Tragedy struck at Crosley Lake in Jennings County, Indiana, when 20-year-old Christopher Allman of North Vernon lost his life after the pickup truck he was backing down a boat ramp slipped into the water. His passenger managed to escape, but Allman went under and never resurfaced. Indiana Conservation Officers worked through the night, ultimately recovering his body just after 1 a.m. While every drowning is heartbreaking, this one hits the 2A community with a particular sting because it underscores a truth too many gun owners forget: complacency around water can destroy lives faster than any criminal threat.

Indiana’s lakes, rivers, and boat ramps see this scenario play out with depressing regularity. Trucks, boats, and trailers combined with darkness, slick ramps, and sometimes a few drinks create a perfect storm that no amount of training can instantly fix once the vehicle is floating. For armed citizens who carry daily and pride themselves on preparedness, this should serve as a sober reminder that our tools and mindset are only as effective as the environments we place ourselves in. A responsibly carried firearm does nothing at the bottom of a lake if you haven’t practiced basic water safety or thought through what you would do if your truck starts sliding backward into dark water with the windows down.

The 2A lifestyle demands we train for violent encounters, but it also requires us to respect the mundane killers that claim far more lives than active shooters. Simple habits like wearing a seatbelt, keeping windows up when launching or retrieving a boat at night, and having an exit plan matter just as much as dry-fire practice or range time. Christopher Allman’s death is a painful data point reminding every gun owner that true preparedness means mastering both the extraordinary and the ordinary. Our community loses enough friends to violence; we shouldn’t lose them to gravity, water, and a split-second lapse in judgment at the boat ramp.