A field division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) received criticism over a photo posted to Twitter showing a potentially unsafe gun fail.
The photo, which appeared in a tweet posted by the ATF‘s Houston division was roasted by several users on Twitter, who pointed out that it was an unsafe gun practice to point a gun towards someone’s crotch as they are loading the magazine.
The ATF Austin Office out on the range today with special guests from our local U.S. Attorneys’ Offices. pic.twitter.com/568GrEEHLG
— ATF Houston (@ATFHou) July 19, 2023
The three most important rules when handling a firearm are to keep the gun pointed in a safe direction, keep your finger off the trigger unless you are ready to shoot, and keep the gun unloaded until you are ready to use it, according to National Rifle Association.
“You idiots are in charge of policing our firearms???” Abby Libby, a podcast host, questioned in a tweet. (RELATED: ATF Issues Warning To Firearm Industry, Signaling No Tolerance For ‘Willful’ Violations)
you idiots are in charge of policing our firearms???
— Abby Libby (@abbythelibb_) July 21, 2023
Managing editor of The Babylon Bee, Joel Berry, said the photo was “proof” that the ATF should not be “allowed anywhere near firearms.”
Photographic proof the ATF shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near firearms https://t.co/rYx5JyZIU2
— Joel Berry (@JoelWBerry) July 21, 2023
“Whenever I go shooting, I too load my magazines while standing down range & with my OPEN BOLT machine guns pointed straight at me,” Aidan Johnston, the director of Federal Affairs for Gun Owners of America, said in a post on Twitter.
Whenever I go shooting, I too load my magazines while standing down range & with my OPEN BOLT machine guns pointed straight at me. https://t.co/c7ACSpoUqG
— Aidan Johnston (@RealGunLobbyist) July 20, 2023
Taylor Rhodes, the executive director for the Rocky Mountain Gun Owners commented on the photo, saying, “you can’t fix stupid.”
you can’t fix stupid. https://t.co/l42jHBr5WO
— Taylor D. Rhodes (@TDRColorado) July 20, 2023
A person has committed an offense if they “intentionally or knowingly” have a “firearm or other deadly weapon” displayed in a manner that would “alarm” people, according to Section 42.01 of the Texas Penal Code.