Hi Eric:
Handling any weapon in such a casual manner as you both show here, would never be tolerrated by any experienced marksman or firearms group.
Best,
Point taken. I leave the gun in the studio 20 miles from where my kids are. I've shot plenty of guns since about 8 years old, and actually am pretty familiar with guns, shotguns, and hunting rifles. But yeah to your point, I think just this summer two kids in the SF bay area shot themselves while playing with their parents guns, and I think a rookie cop also shot himself while showing 'gun safety' to some other party goers. My father used to keep a loaded gun in the house for safety, but as a small child I easily found it everyplace he hid it. You can bet I shot it as well (but lived to tell this tale). So I am real aware of the potential for trouble.
So yeah I guess I am agreeing with you but also saying that even trained people are shooting themselves like that cop. Definitely if there were no guns it wouldn't happen.
But guns are a reality here in America...Guns and cars. My studio is in the unincorporated area of Richmond near the 'Iron Triangle' where the rent is cheap and I tend to hear a lot of gun fire near my studio at night and there have been some break ins in my studio complex lately. I had thought of selling the pistol, but decided to keep it just in case for my safety at the studio. I keep the pistol in its case with the clip out but loaded. I think the safety is on most of the time actually but I may have taken it off for that shot (and I may have been too quick to write that it was loaded because I may have actually put in the 2nd clip which is empty). I can't recall.
I used to go shoot at the Sunnyvale Rod and Gun club with my father which is in your area, no? Is it still there? Maybe one day we can meet up and do some target practice?