Ohio & Mahoning Valley - An accident at a Valley shooting range last month left one man shot in the foot. The victim told police he believed the man that fired the gun was practicing poor gun safety. This has led 21 News to speak with local gun experts on how to keep you and others safe while handling guns and the common issues that can lead to injury and sometimes even death.

A Johns Hopkins report states more that 500 people die from unintentional firearm injuries every year. 

53-year-old Jan Mazur from Poland is facing charges after police say he shot a Howland man in the foot at an Austintown gun range back on November 27th. Mazur pleaded not guilty to a negligent assault charge after accidentally shooting the man at the Training Range on Mahoning Avenue. Police were told he was trying to clear the gun's chamber but it misfired or ricocheted and hit the victim.

"A lot of them do not know the safe ways to handle a gun," explained Jeff Murray, President of the Trumbull County Rod & Gun Club. "The only reason the gun would go off is if you had that trigger pulled."

Murray explained it's crucial to inform the shooting range of your skill levels and to never put your finger on a trigger unless you're ready to shoot.

"Especially if the person has never shot before," he added. "Safety is the #1 priority. Even though our range is outdoor, we have range officers that are trained at events we host."

Murray added being aware of your surroundings is very important. When handling a gun, he said it's best to always keep it in a pointed-down range.

"Any weapon you have, keep it pointed down range at all times," Murray said. "Because you never know when you have a hangfire or just simply if you're nervous or if somebody has never shot before that could pull the trigger accidentally."

Murray said training is the key everyone should go through to learn how to properly clean, store, fire, and handle a weapon.

"It's very imperative that you always have some training. Now with the new CCW laws, you don't have to get that training to carry a gun," Murray added. "Which I don't feel is right. I feel you should always go through training before you carry a gun."

Mazur is expected to appear in court next month. 21 News reached out to the owners of Training Range in Austintown and they declined an interview. 

Visit the Trumbull County Rod & Gun Club's website to learn more about the programs they offer.