NCHS has historically collected data on various health behaviors, including alcohol use, since the arrival of the pandemic, vital statistics show that there has been a surge in alcohol-induced deaths, an increase from slightly over 39,000 deaths in 2019 to just over 49,000 deaths in 2020 – an increase of more than 25 percent. Provisional data from 2021 show the number of alcohol-induced deaths have continued to increase, to more than 52,000, up 34 percent from pre-pandemic levels. (Pew Research Center)

Drugs and alcohol for years has played a role in murder, suicide and self inflicting injuries.

Just recently in Colorado, a 25 year old couple (boyfriend and girlfriend) went to a party with a lot of alcohol. It isn't known if the male had a concealed carry permit but we do know that he brought a gun with him to the party. After several hours of drinking and now intoxicated, the boyfriend pulls out his gun, removes the magazine and thought it would be funny to put the gun to his girlfriend's head and pull the trigger. The gun fired the round that was in the chamber and his girlfriend died on scene.

This was the death of a young woman who had a full life ahead of her, taken from someone whom I’m willing to bet never had a class on gun safety. This ignorance of not knowing the gun safety rules cost this woman's life. Let’s take a look at all the rules that were broken.

1. Never handle a gun if you’ve been drinking or doing drugs. Lock them away, and don’t bring them with you if you know you’re going to be partying.
2. Never point the muzzle of the gun at anyone or thing you’re not willing to destroy.
3. Never put your finger on the trigger until you’re ready to shoot.
4. Never display your firearm unless you feel your life is in immediate danger.

It is clear that this man didn’t even know how to clear his firearm and make it safe, because if he did, he would have removed the magazine and racked the slide to the rear to ensure there wasn’t a round in the chamber.

This person will be spending the rest of his life in prison as well as dealing with the emotional effect of murdering his girlfriend. I can’t understand why people with firearms would choose to carry them without any kind of training. I just bought a rifle and although I’ve been teaching handgun safety for years. I have no experience with a rifle, so I recently took and passed the rifle training class and quiz. I learned several things about my rifle that I would have not known about if not for the class.

If you own a gun, you owe to yourself and your loved ones to be responsible and take a class. Don’t end your life or someone else's by not being knowledgeable.

Please find an instructor in your area and get trained!