Marines conducting a live fire range call a cease fire after one of the Marines fails to follow the basic range safety rules and has a negligent discharge into the ground three feet in front of him.

Treat every weapon as if it were loaded.

Never point your weapon at anything you don't intend to shoot.

Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you're ready to fire.

Keep your weapon on safe until you intend to fire.

You can argue with me all day about the laws of weapon safety, but every live fire range on every base in the United States Marine Corps has a sign with those four rules on it. Every safety brief for every range begins with the Range Safety Officer making every Marine say these four weapon safety rules. Those four rules are also the first thing every Marine recruit learns during grass week before they qualify with their service rifle for the very first time. Yes, I realize there's a fifth unofficial rule.

Know your target and what lies beyond and in between.

Breaking those rules is an immediate violation of the UCMJ that's punished at the battalion level. It involves immediate reduction in rank, forfeiture of pay, and restriction to the barracks for at least 30 days. This Marine is about to learn the hard way why you keep your booger hook straight and of the bang button until you're ready for the round to exit your barrel.