if you think you’re a better ammunition or firearms designer than the experts working for the Government acquisition program. As a Soldier, you’re expected to use the equipment the military supplies, and not doing so puts both you and your unit at risk. Using ammunition or parts that don’t meet military specifications or placing parts designed for the M4 on an M16A2 can create a “frankenweapon” that probably will fail you when you need it most. If that weapon jammed and fired accidentally during clearing, it most likely would be recorded as a negligent discharge whether or not anyone was hurt. Any Soldier that takes deliberate steps to perform unauthorized modifications on their weapon is negligent.
Final thoughts
I once knew a 28-year-old man who worked at a convenience store. One night, three teenagers robbed the store and forced the clerk to the back of the building, where they shot him in the back of the head with a shotgun. This was a very tragic incident, but we hear about these type things so much on the news that we’re almost accustomed to shootings. Even so, I wasn’t prepared to see that man’s 5-year-old daughter sobbing at the funeral home, asking everyone when she’d see her dad again.
I tell this story because you might think a Soldier dying from a negligent discharge is different from the deliberate murder of a store clerk. The end result, however, is the same—a grieving spouse, children without their parent, and a family without a loved one. Think about those families at home the next time you pick up your weapon. It’s time for you, as a professional Soldier, to “Own the Edge!”
Full Magazine
Bang! Are You Dead?
CHRISTOPHER TRUMBLE
System Safety Engineer
U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center
“Don’t worry, my weapon isn’t loaded.”
“I know mine isn’t loaded. Are you sure yours isn’t too?”
“Yeah, don’t worry—I’m a trained, professional Soldier just like you. These pistols the Army issues us are the safest handguns in the world. Here, let me show you all the safety features.”
“BANG!”
“Oh, man, are you okay? Oh, man. Don’t die, man, don’t die. GET HELP! GET HELP FAST!”
This situation, unfortunately, wasn’t hypothetical; it actually happened in Iraq. A short time after this exchange, the injured Soldier lay in an operating room, dying from a gunshot wound to his chest. The doctor who tried to save the Soldier told me this story. Sadly, the “shooter” now has plenty of time to think about firearms safety procedures as he serves a lengthy sentence at the U.S. Military Disciplinary Barracks in Fort Leavenworth, KS.
Do you think time at Leavenworth is too harsh a punishment for an accident? The Army disagrees—it’s called “negligent discharge,” not “accidental discharge.” Pointing a firearm at an unintended target is negligence. Failing to properly unload a firearm is negligence. Horseplay with a firearm is negligence.
The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) provides definitions for differing levels of negligence. There are a variety of actions under the UCMJ for negligent discharges, including Article 134, “Firearm, Discharging Through Negligence”; Article 134, “Negligent Homicide”; and Article 92, “Dereliction of Duty.” Needless to say, no Soldier wants to ever be tried under any of these provisions. So, how do we stop negligent discharges within the Army?
The answer is simple: Soldiers must act professionally whenever they carry their weapons. When a Soldier is shot unintentionally, either through inattention or indiscipline, it reflects poorly on the whole Army. It’s not a matter of just looking unprofessional; it’s really about some Soldiers being unprofessional. All Soldiers can reaffirm their professionalism, however, by learning and practicing the basics of firearm safety every day.
The basics
• Always assume the weapon is loaded
• Control the muzzle—keep it pointed downrange or in a safe direction at all times
• Do not touch the trigger unless you intend to fire the weapon
• Unload the weapon at times and in places you don’t expect to use it, such as in dining facilities or secure areas
Here’s a practical example of how the basic rules work. Let’s say you’ve just entered a secured room and spot a pistol lying on a table. First, assume the pistol is loaded. Second, control the pistol’s muzzle. Remember, you don’t have to have the pistol in your hand to control the muzzle. If it’s pointing toward you, move out of the way and approach the weapon from its rear or side. If the muzzle is pointing toward someone else, tell them to move out of the weapon’s projected path. These steps should be accomplished before anyone touches the weapon.
Once the muzzle is controlled, evaluate the weapon without touching it to determine if you’re familiar with that particular model. If you’re not experienced with it, send for someone who is. Pick the weapon up only if you’re confident you know how to operate it. When you have the weapon in hand, maintain muzzle control but keep your finger off the trigger and ensure no other items come in contact with it. If the muzzle can be pointed in a safer direction, such as at the ground, do so before attempting the final basic step—unloading. Keep in mind you’re still to assume the weapon is loaded, control the muzzle, and keep your finger off the trigger during clearing. Always follow the proper clearing procedures for the weapon type and ensure the weapon is on safe once it’s cleared.
Someone gave me a piece of advice years ago that still holds true today. That advice was not to rely on only one sense, namely sight, to make sure a weapon is unloaded. After visually inspecting the chamber, double check by feeling the chamber’s opening with your finger. This “fail safe” check should confirm the visual inspection, but if you have any doubt, look again or have a second person check the weapon. You can never be too safe.
Just because the weapon is unloaded and you’re “dry firing” it doesn’t mean you can point it at people, animals, or any other unintended target. Remember, safety always applies! Assume the weapon is loaded, control the muzzle, and don’t touch the trigger.
Operational considerations
There will be times you have to carry a loaded weapon, but you still have to follow the rules. You can control the muzzle and keep your finger off the trigger while working in an operational capacity. You know the weapon is loaded instead of assuming so, which makes muzzle control even more important. Never point the weapon at your buddies, allies, or any known non-combatants, and don’t put your finger on the trigger unless you intend to fire the weapon.
There’s no doubt weapons handling is more complex when you’re in an operational environment. In addition to protecting your fellow Soldiers, you have to consider what’s around any potential targets. For instance, is there a schoolyard full of kids just behind your vehicle checkpoint? If you were to open fire on a bad guy but injure a non-combatant in the process, you can bet you’d make the evening news. Always consider the potential second- and third-order effects every time you pull the trigger.
Storage
You can’t be with your weapon all the time to ensure it’s safe, so you should store it in accordance with your unit’s standing operating procedures. Maintain muzzle control and always store the weapon unloaded, but remember to assume it’s loaded. Place the weapon inside its case or locker so it’s facing away from you when you open the container. If you store a pistol in a holster, point the holster and pistol in a safe direction before withdrawing or stowing the weapon. Pay particular attention to the retention straps on the holster or case and make sure none are close to the trigger guard or can apply pressure to the trigger. Also, never drag a rifle or shotgun toward you by the barrel. If something is tangled around the trigger while you pull the weapon toward you, you’re squeezing the trigger with the muzzle pointed directly at you.
Leadership and additional considerations
You must take immediate action and make an on-the-spot correction if you see other Soldiers or service members engaging in unsafe acts with firearms. Inaction in these situations is unprofessional and irresponsible. Remember, whatever you’re willing to tolerate just became your new standard.
Never use ammunition or weapon parts not issued by the military. You’re mistaken if you think you’re a better ammunition or firearms designer than the experts working for the Government acquisition program. As a Soldier, you’re expected to use the equipment the military supplies, and not doing so puts both you and your unit at risk. Using ammunition or parts that don’t meet military specifications or placing parts designed for the M4 on an M16A2 can create a “frankenweapon” that probably will fail you when you need it most. If that weapon jammed and fired accidentally during clearing, it most likely would be recorded as a negligent discharge whether or not anyone was hurt. Any Soldier that takes deliberate steps to perform unauthorized modifications on their weapon is negligent.
Final thoughts
I once knew a 28-year-old man who worked at a convenience store. One night, three teenagers robbed the store and forced the clerk to the back of the building, where they shot him in the back of the head with a shotgun. This was a very tragic incident, but we hear about these type things so much on the news that we’re almost accustomed to shootings. Even so, I wasn’t prepared to see that man’s 5-year-old daughter sobbing at the funeral home, asking everyone when she’d see her dad again.
I tell this story because you might think a Soldier dying from a negligent discharge is different from the deliberate murder of a store clerk. The end result, however, is the same—a grieving spouse, children without their parent, and a family without a loved one. Think about those families at home the next time you pick up your weapon. It’s time for you, as a professional Soldier, to “Own the Edge!”
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