Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
A Christmas Day tragedy in Oklahoma is serving as a grim reminder that every round fired carries responsibility far beyond the trigger pull.
Authorities say Sandra Phelps was killed after being struck by a bullet fired by a man practicing target shooting in his backyard, blocks away from where she was located. According to the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office, the shooting occurred Christmas afternoon.
The shooter, Cody Adams, had reportedly just received the firearm (reportedly a Glock handgun) as a Christmas gift and was conducting target practice behind his home. He is now charged with first-degree manslaughter, court records show.
Investigators say Adams later learned that someone had been shot and killed several roads away. Deputies located Phelps around 3 p.m. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
SEE ALSO: Senate Dems Push ‘No Check, No Sale’ Bill
While the investigation continues, the facts already point to a hard truth. Unsafe shooting environments can have irreversible consequences, even when there is no intent to harm.
For gun owners and shooters, this incident underscores why the four rules of firearm safety are not optional. And why they apply at all times:
- Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
- Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.
- Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target and you are ready to shoot.
- Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.
That fourth rule is often the most overlooked, especially during casual target practice. Bullets do not stop at fences, tree lines, or property boundaries. Without a proper backstop designed to safely absorb rounds, firing a gun, even on private property, can be deadly.
This wasn’t a range accident. It wasn’t a defensive shooting. It was a preventable tragedy rooted in poor judgment and unsafe conditions.
A woman lost her life on Christmas. A family was shattered. And a man now faces prison time. all because basic firearm safety was ignored.
Let this be a reminder to every shooter: there is no such thing as “just backyard practice.”
*** Buy and Sell on GunsAmerica! ***
is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
Experience:
– Licensed Bowhunter, Hunter, and Trapper – Experienced in ethical hunting and wildlife conservation.
– Concealed Carry Permit Holder (NYS & AZ) – Trained and licensed to carry in multiple states.
– 2A Journalist – Covering firearms legislation, Second Amendment issues, and gun rights for over a decade.
– Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) – Certified to provide emergency medical care in the field.
– Field-Tested Gear Reviewer – Hands-on experience with firearms, optics, and hunting tech.
How do they know that man’s 9mm bullet struck and killed that lady “blocks away”, “several roads over”? This is curious.
Its called ballistics.
Maybe having some common sense gun laws like taking a class on firearms usage and safety, and having a certification before being able to buy a gun.
He is about to get a taste of a “gun law” called prison for manslaughter. There’s your common sense gun law.
The article said the weapon was a Glock handgun and the victim was blocks away?
Does that cause anyone other than me to pause?
Pretty flat land out that way…
No, just you
Idiot.
Four years is nowhere near enough; STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES! should be twenty years don’t people know it is against most laws to NOT fire a gun within a certain distance of homes and some buildings. don’t get me wrong I have a certain care for guns and I would hate for guns to disappear, check this guy close, as it is said, BAD (Dumb) APPLES don’t fall far from the tree.
What a bozo. We’ve had firearms in this country since the very beginning, 250 years now and you’d think that people would know better.
Yeah, yeah, I know….common sense isn’t common!
Oh that’s nice well how about telling these police officers that get out there and spray bullets irresponsibly, doing magazine dumps without any regard for the targets behind them and/or peoples property!
I am very pro LEO, but this garbage I see on YouTube of magazine dumping when they should be trained the triple tap and not shoot at all if they cannot be positive of the strike!
PROVE ME WRONG!
PS Do not expect a debate on this, I know I’m right, I am a big follower of Mossad Ayoub and others like him, who says exactly the same thing!
I tell you what: to me this is a reason for getting people trained as a REQUIREMENT for gun ownership. Even if it is just classroom only where they use examples like this moron as to how you can get into serious trouble. You can’t cure stupid but at least you can try to imprint some common sense.
Training wouldn’t have prevented this! Common sense would have.
Ignorance can be educated and crazy can be medicated but there’s no cure for stupidity! And that’s what this was…. PURE UNADULTERATED STUPIDITY!
Must have been a 10mm Glock. Even then he must have shooting at a target 15’ – 20’ above his head.
Gee. Sounds like this being treated worse than good ole law abiding Alex Baldwin? But he actually aimed at someone in front.of him? Oh, I get it. OK in stead of NM.
Maybe his lawyers should bring that up?
But let’s be honest here. As much as Baldwin should have been charged and be behind bars, so should this guy.
In both cases, had just one of the 4 rules of gun safety been followed, neither would have happened.
Good point
MANY, sadly, just don’t have sense enough to have firearms.
The hyperlinked words “life on Christmas” in the article opens to a Christmas gift giving guide.
read this in a couple of places and either bad reporting or more to this. the wounds ain’t consistent with a 400yd shot they are more like a 100 yd shot at the most. only points of this seem to be a glock and a grandma holding a baby died.
Dude, learn to read the room.
dude, you’re not the boss of me……
go bother dacian or something