Topic: Boy shoots himself with an Uzi.

[Pugnate]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/10/27/boy.shoots.himself.ap/index.html

What the fuck sort of organization thinks it is OK for a child to experience firing a violent firearm designed to be used by an adult with the strength to handle such a weapon? Would it be OK for an eight year old to drive a really fast car because it was under professional supervision?

I hope these people (and parents if involved) go to jail.

[Cobra951]

Murphy's Law.  Anyone around firearms in use is at some risk of serious injury or death, regardless of safety protocols.  (I remember on one of the two days I spent time at a firing range with my revolver, there was a nearby ricochet.)  The club was formed in 1949, and I'd be curious to know how many children have fired weapons there since, even automatic, and how many other such fatalities have happened.

This is definitely the parents' responsibility, but I don't see it as a crime.  It is a consequence that carries its own inescapable punishment.  Jail on top of the destroyed private lives would be an unconscionable injustice.

[Quemaqua]

My question there has nothing to do with children having the opportunity to practice with firearms under supervision (to me it can be just as rewarding as archery or anything similar), but... why the fuck were they letting him fire an UZI?  What the hell?  Really small arms, sure, but shouldn't it have been plainly fucking obvious that a kid isn't going to have control over a weapon like that?  Doesn't that seem just a wee bit idiotic?

[WindAndConfusion]

I've never fired a fully-automatic weapon before, but I've been on a range where someone else did. My understanding is that the first time you shoot one, you WILL lose control of the weapon.

Also, for what conceivable reason were they using live ammo? If they had used blanks, the kid might have survived with just burns and maybe one less eye.

(I remember on one of the two days I spent time at a firing range with my revolver, there was a nearby ricochet.)

Highly apropos.

[Cobra951]

Blanks wouldn't have nearly so much recoil.  No lead getting flung at high speed to cause that reaction.

I've seen a 5mm (0.20 cal) pellet ricochet too, and I mean I saw it.  The angle it came back at my face after I fired it was so close to my eye that it was plainly visible as a streak (right past my ear).

[Pugnate]

Good point. Why weren't they even using blanks?

[Xessive]

That is so F'ing retarded man.

Totally reminds me of the surprisingly accurate quote in The Onion Movie and Onion News headline: "8-Year-Old Accidentally Exercises Second-Amendment Rights"

Irony? Coincidence? Shocking reality is blending with ludicrous fiction?

[WindAndConfusion]

Blanks wouldn't have nearly so much recoil.  No lead getting flung at high speed to cause that reaction.

Well, I meant that the kid might have survived a similar incident.

But then, even using blanks, I'm not sure an eight-year-old could handle the recoil of an Uzi on full-auto.

[gpw11]

Guns don't kill people, people kill people. 

[Antares]

I've never fired a fully-automatic weapon before, but I've been on a range where someone else did. My understanding is that the first time you shoot one, you WILL lose control of the weapon.

With proper instruction there is no reason a person would lose control of a fully auto weapon on the first try.

[Ghandi]

Guns don't kill people, people kill people. 

People don't kill people, people with guns kill people.

[gpw11]

With proper instruction there is no reason a person would lose control of a fully auto weapon on the first try.

They told me that with proper instruction free will does not equal rape.  THEY WERE WRONG.

[Xessive]

They told me that with proper instruction free will does not equal rape.  THEY WERE WRONG.

It's not rape if you shout out "SURPRISE!"

[Quemaqua]

People don't kill people, people with guns kill people.

So do people with cars, drugs, knives, crowbars, hands...

[Xessive]

So do people with cars, drugs, knives, crowbars, hands...

That's vehicular manslaughter, overdose, crime of passion.. It's all 'involuntary' not premeditated MURDER. The law finds ways of reducing sentences for them.

[Quemaqua]

Killing is killing.  Besides, any of those could be used in premeditated circumstances, and a kid shooting his face off with a gun isn't premeditated murder anyway.  Case in point: people kill people.

[Xessive]

Killing is killing.  Besides, any of those could be used in premeditated circumstances, and a kid shooting his face off with a gun isn't premeditated murder anyway.  Case in point: people kill people.

Hehe I agree. People kill people, tools aren't to blame, it's just a matter of whose hands they're in.

[Pugnate]

This thread is full of labels and slogans.

[idolminds]

I've always wanted to fire a fully automatic weapon. I bet that would be fun as hell.

[Ghandi]

So do people with cars, drugs, knives, crowbars, hands...

Indeed. I'm glad we agree on this. A ban on the use of hands is long overdue.

[Quemaqua]

Yes.  I'll get the machete, and all offenders will be apprehended.  Ironically, we'll have to leave someone with hands to do the chopping.  Either that or we just duct tape the thing to his stubs.

[Antares]

and then we could feed all the extra hands to ducks.  Everyone loves ducks.

[Quemaqua]

I think we have new government policy in the makings, here.

[Xessive]

I hate to be the party pooper but what about our primate and simian friends with hand-like appendages?

[Ghandi]

Son of a bitch. I should have known - we've got a tree hugger in here. By all means - let's save the monkeys just because you think they are cute!

Sheesh...environmenatists...