After accidentally shooting himself in the thigh at a Manhattan nightclub this weekend, NFL New York Giants star receiver Plaxico Burress turned himself in to New York Police Monday to face charges of criminal possession of a weapon. While Burress is expected to make a full recovery, his tenure with the Giants may be over just ten months removed from catching the winning touchdown pass in Super Bowl XLII.

The incident has highlighted several issues surrounding gun safety including frequency of accidental self-inflicted gunshot wounds. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 16,000 people are injured in the U.S. each year from such accidental shootings, which is likely an underestimate because people may not always seek medical treatment. An estimated 800 people die each year from accidental gunshot wounds, many of them self-inflicted.

The incident also highlights the need to practice gun safety if you are carrying a gun or have one in the house for protection. Burress and many other NFL stars say they carry guns in public because their high profile personas make them targets for robberies and assault. However, it is far more dangerous to carry a gun improperly than it is to carry no gun at all.

Burress reportedly had the gun in his waistband, which is a dangerous way to carry a gun because the trigger can easily be pulled accidentally. When carrying a gun, always use a proper holster because it keeps the firearm in place and keeps objects out of the trigger guard. Some other gun safety tips include:

• Guns are equipped with safety mechanisms that can be placed in a “locked” position, preventing the gun from firing. The safety should always be on, up until the point when you have raised the weapon into position to fire.
• Always keep your finger off of the trigger until you are ready to fire. Simply having your finger near the trigger makes it more likely that you will pull it accidentally.
• Always follow the laws of your local city and state regarding guns. Many places require concealed weapons permits in addition to gun registration if you want to carry a gun for protection outside the home.

If you have never done so, taking a gun safety class can teach you the basics of safe gun handling as well as how to safely clean and store a gun.

To find out more about gun safety, visit the CDC’s website to view an informative video. If you want to share an experience of yours regarding gun safety, join Healia Health Communities.

_{Photo: robertnelson, Flickr, Creative Commons}