BREAKING: Former Deputy Arrested for Manslaughter in Tragic Gun Accident
Hey everyone, Andy the Gun Guy here. This week, we’re talking about a tragic incident that hit close to home here in Florida, but it’s something that should resonate with all of us, no matter where we live. A former sheriff’s deputy, Leslie Boileau, was recently arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after accidentally shooting his girlfriend while handling a firearm. This heartbreaking event serves as a stark reminder that safety is paramount, even for those of us who have been around guns for years.
Boileau called 911 on Thursday night, reporting that he had “accidentally shot his girlfriend” while they were handling and dry-firing firearms at their home in Ocala. For those who may not know, dry-firing means practicing with a firearm without live ammunition. But in this tragic case, a live round was discharged, resulting in the worst possible outcome.
Now, I know the anti-gunners out there will use this as fuel for their agenda. They’ll say this is why we shouldn’t have firearms, why they should be taken away from us. But they’re missing the point entirely. Incidents like this don’t mean we should lose our rights—they mean we should be more vigilant in exercising them responsibly.
That’s why I made a video on the Three Rules of Safe Gun Handling, which you can check out in the link below. These rules aren’t just for beginners; they’re for all of us, no matter how long we’ve been carrying.
The Three Rules of Safe Gun Handling
- Always Keep the Gun Pointed in a Safe Direction. This is the golden rule. It doesn’t matter if you’re cleaning, dry-firing, or showing off your new piece—never point your firearm at something you’re not willing to destroy. Had this rule been followed, we wouldn’t be talking about this tragedy today.
- Always Keep Your Finger Off the Trigger Until Ready to Shoot. It sounds simple, but how many of us have gotten lax with this? The trigger should only be engaged when your sights are on target and you’ve made the decision to shoot. It’s a simple action, but it’s a lifesaver.
- Always Keep the Gun Unloaded Until Ready to Use. This is crucial, especially when dry-firing or cleaning. Double and triple-check that your firearm is unloaded before you handle it. A moment’s complacency can have irreversible consequences.
These rules are non-negotiable. And while incidents like this are tragic, they remind us of why these principles are so important. Don’t let them, the anti-gunners and the bureaucrats, use this incident to strip us of our rights. Let’s show them that we’re responsible, that we understand the gravity of gun ownership, and that we’re committed to safety.
This tragic accident should serve as a wake-up call to all of us. We need to hold ourselves to the highest standards of safety, not just because we value our rights, but because we value human life. It’s up to us to prove that the Second Amendment community is about responsibility, not recklessness.
So, if you haven’t brushed up on your gun safety in a while, take a few minutes and watch my video on the Three Rules of Safe Gun Handling. Share it with your friends, your family, and anyone you know who handles firearms. Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about protecting our rights—it’s about protecting each other.
Stay safe, stay vigilant, and always remember: Carry Daily, and carry safely.
Perhaps a topic better addressed another time or place, but no, Andy, the three rules (either yours or Cooper’s) are not “non-negotiable,” at least not in the simplified forms as they are normally presented (such as here).
Always Keep the Gun Pointed in a Safe Direction — exactly what is “a safe direction”? By your description, and by the most common extended version of these rules, the only safe direction would be pointing at something you are willing to destroy. Another way to put that might reasonably be only in a direction you would be willing to fire the gun. But that would mean we never holster our guns, never put the gun in a safe, certainly never carry a gun in our car or pretty much anywhere in our home.
Always Keep Your Finger Off the Trigger Until Ready to Shoot — does this include striker-fired guns that require using the trigger to disassemble the gun? Does this prohibit dropping the hammer after unloading a gun?
Always Keep the Gun Unloaded Until Ready to Use. — what is “use”? Does that include normal carry, or does this rule require carrying an empty gun? Cooper’s version takes a different approach with the common short description being “All guns are always loaded” sometimes given as “Treat all guns as if they are loaded.” But, of course, we know that it would be impossible to follow that rule literally. The more sensible version is “Treat all guns as if they are loaded, until you personally have checked that it is clear.”
Whenever something bad happens we can usually point to one or more of the rules having been violated and we will see experts reminding everyone about the three (or sometimes four) rules of gun safety. How much of that is just pearl clutching? We talk about the rules, but we almost always express them only in their shortest and simplest form. The short form of the rules is easy to memorize and recite, but as I just pointed out, you cannot actually follow the short form rules. Instead we just assume that people will use common sense (which never has been all that common and is becoming rare today) or that some “more experienced” or “better trained” individual will be around to cover all those exceptions.
Unfortunately a lot of those bad things that happen involve those “more experienced” and “better trained” individuals — especially in law enforcement where there is constant exposure to firearms and frequent use of firearms in ways that DO violate the rules.
I appreciate the thoughtful feedback. If you watch my video, I define “a safe direction” somewhere that, if a bullet hit it, it would not cause injury or damage.
Always keep it unloaded until ready to use – if the gun is in a location with the intent of it being available during an emergency, it is “in use.” Whether you’re carrying it or it’s somewhere loaded in your house, if it is there in case of an emergency, it is in use.
One thing I was always told was what kind of gun kills an unloaded gun kills I’ve always done that