The Second Amendment protects Americans against government infringement on the right to keep and bear arms. The term “arms” covers all types of guns (including machine guns), swords, knives, crossbows, pepper spray, TASERs, flame-throwers – anything that can be used as a weapon. When the current POTUS and his civilian disarmament allies rail against “military grade weapons on our streets” we point out that…hello? Cannons. Not only did our forefathers own their own private cannons, but cannons remain, thankfully, blissfully uncontrolled. Well, not always blissfully . . .
A Google search for “cannon accidents” reveals a wealth of often horrific negligent discharges. artilleryman.com chronicles more than a dozen cannon-related mishaps from 1996 to 2009. Over in New Zealand, odt.co.nz reports that Derek Kelly paid the ultimate price for exercising his [remaining gun rights] by failing to observe one of the four gun safety rules:.
The firearms collector was unloading equipment off his ute when what police say is a “cannon-style” firearm accidentally discharged and fatally struck him at his home in Mahuta, west of Dargaville, about 4.30pm on Sunday . . .
The partner of one of Mr Kelly’s daughters, Phil Freeman, said the death was a very tragic accident that had left his family reeling.
“He was routinely unloading equipment of the back of his utility.
“A round unexpectedly exploded. It was very sudden and comes as an absolute shock,” Mr Freeman said.
“He was no stranger to dealing with firearms and took all the precautions he could. We are at a loss to explain how this happened.”
A negligent discharge can happen to anyone. That’s why muzzle discipline is the The One Rule to Rule Them All. As in this case, people pay for their failure to observe this rule with their lives.
I regret that this incident occurred. I hope that Mr. Kelly – a man loved by his family and community, a man who spread the gospel of responsible gun ownership – rests in peace. May his death serve as a warning to us all, whether we fire .22-caliber handguns or “cannon-like” firearms. [h/t DrVino]