This incident blows my mind. (go read & come back, I'll wait)
The girl's death was fairly improbable to begin with but it would have been impossible if he had followed 4 simple rules. Also, what part of gun cleaning requires firing off a round? Have I been missing an important step all these years or is that only a step for muzzle loaders? Even if he was just plinking, how is 'up' ever a good direction to shoot? So many questions, so few good answers.
While I'm with Weer'd on the 'gun death' metric, this is probably one of the few legitimate additions. Mind you, it wouldn't be any less horrible if she & the buggy were smashed to kindling by an inattentive motorist; this just seems like a more honest entry than a thug getting shot over crack, ya know? One minute the kid's driving home from a Christmas party, next thing she's dead due to someone's inability to grasp "know your target and what's beyond it" or "what goes up, must come down and remember, trajectory arcs are a bitch". What a shame.
Now here's the kicker for the antis: not one proposed gun law would've prevented this since it was a muzzle loader. There are no magazines, shoulder thingys that go up, high capacity anythings, etc. A law wouldn't have prevented this from happening, only the use of the gray matter between the shooter's ears. Remember folks, follow the four rules - they are not like guidelines.
*Did anyone else catch that the horse must have continued going home since they followed a blood trail for close to 1/2 a mile?*
3 comments:
What I don't understand is why no charges? The shooter either made the conscience decision to fire into the air (seems to be a common way to clear a muzzle loader) or he was negligent in handling the weapon. This keeps being referred to as an "accident." It was not an accident any more than the man who shot himself in the leg and died in my home town was an accident. It's negligence anyway you look at it. As a gun owner, I am appalled at the pass this incident seems to be given.
Concur with everything you said Lady, and this is TRULY a horrific way for a young life to end. And yes, he 'should' be charged in my opinion.
Actually lived in Amish Country for a while north of there (Wooster). There's some Bad Blood between some of the "English" Locals and the Amish down there. Also talked this over with my Cop Buddy, Chris. He said, that if this had happened in his Jurisdiction, that his Chief would be all over that guy. Negligent Homicide, maybe Involuntary Manslaughter, plus some State Gun Laws violations would all be sent to the DA. It's just too fishy. The time of day, the fact that she was at a Dead Stop, no shell casings for Forensics, it all smells. But since the Amish tend to turn the other cheek, it looks like he gets away from at least an investigation into his so-called "Hunting Accident." Sad.
Well, hope you and Heath have a Merry Christmas!
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