A Bullet is Forever

For those of us who shoot a lot, it’s easy to be desensitized of the capabilities of a hunk of lead propelled by sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate through a metal tube. It’s a hobby. It’s fun, and it only takes a twitch of the finger. But it is very important we remember the full destructive capabilities of this small hunk of lead.

Once we pull the trigger, chemistry and physics take action and there’s nothing we can do to stop or change it.

Once the trigger is pulled, we can’t stop the bullet

Have your finger on the trigger while holstering? Boom. There’s a hole through your femoral artery and you’re going to bleed out before an ambulance even turns on its sirens.

Don’t maintain proper muzzle discipline at a shooting competition? You just shot a hole in your friend’s stomach.

Aim too high at a shooting range? Your bullet is headed towards a neighborhood where a child may be playing in the backyard.

In your haste, you forget to check that massive buck’s backstop? You just hit a back country hiker.

Don’t fully assess the situation before you pull your CCW or duty pistol and pull the trigger? A man is dead due to your hasty actions.

A bullet is forever

We’re human. Most mistakes we make are small and will be forgotten before the end of the day. Some may be remembered for the next week. A few of those most embarrassing ones may be played over and over at a family reunion thanks to Instagram.

But maybe a simple mistake will result in the serious injury or death of someone else.

For those of us who engage in shooting sports, for those of us who hunt, for those of us who carry a pistol for personal protection – we must never forget what a bullet can do. We must always keep our emotions in check and we must always verify a target or threat before we pull the trigger. All of us want to get home to our families.

Please follow the rules of gun safety, and verify a threat before you shoot.