On Aug. 2 outside of a Fry’s Food Store on West Elliot and South Alma School roads, a Chandler man was tucking his fiancée’s pink Taurus 380 Compact Pistol into his pant’s pocket when he accidentally fired the gun through his penis and thigh.
Joshua Seto, 27, is currently recovering from the injury but has since been released from the hospital.
Since the incident, police departments around the Valley have been advocating gun safety and the use of holsters through media sources.
Tempe Police Sgt. Steve Carbajal said it’s important and much safer to carry a gun in a holster rather than in a pocket or waistband. For Carbajal, it could mean the difference in any situation whether or not a gun is concealed properly.
“If the gun was handled safely and in a holster, obviously that reduces your chances of going off or firing at something accidentally,” Carbajal said.
Chandler Police Sgt. Joe Favazzo said the best way to practice gun safety is for long and first-time firearm users to take classes on gun safety. Most gun shops will offer training seminars to users purchasing a firearm.
“Anybody that’s going to use a firearm or carry a firearm, whether it’s for hunting, target practice or for personal safety, they need to be familiar with the firearms and the safety rules that go along with firearms,” Favazzo said.
Favazzo offered up some tips on how to keep from accidentally discharging by never putting a finger on the trigger guard but along the frame. Also to always treat the firearm as if it were loaded, never point the gun at something unless planning on destroying it and know the target and be aware of what’s behind the target.
“Those are just some basic safety rules, certainly we encourage anyone that wants to learn about firearms to just get properly trained, and many of the dealerships where you purchase firearms can direct you to training facilities where you can get some basic and advanced level training on firearm safety and proficiency,” Favazzo said.
Favazzo stressed the importance of putting a gun back in its case or in a holster, which would be much safer than having it out.
“Certainly if you’re gong to carry a firearm, carry it properly, carry it in a holster, if you’re in a vehicle carry it in a case,” Favazzo said.
Adrienne O’Reilly, southwest regional director of Students for Concealed Carry, said that in the state of Arizona firearm carriers are allowed to carry a gun on either the outside or the inside of any person.
Arizona residents of at least 21 years of age are allowed to carry a concealed weapon without a permit, a law that went into effect in July 2010.
“Gun safety is imperative in Arizona, as with every state,” O’Reilly said. “I think it may be more publicly important to talk about gun safety in Arizona because it does have the most liberal gun laws of our nation.”
Reach the reporter at sraymund@asu.edu
