With a rash of shootings keeping public focus on guns, the story of Violet C. Ross stands out. According to local news out of Woodbridge, VA, it all started at a high school sporting event and ended with the accidental discharge of a firearm.
As she walked toward the ball field, she realized she was wearing her firearm on her belt, according to police. Ross went back to her vehicle, and attempted to remove the gun and its holster from her belt. While doing so, she fired the weapon and struck herself in the lower body.
Ross was taken to the hospital for her injuries and faces charges of reckless handling of a firearm and possession of a firearm on school property.
As the battle over America’s guns wages on, users chimed in on this story to voice their opinions. One noted that it was problematic that Ross did not know she had a firearm on her person, was unable to remove it without firing, and had a bullet loaded in the chamber to begin with.
On the bare facts alone, astute readers will note that despite the absence of an enemy, a gun was fired and someone was hurt. That mirrors how the situation plays out all over the U.S., with 505 deaths per year attributable to accidental discharge of a firearm.
Ironically, the Prince William County Police Department posted a firearms safety reminder to their Facebook page on August 16, just two days before the incident. And if the police have to regularly remind citizens, that could signal that accidental discharge of firearms is a big problem.
Ross’s story is a small piece of a larger puzzle, and invites questions of gun safety, gun laws, and the expertise of gun owners everywhere. The best thing that can be said about the situation, is that no one was killed.
Featured Image provided by Alexas_Fotos via Pixabay
