On August 19, 2024, a negligent discharge of a firearm at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, New Mexico, resulted in an injury to David Kelner, a 65-year-old employee and Executive Director of the NRA Whittington Center.
The incident occurred while Mr. Kelner was inspecting a shipment of donated firearms in his office. During the inspection, Kelner accidentally hit the magazine release on one of the pistols, causing it to fall and strike a .22 caliber Walther pistol on his desk. The impact discharged the Walther, sending a round through Kelner’s left hand before lodging in a wall.
Officer Harrison Benway of the New Mexico State Police responded to the call after Kelner was taken to Miner’s Colfax Medical Center for treatment. Kelner, who was alone in his office during the incident, explained that the magazine’s fall had caused the discharge. No other injuries were reported.
On August 23, 2024, Officer Benway conducted a follow-up interview at the NRA Whittington Center. Kelner reiterated the sequence of events and noted that the Walther had not yet been inspected for safety. An employee named Ashley had driven Kelner to the hospital.
The NRA issued a statement acknowledging the negligent discharge incident and emphasized its ongoing commitment to firearm safety.
“As the nation’s premier firearm safety and training organization, we were concerned to learn about an accidental discharge at the NRA Whittington Center. Any accident with a firearm is regrettable, but thanks to the NRA’s well-respected Gun Safety Rules, accidental injuries with firearms have been on the decline since records of such have been kept. NRA is conducting an internal investigation of the circumstances to determine what lessons should be learned and applied. While detailed personnel and medical information cannot and will not be disclosed, the individual involved is doing well.” ~ NRA Public Affairs.
They announced an internal investigation to understand how the negligent discharge occurred and to prevent similar events in the future.
While gun accidents are extremely rare at the Whittington Center, this incident serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and following all safety protocols when handling firearms. After receiving surgery, Kelner is expected to recover, and further details regarding the NRA’s investigation will be released in due time.
For now, the case remains open as investigators review the circumstances surrounding the accident.
David Kelner NRA Whittington Center Accidental Discharge NM State Police Report
Why is there a loaded weapon in an administrative area?
Whose Walther was on the desk? Was it this gentleman’s? If so, why wasn’t it holstered or secured if he was involved in another task? This is like cleaning a firearm with ammo in the cleaning area; an accident waiting to happen and not what I expect of the leading gun safety organization.
Cases of accidental discharges (“also called “negligent discharges”) are unfortunately legion. The worst case I’ve heard of a person who, “should have known better”, involved a higher-up NYPD inspector, in Brooklyn, who attempting to clean his Glock-17, at home, failed to remove the magazine first. Instead, racking the slide, then removing the mag. As readers here most likely know, he placed a round into the chamber. The outcome was catastrophic (no need to go into details). They did need to break his door down to find him.
Is this the information that all the bru ha ha is about with Nick? Big deal. Like no cop has ever shot themselves in the leg while telling the school kids at a demonstration that they are the only ones qualified in the room to have a gun or maybe a cop might have shot himself in the hand when looking at a gun he wanted to buy in a pawn shop. IMO for the conditions to be right for this to happen is amazing. That pistol on the desk must have had a hare trigger. LOL What’s the big… Read more »
NEGLEGENT discharge at …, not accidental. don’t you think that before kelper began checking the serial numbers of the firearms that he would have ensured the firearms were unloaded and made safe? maybe i’m just being too safe, as i haven’t ever shot myself in the hand.
I hope Kelner is ok and has a speedy and complete recovery.