Hot brass is simply a fact of life at any firing range. Spent brass is forcefully ejected from self-loading firearms, and sometimes it winds up in contact with human skin. I don’t know of anyone who shoots regularly who hasn’t been burned at least once. Responsible shooters know that when this occurs you always keep your muzzle pointed downrange, no matter how else you respond.

You don’t point the gun up or behind you with your finger on the trigger, because bad things will happen.

Deputies responded to an accidental shooting at the High Noon Gun Shop in Sarasota at 3:15 p.m. on Sunday.

Emergency responders transported a 14-year-old boy, later identified as Stephen Brumby, to Sarasota Memorial hospital with serious injuries. He died at the hospital, according to officials.

The Sarasota Sheriff’s Office combed through the scene, taking out several bags of evidence. Monday, the sheriff’s office released a statement confirming the boy’s father, 64-year-old William “Clayton” Brumby, fired the lethal shot.

Per video evidence and witness accounts, a shell casing had bounced off the wall next to Clayton during target practice and landed in the back of his shirt. He then reached back with his right hand, still holding the gun, to remove the shell casing and accidentally fired off a round. The bullet hit his son, who was standing behind him.

One account says that the firearm was oriented up and that the shot ricocheted off the ceiling (which strikes me as being implausible), but it appears that the reporting above is the most accurate telling of this story. The elder Brumby reacted to minor pain by losing his head completely, and violated every single one of the four rules of gun safety.

All guns are always loaded. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target. Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.

Always control the muzzle of your firearm. Never point it at any person who doesn’t need to be shot. Keep your finger off the trigger and high up on the frame of the gun when you are not on target. Know what is beyond your target.

These four simple rules save lives when they are followed, folks.

Never neglect to follow them.

This wasn’t an “accident.” This was negligence.