Yesterday, politicians and police in New York chest-thumped about the guns they intercepted coming into the city. In so doing, they violated four of the most foundational rules of gun safety. Namely,
1. The gun is always considered loaded, even if you're sure it isn't. Nevertheless, the guns on parade at the press conference were pointed at the audience.
2. The safety is always on unless you are about to fire. Not so much with the NYPD.
3. The bolt is always open when not in operation or safely stored. The NYPD chose to close the bolts.
4. Guns are not to be displayed with the magazines in place. [Magazines are what the politicians and media kids call "clips" when they're feeling all butch and guns-sy.] That one, too, the NYPD decided to ignore.
In response to some questions about this from a gun safety instructor, an NYPD official representative asked, “Is it your assertion that NYPD and that those officers that handle firearms don’t know what they’re doing?”
I would have said, "Yes", and referred the officer to this Google buffet.
If I had violated even one of those four rules, not only would I have failed to qualify with a firearm but Gunnery Sergeant Jackson would have kicked me in the rear end so hard I would still be able to feel it.
Ordinarily, I wouldn't care how maladroit the NYPD was with guns, as I don't have to live in that city. But, law enforcement, we are told by politicians, is the only viable protection we should have as a society. If they can't handle even the simplest and most commonsense rules of gun safety, why should I take the politicians at their word?