His finger is on the trigger.

That's a big no-no, unless he's intending to fire it.

The band only prevents the shotgun from being opened, not fired. The user has no idea if it's loaded. Rule 1 of gun handling applies: Treat all firearms as if they are loaded.

any carry permit class teaches to keep the finger off the trigger-NO MATTER WHAT-unless you're ready to shoot something.

Someone has shot a Redflex camera with a hunting rifle. I have read several comments at Knoxviews that have shown a strong dislike for these redlight cameras. I'm sure some would quietly support the idiot who shot it, but openly judge everyone who owns a firearm as being the same as this reckless moron.

(link...)

The only reason this picture was posted is to make Fred look bad. If had been taken without the finger on the trigger we would not have ever seen this "shot" on here.

If this is what it comes down to, the Republicans will run away with the elections.

Are you 100% sure that Fred didnt check to see if the shotgun was loaded before putting his finger on the trigger?

Wouldn't that break the "safety band?" Boy, they can't get the talking points straight on this one.

____________________________

"Respect mah authoritah!" - Fred Cartman Thompson

He was obviously pointing it in a safe direction while checking it out so he obviously does know about safe firearms handling.

How do you figure that from this picture?

Obviously somebody is looking at this through Fred colored glasses.

Wearybottom Associates

Dry firing is firing. The idea as I understand it, is to treat every weapon as though it were loaded. If you are going to pull the trigger, you have the firearm oriented as though it were going to eject a bullet. This is especially true if I am nearby. When I have taught others to shoot, including my baby sister, I tell them that "there is no such thing as an accident. If the gun is pointed at me, I'll assume that you are trying to shoot me and I'll do my best to get you first. I'll explain it to your mother later".

My paranoia says that if I can't check the weapon to verify it's status, then putting my finger on the trigger is definitely out. Hell, handling the weapon at all is pretty much out if I can't check it. And no, I do not care who hands me the weapon or what they swear to. If I am alone in my home and I put a weapon down and go do something else for ten minutes, when next I pick up the weapon, ten minutes or ten days or ten weeks later, I check it to verify it's status.

So, the pictures depict Fraud Thompson in such a manner that I am not inclined to trust him. He is clearly handling a firearm that he has not been able to check. In a similar situation, I might pick it up and inspect the engraving and feel the weight but, no simulated firing positions. Any politician, or anyone for that matter, who is trying to impress me with their firearms attitude, has got to do better than he did.

The rest of you may be easier than I am.

CAFKIA

----------------------------------------------------------- 

It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument.
  - William G. McAdoo

Wow, these arguments go on for days.

Here's what we KNOW. Senator Fred Thompson, gun rights advocate and presidential candidate, is looking down the sights of some sort of rifle/shotgun. PERIOD. Full stop.

We DON'T KNOW if he's pointing it in a safe direction, whether he's checked it for load, if it's an illegal sawed-off model with depleted uranium ammo, or if he's got it trained on a 9-month-old baby.

Let's try to stay focused, people.

tweaker

I can't believe the hysterics some gunbloggers go into over trigger fingers. Using the logic of many of the commenters here, no one should ever make an action movie where guns are used as props, because the action would involve putting fingers on triggers and pointing guns towards defenseless camermen.

THIS IS NOT THE ISSUE OF THE DAY.

The issue of the day is the right of the people to keep and bear arms. Fred Thompson will fight for that right. Rudy Giuliani fought as mayor of NYC to weaken the rights of law abiding gun owners. Hillary Clinton would actively fight to reinstate the assault weapons ban, begin national gun registration, and appoint liberal judges who would rule the Second Amendment out of existence.

If you want to be constructive, help get Fred Thompson elected instead of bickering about rule 3. Especially since every one of you (admit it) had broken rule 3 on one occasion or more. Hell, Dick Cheney SHOT HIS HUNTING PARTNER but I would certainly trust him (especially after the fact) to protect my gun rights more than any democrat currently running for office.

That's all I have to say. Now I have to get back to watching "Quigley Down Under" so I can meticulously log all the instances where Tom Selleck breaks rule 3.

Uh, I think you're at the wrong place. The gun bloggers are here:

(link...)

Gun rights, somehow not quite as important as human rights, equality, America's dismal infant mortality rates, health care, budgetary mismanagement, racism and that whole evil war being waged by our "leaders."

Hey Gullyborg, lose perspective much?