Warning: PSA contains graphic images of an injury.

While some gun owners see the golden rules of gun safety as a bit of a no-brainer – why wouldn’t you follow them? – there are plenty of instances where it becomes clear they’re not followed by everyone. This includes a certain trigger found to have an issue of allowing the gun to fire when it shouldn’t: a number of the cases of injuries from said trigger problem occurred due to the gun owner not respecting the rules. Incidents pop up in the news periodically as well, in fact one just took place right before Christmas this year involving a muzzleloader.

Think of this as a beginning-a-new-year PSA: know, respect, and follow the four golden rules of gun safety. 1) Treat all guns as though they are loaded. 2) Do not point a gun at anything you are not willing to destroy. 3) Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re on target. 4) Know your target and what is beyond it. There are several versions of the rules out there but the gist remains the same regardless of phrasing.

There are far too many instances of people breaking the rules and/or behaving in a blatantly reckless manner with firearms. It happens in countless YouTube videos, at your local range, and at events attended by supposed professionals.

The following came from the Facebook page “Active Self Protection” and is the explanation that was given for the series of images to follow: “Here’s the aftermath of a negligent discharge of a 185gr Hornady XTP. While attempting to de-cock a 1911, his finger slipped off the hammer allowing it to discharge into his left palm, which was pressed over the barrel. The bullet passed through the palm, half expanded, passed through the… interior door liner, and then hit the exterior door metal and stopped, leaving the deformation in pic 2.