SHOOTING ACCIDENTS

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30401, 28 March 1964, Page 19

SHOOTING ACCIDENTS

Concern At Toll Every person who handles a rifle should feel concern at the steadily growing toll of shooting accidents, said Mr L. H. Harris, the Forest Service firearms adviser and instructor. In 1962, six deaths and 43 injuries were caused by firearms, and there was a 30 per cent increase on that figure in 1963. “Carelessness and sheer neglect caused nearly all last year’s accidents,” said Mr Harris. “They could have been avoided by common sense and by shooters ‘knowing the rules’.”

Two fatal accidents last year emphasised how carelessness caused tragedy. In one a loaded rifle was left unattended and a seven-year-old boy shot another small child. In the other a man was killed when he pulled a loaded firearm from a truck by the barrel.

Though the Forest Service used firearms throughout the year it had very few accidents, said Mr Harris. This was because all its hunters observed five “golden rules.” They were to check the firearm; load the magazine only when at the chosen hunting ground; use a half-open bolt when in a state of semireadiness; identify the target beyond all possible doubt; consider the firing zone—shots can easily ricochet off rocks.

“If everyone follows these rules, there will be fewer accidents,” said Mr Harris. He said that every person who registered a firearm should take one of the pamphlets on firearm safety that were available at every police station. The police distributed safety pamphlets and gave lectures, but because of their own duties, could not so as much as they would like in instructing people in firearm safety. Experienced shooters could do a lot by passing on their knowledge to newcomers, Mr Harris said.

Collided.—A small van was extensively damaged in a collision with an army truck at the corner of Olliviers road and Ferry road at 10 a.m. on Thursday. Neither driver was injured.