Safety First, Safety First, Safety First

Some folks might wonder why I've reserved my .45 Colt handguns to only firing wax-bullet ammunition.  It's because I don't want a mix-up like they had in the streets of Tombstone, AZ recently.

An actor staging a historical gunfight in the Old West town of Tombstone was shot with a live round during a show that was supposed to use blanks, leading officials to call for the re-enactments popular with tourists to be put on hold.

The shooting happened Sunday afternoon as two performers from the Tombstone Vigilante group re-enacted a gunfight in the 19th century mining town made famous by Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday and the O.K. Corral. A bystander also was hurt but declined medical treatment. 

One of the actor's guns fired live rounds, hitting a fellow member of the group, the Tombstone Marshal's Office said. Ken Curtis fell to the ground and was flown to a hospital in Tucson, where he underwent surgery to remove the bullet.

I've been in scenarios in law-enforcement training where we were using simulated ammunition, and we'd check each other for live rounds.  Of course, on a wax-bullet range, live ammunition is strictly forbidden.  I've gone one step further.  All my wax bullet guns are .45 Long Colt, and I don't allow any standard ammunition of that caliber anywhere on my property.

Of ourse, I have plenty of standard ammunition in several calibers for handguns, from .22LR to .44 magnum and several calibers in between.  But, the .45 Long Colt is restricted solely to wax bullet ammo.  Even so, we strictly push gun-handling safety to our guests and grandkids.  IIf we teach them to be careful with the wax bullet ammo, they'll be careful with the standard ammo.  Safe gun-handling becomes a habit that stays with you all your life.

It's too easy to be safe, and there's no time limit on regret or grief if someone gets hurt.