A Florida woman accidentally discharged a firearm that police say she was “unfamiliar” with while at an airport, a most unfortunate venue for this brand of misadventure. While owning and carrying a firearm is a right that must be preserved and defended to remain a free and secure society, it is also a responsibility that Americans need to have a broader understanding of when choosing to exercise it. 

The incident unfolded on Thursday morning, December 19, at a United Airlines ticket counter inside the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. Brianna Mary Hannah, of Jacksonville, was attempting to transfer the firearm, a North American Arms .22 Magnum, from her purse to a checked bag when the gun went off, according to police. 

Hannah told authorities that she had owned the firearm for approximately a year, since Christmas of 2023, and had only fired it once since her husband purchased it. She also noted that her husband loaded the gun for her and that “she was unfamiliar with the firearm and was unsure how to make it safe.”

Luckily, nobody was struck or injured by the bullet, according to police. Hannah was charged with first-degree wanton endangerment, which may complicate life moving forward and could have been easily avoided. 

Kentucky online court records show an arraignment scheduled for Jan. 23.

While we don’t know if this is her first firearm, it’s safe to assume she might have joined the ranks of first-time gun owners only recently, like many since the George Floyd riots and the COVID-19 pandemic. Do you remember when we could scarcely find ammunition on the shelves a few years back? That was because of the enormous influx of first-time gun buyers flooding gun shops and squashing not only the availability of popular handguns, rifles, and shotguns but also accompanying ammunition. 

It should go without saying, but apparently, it doesn’t, that while owning and carrying a firearm itself gives you a fighting chance, it also introduces some undesirable variables that you could fall prey to if you aren’t better prepared, such as this incident. As with any endeavor, education and training are the keys to avoiding accidents and being successful. If you are going to own a gun, especially if you are going to carry it in public, go out and get some training. With firearms, the stakes can be high, and the cost of a mistake could be far more than one is prepared to bear. Your right is undeniable, but in my opinion, so is your responsibility.