I was 14 years old, right out of Hunter Safety. Brent, Noel, and I were heading out to Noel's alfalfa field to hunt rabbits and I heard a "bang!" Brent fell to the ground. I saw a little spot of blood just above the right back pocket of his Levi's. No big deal, just a scratch. Turned out the bullet [22 LR] was a traveler and tore up his intestines. Brent survived, but it had an impact on me, a little kid and my first hunting trip without adult supervision and my best friend gets his guts shot up. In the USMC, there were a number of "Negligent Discharges" and some people killed or hurt, after all that training, particularly with the 45 pistol. I ALWAYS have the safety on, even if alone. I also won't tolerate anyone who points a muzzle at me or anyone who hunts with me with the safety off. Steve [ilovesprig] kindly took me turkey hunting last April and while we were walking to our stand, the first thing he asked was, "Safety on?" My response, "Yeah. Yours?" I can still see Brent on the ground, squirming around and staring blankly into space.
Baldwin was not trained properly. If any of you old farts have kids in the military, ask them what they do immediately when handed a weapon. Guaranteed their response will be to make sure that it is either loaded or unloaded and then proceed accordingly.
Interesting side note. My wife and I were in Wash DC a couple weeks ago and watched the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. When the guards met and the M14 was exchanged, the incoming guard made quite a show of verifying that the rifle SHE was receiving was unloaded.
Be safe out there.