The scuba diving and sky diving associations I used to belong to published regular digests of accident reports. This made salutary reading, though in the nature of things -both kinds of divers typically having a certain inclination towards humour of the black persuasion- the most egregious examples were usually feted as candidates for Darwin Awards rather than treated as matter for sober reflection. Regardless, the practice seemed to me an important one in sports that, if undertaken recklessly, carelessly, with faulty equipment, or with inadequate training, could quite easily get you, or your fellow participants, killed.
Now I believe things can be both risky and safe.
I also believe that reporting accidents and their causes openly helps keep things safe.
So I find it less than satisfactory that reports of shooting accidents reaches one either mangled by the rumour mill or via the generally ill-informed news media. Instead I'd like the shooting organisations to report not just those accidents that result in an insurance claim, but also to provide the means, and the encouragement, for members to notify them in confidence regarding other accidents, so that they can compile and report on such mistakes for the benefit of all. No names, no pack drill, just properly verified facts.
