8 year old dies at gun fair.

[Ocin]

Yes, cars are dangerous. But they are also good for something. AND they are used all the time.

So are guns.

Guns don't keep you safe. There are a lot more safe places in the world than the US that don't allow guns. Why wouldn't that work for you?

Yes, there are places in the world which are safer then the US and yes there are places that don't allow guns and yes there are places safer in the world that don't allow guns. However: what makes you say that it is the lack of guns that makes a place safe or for that matter the presence of guns that makes it unsafe?

This remark reminds me of the way the debate about weapon legislation here in The Netherlands usually is conducted: "Research shows that when people have access to guns they..." Well, fill in, as long as it isn't positive.

But what research was that? Who has conducted it and when and where and how? Never have I received an answer on those questions.

[CJS3]

I just heard about this, and it really pisses me off. What kind of idiot parent would let their 8 yr old shoot an UZI, and what kind of half wit shooting instructor would be a party to that decision? This is what happens when you don't set standards and stick to them.

Don't get me wrong, I've had my kids and grandkids at the range with me. When they were real young,it was pellet guns. When they were the age of the poor kid in the story, they graduated to a 22. Even then they had my undivided attention, and I hovered over them like a hawk as long as they handled the weapon.

This type of irresponcibility gives all gun owners a bad name, and all gun clubs increasing liability rates. There is no SASS if you can't afford the insurance.

[twyacht]

Absolute tragedy, and very, very sad. As I wasn't there, its easy to come down hard on the instructor or the parent.  Its something the parents and those that were there, will have to deal with for the rest of their lives. Was the parent/instructor holding the UZI, holding the arms, shoulders of the child? Something went really wrong, really quickly, and is going to be fuel to the anti gun crew.

There was a video that showed an 11 year old girl handle a semi auto pistol better than some adults. Situations dictate the circumstance, and it had nothing to do with the 2nd Amend., or those evil guns. Things can happen so fast, and this was a tragic result. My son started with an old .22 with me handing him 1 round at a time, and standing literally on top of him while he fired.

As for the troll, oldeurope, if your intelligence went as far as your sign on name, you would know that it was guns that kept europe from goosestepping today, and many of those guns were carried by Americans, not once but twice, on "Old Europe's behalf".

Do us a favor, there is a bridge that misses you terribly, please go find it.

Sorry Marshal'ette. I'll go take a time out now...

[Big Frank]

I've seen videos of younger kids than that shooting machineguns without any problems. I've also seen younger kids shooting more powerful guns. I think my nephew was 5 or 6 the first time he shot my brother's .44 Magnum. I don't think the kid who died was too young to shoot an Uzi. I think he was too weak to control it. The same would apply to my mom and she's old enough to shoot anything, but she's too weak to control it. Does that mean she's too old to shoot a gun? No! Other old people still shoot.

[fullautovalmet76]

Here's the link:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/10/27/boy_8_dies_after_accidental_shooting_at_gun_club/

As an owner of several full-autos, this really hits home. The article doesn't give all the details about  where the parents were or where the safety officer was at the range when the child was shooting the subgun. Maybe Timothy can fill us in on the details

It's news like this that gives our enemies the grist they need to fuel their gun-banning urges.....

[Sponsor]

[Teresa Heilevang]

Full auto.. this is being discussed in the Cafe ....


http://www.downrange.tv/forum/index.php?topic=3784.0

[tombogan03884]

It is inappropriate for an 8 year old to be firing an Uzi. I can see a .22 rifle, or even an MG on a mount but not something that even adults have difficulty controlling, Many ranges around here will not let anyone shoot who is under 16.

[tombogan03884]

Old europe, I have a multi source message for you, it comes from Armenia, The European Jewish community, Cambodia, Rwanda,Bosnia and dozens of other places made famous by genocide. You, and those who have brain washed you into believing that guns are "BAD"  you are wrong  Secondly,You show that you are stupid, guns are inanimate objects, ie tools. Tools just are, it's the use to which they are put that decides good or bad.
I also, have used a pistol to protect my (then )Wife and infant son, so don't give ME your socialist crap.

[tombogan03884]

I just heard about this, and it really pisses me off. What kind of idiot parent would let their 8 yr old shoot an UZI, and what kind of half wit shooting instructor would be a party to that decision? This is what happens when you don't set standards and stick to them.

Don't get me wrong, I've had my kids and grandkids at the range with me. When they were real young,it was pellet guns. When they were the age of the poor kid in the story, they graduated to a 22. Even then they had my undivided attention, and I hovered over them like a hawk as long as they handled the weapon.

This type of irresponcibility gives all gun owners a bad name, and all gun clubs increasing liability rates. There is no SASS if you can't afford the insurance.

I could see if it was a MOUNTED gun, but most UNTRAINED ADULTS have problems controlling sub guns, and the short size of the Uzi simply compounds the problem.
Many ranges around here will not you shoot at all if you are under 16, I think that's a bit old but since you can't depend on the adults to act like it you have to keep the kids out till they can use a little judgment of their own.

[cooptire]

A absolute tragedy. My heart goes out to all the people who will be affected. Most especially the parents. They will never forgive themselves. Tragedy takes many forms and comes in many different ways, and it is all bad. The pain felt by loved ones never really goes away. Over time, if we are lucky, it does recede in to the back of our minds to be drug out anew when something might trigger a memory. Speaking for myself, someone who lost a brother a long time ago in a snow skiing accident, I never ever felt that skiing should be banned or that my own kids wouldn't be allowed to ski. Tragedy is just that, a tragedy. Sorry, don't know where exactly I was going with this. I feel terrible for the family and friends of this poor child.

As for oldeurope, he obviously doesn't live in Switzerland. An armed populace is what kept them free from the Nazi's.