A man in the US accidentally shot himself in the head and died on Monday as he was trying to persuade his girlfriend that guns are safe.

The unnamed 36-year-old from Independence Township, Michigan, was demonstrating how his three handguns are safe when they are not loaded by holding them to his head and pulling the trigger, Detroit Free Press reported.

But when the third gun went off, the man was struck in the head with a bullet. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Download the new Independent Premium app Sharing the full story, not just the headlines

Authorities say three children not related to the man, aged 7,10, and 12, were in the home at the time of the shooting, but did not witness it.

The man’s girlfriend told police that he had been drinking most of the day before he died, and sheriff’s officials said alcohol appears to have been a factor in the incident, according to CBS Detroit.

An autopsy will be performed by the Oakland County Medical Examiner as an investigation into the man’s death continues.

A man in St Petersburg, Florida died in similar circumstances in January last year, when he too tried to show that guns are safe and shot himself in the head.