News Releases

Preventing Accidental Shootings

May 5th, 2020

Over the course of two days, the Mobile Police Department has responded to four reports of accidental shootings. One man was transported to the hospital after accidentally shooting himself in the leg while handling a gun. Another man told officers that he was attempting to place his gun underneath the driver seat of his vehicle when the gun accidentally discharged striking him in the hand.

In another report, the person said he was playing with his gun when it accidentally discharged, shooting himself in the hand. Officers had to respond to one more accidental shooting of a man shot to the hand while he was picking up a gun that fell on the floor. Fortunately, all of these accidental shootings resulted in non-life threatening injuries.

The Mobile Police Department encourages all gun owners to follow these safety rules to prevent accidental shootings.

• Handle every firearm as if it is loaded.
• Keep your finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard unless you intend to shoot.
• Keep the firearm pointed in a safe direction, never at a person unless justified.
• Keep the firearm secured when not in use. Gunlocks are provided by the Mobile Police Department free of charge.