BIDDEFORD, Maine — Local police said a man cleaning his gun Tuesday morning accidentally shot himself in the knee at a Biddeford residence.
Donald Williamson, 27, was cleaning the .45-caliber semi-automatic weapon when it discharged, according to a press release from the Biddeford Police Department.
He was taken to Southern Maine Medical Center in Biddeford to be treated for what a police official described as injuries that were not life threatening.
Automatic weapons , of any caliber, are illegal in Maine.
Certain restrictions apply.
mis-print for sure,, just dropping the clip doesn’t unload it son! hope you recover ok..
http://www.minutemanreview.com/2008/09/clip-vs-magazine-lesson-in-firearm.html
A clip is what you use to load the magazine.
The article states that it was a semi-automatic pistol–legal in Maine. Left unsaid is our society’s continuing inability to come to terms with the idea of a “well regulated militia.” Sounds like this gentleman could profit from instruction on handling guns; indeed, maybe he shouldn’t be allowed to possess a gun in the first place.
Automatic firearms are legal in maine though so uhh
Step #1. MAKE SURE GUN IS NOT LOADED BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO CLEAN!!! Duh!
I usually follow the practice of unloading any firearm before cleaning it…..
You dont suppose he had a problem pulling on the slide. So he put it on his knee when he pulled with two hands?
I’m thinking he “cleared” the weapon by racking it BEFORE removing the mag (which just chambers another round)
I guess he unloads it different.
Must be one of those rare libruls that own guns but they are too good to join the NRA or their local gun club! You know the ones, they say they support the 2nd Amendment but really only for them, other people are irresponsible!
There goes that NH deputy sheriff’s job. Dang.
More “empty” guns have killed people than you can imagine. Geez, I thought it was unloaded. Duh. So much for his firearm safety training.
I’ve never cleaned a loaded gun. ……
“Donald Williamson, 27, was cleaning the .45-caliber semi-automatic weapon when it discharged, according to a press release from the Biddeford Police Department”
Responsible gun owner? NOT! At least this time it wasn’t a foot…
I guess this guy’s New Year’s resolution should be to get some common sense.
As with any dangerous equipment, turn it off/unload it/disable it/lock it out/etc. before cleaning or servicing it.
Another basic safety rule: never point a gun at your body.
This guy sure is a winner…
This is exactly why I will never chamber a round. Simply will not do it. Suffice to say a .45 caliber did some damage to that knee.
Cleaning the bullets at the same time, eh!!
Obviously protecting himself and his family….
how in the heII do you shoot yourself whilst cleaning your gun?
first thing you do is remove the bullets.
derp.
Ya gotta be smarter then the gun.
ya gotta know how to spell too.
than
I bet he racked the slide to empty the chamber BEFORE dropping the mag- which of course chambers another round… Not trying to point out obvious, but want readers to learn this beginners mistake. Always remove the source of ammo first (drop the mag)! Praying he will recover fully…
I will rack the slide, and rack it again, and once more and then I will also do a visual inspection with the slide locked back before I even think about cleaning my guns.
….Then dry fire it into the ground on the range. Rule #1, A gun should never be pointed at flesh.
Well, not human flesh, anyhow.
Unless the human flesh has the intention of harming you or yours. Then, shoot until the threat no longer exists.
Visual and physical* inspection everytime. (*pinky in the mag well and action) Physical inspection also aids for reloads or clearing when you don’t want to take your eyes of the threat.
OUCH… A .45 Cal… must REALLY hurt…!!!. At least he hurt himself, not a child….
Poor chap. He doesn’t have a leg to stand on.
According to the article, he shot a knee. Not both knees. So, technically, he still has ONE leg to stand on. :)
But at least it was a clean shot.
genius
If this is the real reason this fella shot himself, maybe he should have his firearms removed from his possession for at the least two years, and made to take the firearms and or hunters safety course for back to back years. If he could manage to pass, then maybe he could pay a nice little fee and have his guns back.
Interesting idea.. but then everyone will know he’s not armed and he’ll become a target of the roving bands of lunatics that everyone is afraid of…
I’ve found if you invite those gangs of lunatics in for tea they are really just a misunderstood minority.
Clumsy of him but it proves that he is as good a shot as the COP who shot himself in the leg while on duty. (previous published article)
One in the chamber, kid. This is why I have a soft spot for, and prefer revolvers. ;-)
Always “safe” the weapon! Always treat a firearm like it is loaded!
Perhaps more to the point, unload the friggin’ thing before you clean it. (facepalm)
Guns don’t shoot owner’s knees, IDIOTS do !
Ban knees ;)
You can’t clean a loaded weapon.
Without a gun he might have accidentally pounded his knee with his fist, or stuck himself with manicure scissors…
If only his knee had just had its own gun, it could’ve defended itself.
thank god he only shot himself and not someone else………
Now needles have joined the list of banned items.
Talented….. Next time clean it with out the ammunition.
Did he have gun owner’s liability insurance?
Oh, so thats what was stuck in the chamber.
The answer is obvious.
We need to ban flash suppressors.
this guy shouldn’t be playing with guns
DARWIN AWARDS
The poor guy must feel really silly now.
Accidents like this make me wonder why it is so much harder to get a drivers license than to buy a gun. Its obvious that the average person doesnt know the first thing about guns and should have to complete safety courses ie hunter safety courses. Also they should have to pass a test on state and federal laws that pertain to the ownership and carrying of the gun.
i think most Mainers are too stupid to own a firearm
Maybe he had a dispute with himself over his parking and snow removal habits
Must’ve had a trick knee and it turned on ’em.
Self defense.
It’s a good thing it was not pointed at his head or chest. I’ll never understand why some gun owners don’t check the chamber and clip before cleaning a gun. Duh!
RULE #1 = Assume that every gun is loaded until you open the chamber and see for yourself!
RULE #2 = Failure to obey RULE #1 can lead to death or severe bodily injury to yourself or others AND/OR make you look extremely stupid to people who read the Bangor Daily News.
Gun cleaning 101….Step 1: Make sure the weapon is not loaded, if so, unload.
This must have been after he finished hiking Cadillac Mtn with the chick from Florida.
I am thinking someone was practicing their quick draw here……..
Maybe he was distracted messing his computer / webcam,
making a youtube video of how to clean a .45-caliber semi-automatic weapon.