Most firearms accidents occur due to one of three primary reasons:

Carelessness - Ignorance - Dumbassness

Carelessness : The shooter is aware of the basic safety rules , however chooses to ignore these rules either consciously or subconsciously - perhaps the shooter as been around firearms so much they have gotten complacent and careless when handling handguns.

Ignorance: Is a lack of knowledge - the person handling the handgun is not familiar with the basics of handgun safety and/or the operation of the handgun in their possession.

Accidents can easily occur when either of the above factors are in play when handling a handgun. 

Dumbasses: Ok excuse my language, however this is the best term that fit this type of handgun owner. It is the person who thinks they know it all, when in fact they know very little - they believe they are too smart to take a safety course or listen to advise of an expert in a particular field - However, in fact they don't have the common sense to pound sand down a rat hole. Avoid these arm chair warriors when ever possible - as they will attempt to expound there misinformed wisdom on anyone they can corner. To be cruel they are to damn stupid to own a handgun regardless if they have an  IQ of 100 or 150 - Dumbasses are Dumbasses!

An Example of Carelessness: We had two gentlemen on our range who collectively had over 60 years of firearms experience. One day on the range one of the guys 1911 colt jammed with a live round stuck in the chamber. The correct method of clearing the round is to point the handgun down range ( safely towards the back stop) and attempt to clear or empty the handgun. Both these guys know this rule and our range rules. Well he steps out of his shooting bay - point the handgun at the wall under the bullet resistant glass and attempts to clear (empty) his handgun. While manipulating the slide the handgun discharged sending a 230 gr 45acp bullet into the wall - part of it went across the shooting area - missing everyone. Carelessness: knows the rules just fails to follow the rules and an accident occurs. The guys packed up and left without telling any range personnel. Another range member informed us of the accident -after reviewing the range security DVD - We permanently banned them from the range. Had they informed us of the accident they would not have been banned - we would however require that they take a firearms safety course as a way to refresh the rules in their minds.

An Example of Ignorance:  One afternoon a few years ago, my wife and I took a rare advantage of leaving the store for lunch. One the employees left in charge was a young deputy that I've known since he was in 9th grade with my son. This deputy was a member of the sheriff departments tactical team, he was a law enforcement firearms instructor and became our director of training before becoming an undercover narcotics officer. I offer this information to help set the stage - Deputy G was a qualified sales person to help the uninformed to purchase a handguns. Deputy G spent about 45 minutes with a customer to pick out a handgun and have the basics explained to him. The customer left with his purchase of a shoulder holster, ammunition and double action 38 spl  Taurus revolver.

Within two minutes Deputy G hears a noise outside that sounds like a gun shot. In walks the customer to tell Deputy G that all he was doing was putting his handgun in the holster and it went off.  While Deputy G rushed to the customer to verify that he was not shot, another employee called me so we could rush back to the store. Deputy G pulls off the guys coat - no holes in him or the coat. This is when the cop mentality took over and Deputy G begins a subtle interrogation. Now the truth comes out. He told Deputy G that he didn't know that all you have to do is pull the trigger and it would go off (double action)- he thought you had to cock the gun 1st ( single action).When the guy got into his van with his wife he put on the holster and loaded the handgun. Pointed away from his wife (otherwise we would have to put him in the dumbass class) and pulled the trigger, blowing the window out of his new van and out into space. Myself and six other officers search the apartment building for holes, after we checked the 10th St Pub to make sure no drunks got shot off their bar stools. Uniformed Deputies arrived to take the report and confiscate his handgun for discharging a firearm with in city limits. Ignorance: He was not aware of single action vs double action, at least some common sense took over and he didn't point it at his wife-- or was it just blind luck. We have many other stories like this, perhaps I will have to start a new career and write a book.

Dumbasses: This one would fill a book by itself from our over 20 years in the retail firearms business or over 30 years experience as a firearms instructor. Lets see: Two people come into the store to look at handguns. One of our sales reps hands person #1 a pistol - Person #1 immediately points the Smith and Wesson at his friend and pulls the trigger twice and says " I got You Dog". DUMBASS! We snatch the pistol from his hand and physically threw him out because he took exception to me calling him a grade A dumbass.

We buy used guns. A guy brings in two single action cowboy style handguns in to us to sell them to us. We make the deal and while I'm writing up the paperwork he proceeds to tell me the reason he wants to sell them. " I was practicing my quick draw in my living room and shot the TV - Then later I was practicing my gun twirling ( spinning) and shot himself in the calf- DUMBASS - DUMBASS and I have to give hem a 3rd dumbass because he came back in 2 months later to buy another handgun thinking that we would really sell him one NOT!.

So if you do not want to end up in my book - Get Educated - Stay Alert - and try to avoid Dumbasses.