QUOTE |
WESTFIELD, Mass. (AP) -- With an instructor watching, an 8-year-old boy at a gun fair aimed an Uzi at a pumpkin and pulled the trigger as his dad reached for a camera. It was his first time shooting a fully automatic machine gun, and the recoil of the weapon was too much for him. He lost control and fatally shot himself in the head. Now gun safety experts - and some gun enthusiasts at the club where the shooting happened - are wondering why such a young child was allowed to fire a weapon used in war. Local, state and federal authorities are also investigating whether everyone involved had proper licenses or if anyone committed a criminal act. Source 1 |
International Level: Activist / Political Participation: 32 3.2%
I have taken my kids out and let them fire a weapon. I always was right with them and had my hands helping them fire the weapon so they would and no one else would be in danger. To allow a 8 year old to fire a fully automatic weapon with noone right there to help him control it was potentially very dangerous not to himself but everyone else around. I believe that the father and the instructor should held accountable for what happened there. They did everything wrong in this case.
I have taken my kids, when they were younger, to family day with the National Guard. They had automatic weapons set up that the kids could shoot. But like you said - there was ALWAYS someone right there to help and to make sure they could handle it. All safety precautions were made. There is no sane reason why this child had to die.
International Level: Activist / Political Participation: 32 3.2%
I agree it was plain carelessness. My son has been to the tank range and shot different assault rifles. The Sargent was right there walking them through it holding the rifle for recoil. Not automatic weapons were allowed to be fired as they were too dangerous.
There should be charges laid especially on the people who supplied the weapon with out proper procedures in place. A real tragedy Christmas will never be the same for this family.
International Level: Senior Politician / Political Participation: 188 18.8%