{"id":227361,"date":"2025-12-29T12:01:30","date_gmt":"2025-12-29T18:01:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/?p=227361"},"modified":"2026-01-02T11:58:42","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T17:58:42","slug":"backyard-target-practice-turns-fatal-on-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/backyard-target-practice-turns-fatal-on-christmas\/","title":{"rendered":"Backyard Target Practice Turns Fatal on Christmas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p id=\"h-\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-estimated-reading-time yoast-reading-time__wrapper\"><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__icon\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-icon=\"clock\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" style=\"display:inline-block;vertical-align:-0.1em\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M12 8v4l3 3m6-3a9 9 0 11-18 0 9 9 0 0118 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__spacer\" style=\"display:inline-block;width:1em\"><\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__descriptive-text\">Estimated reading time: <\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__reading-time\">3<\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__time-unit\"> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A Christmas Day tragedy in Oklahoma is serving as a grim reminder that every round fired carries responsibility far beyond the trigger pull.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Authorities say Sandra Phelps was <a href=\"https:\/\/okcfox.com\/news\/local\/stephens-county-man-charged-with-manslaughter-after-christmas-day-shooting-cody-adams-gunshot-wound-sandra-transport-first-degree-weapon-gun-gift-present-backyard-residence-investigation\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"backyard-target-practice-turns-fatal-on-christmas\" title=\"Backyard Target Practice Turns Fatal on Christmas\">killed<\/a> 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\u2019s Office, the shooting occurred Christmas afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Oklahoma man charged with manslaughter in Christmas target shooting death\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JFJrAJcivh4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cThe defendant did then and there cause the death of Sandra Phelps by engaging in conduct with a firearm that created a situation of unreasonable risk and probability of death, or great bodily harm, to another person and demonstrated a conscious disregard for the safety of others,\u201d court documents stated per <a href=\"https:\/\/www.koco.com\/article\/oklahoma-man-charged-manslaughter-christmas-shooting-death\/69871638\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"backyard-target-practice-turns-fatal-on-christmas\" title=\"Backyard Target Practice Turns Fatal on Christmas\"><em>KOCO 5 News<\/em><\/a>. \u201cThis crime is punishable by imprisonment for not less than 4 years.\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The shooter, Cody Adams, had reportedly just received the firearm (reportedly a <a href=\"https:\/\/okcfox.com\/news\/local\/stephens-county-man-charged-with-manslaughter-after-christmas-day-shooting-cody-adams-gunshot-wound-sandra-transport-first-degree-weapon-gun-gift-present-backyard-residence-investigation\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"backyard-target-practice-turns-fatal-on-christmas\" title=\"Backyard Target Practice Turns Fatal on Christmas\">Glock <\/a>handgun) as a Christmas gift and was conducting target practice behind his home. He is now charged with first-degree manslaughter, court records show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-see-also-senate-dems-push-no-check-no-sale-bill\">SEE ALSO: <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/senate-dems-push-no-check-no-sale-bill\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"backyard-target-practice-turns-fatal-on-christmas\" title=\"Backyard Target Practice Turns Fatal on Christmas\">Senate Dems Push \u2018No Check, No Sale\u2019 Bill<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/video-harris-threatens-gun-owner-home-searches\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"backyard-target-practice-turns-fatal-on-christmas\" title=\"Backyard Target Practice Turns Fatal on Christmas\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"2259\">gun owners<\/a> and shooters, this incident underscores why the four rules of firearm safety are not optional.  And why they apply at all times:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target and you are ready to shoot.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>That fourth rule is often the most overlooked, especially during casual <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/a-new-way-to-clay-caldwell-claycopter-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"backyard-target-practice-turns-fatal-on-christmas\" title=\"Backyard Target Practice Turns Fatal on Christmas\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"2256\">target practice<\/a>. 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/hunt365-iowa-goose-hunting-private-property\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"backyard-target-practice-turns-fatal-on-christmas\" title=\"Backyard Target Practice Turns Fatal on Christmas\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"2260\">private property<\/a>, can be deadly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This wasn\u2019t a range accident. It wasn\u2019t a defensive shooting. It was a preventable tragedy rooted in poor judgment and unsafe conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A woman lost her <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/holiday-gift-guide-hunt-perfect-gift-hunter-life\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"backyard-target-practice-turns-fatal-on-christmas\" title=\"Backyard Target Practice Turns Fatal on Christmas\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"2257\">life on Christmas<\/a>. A family was shattered. And a <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/hunt365-texas-prison-time-conspiracy-to-smuggle-wild-animals\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"backyard-target-practice-turns-fatal-on-christmas\" title=\"Backyard Target Practice Turns Fatal on Christmas\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"2258\">man now faces prison time<\/a>. all because basic firearm safety was ignored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let this be a reminder to every shooter: there is no such thing as \u201cjust backyard practice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong><em>*** <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"backyard-target-practice-turns-fatal-on-christmas\" title=\"Backyard Target Practice Turns Fatal on Christmas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Buy and Sell on GunsAmerica!<\/a> ***<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Christmas Day tragedy in Oklahoma is serving as a grim reminder that every round fired carries responsibility far beyond the trigger pull.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":158,"featured_media":227364,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_specdata_upc":"","_specdata_placement":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4024],"tags":[132,607],"featured":[],"hunt365":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-227361","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"tag-buzz","9":"tag-news"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Backyard Target Practice Turns Fatal on Christmas<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"An Oklahoma woman was killed on Christmas after a man shot a gun during backyard target practice. 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