Easy for us to judge this situation, isnt it? :stare:

Oh I'm well aware of the rules, don't take me for a total gun skeptic - unlike some people, I actually took the effort to get myself trained and practiced in the use of firearms (in the US), and at firing ranges I've indeed met that majority of responsible, all-around-good gun owners, who have their weapons for perfectly good reasons. I just think that this is a good reminder for Rule 4, and a good reminder of what guns actually do in a messy situation vs. what some people think guns do in a messy situation.

Rule 1 is a good take on a real problem. When you're cleaning a gun, or just checking it out, always assume it's loaded. Checking it is the first thing you should do. The opposite is also true: If you need to use the gun always assume it isn't loaded. This will prevent the other kind of bad surprise.

The real first rule should be: Always check the gun. No one else can do it for you.

We are as a majority terrible shots. I was at training recently and we were informed that FBI stats has us at 33% 5 yards or less. At least in the unfortunate situations I had been placed in, tunnel vision really fubars everything. We are trained to react, its the offenders actions that dictate our response. Even when the good guys win, we lose later on down the road. BUT that victory, going home the same way you went to work is priceless.