Gun Show Death Verdict

[BigFish]

Ross....another reason he should have had his thinking cap on. How about charging the Father with "Child Endangerment"???? He signed a liability waver??? Common sense tells me that nobody under 16 should even be allowed to handle a firearm unless it is under the direct supervision of a relation.....parent, Uncle, Grandfather. Then the responsibilty is all theirs. As far as a weapon of that magnitude.....there is no need of them in any capacity being held by private owners in my opinion!

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by BigFish

Common sense tells me that nobody under 16 should even be allowed to handle a firearm unless it is under the direct supervision of a relation.....parent, Uncle, Grandfather. Then the responsibilty is all theirs. As far as a weapon of that magnitude.....there is no need of them in any capacity being held by private owners in my opinion!

I think that may put a damper on Summer camp programs across the nation. Nothing wrong w/ a kid using a firearm under proper supervision...regardless if it’s a relative or not. There we countless violations of common sense in this story, by Everybody involved, but I don't think people need to go to the extreme.

Boy Scouts of America does a lot of work w/ Firearms and Firearm safety. In Cub Scouts, which are boys ages 6-11, they are allowed to use Pellet rifles. Doesn't mean we send them out to shoot cans all day. We teach them proper safety procedures, from entering the range to asking for assisance and more importantly, listening to the Range Instructor.

When they go into Boy Scouts, Which are boys ages 11-18, they are allowed to use 22 caliber rifles and Shotguns.....again under specific guidelines and adhering to the rules of the range. They also offer Merit Badges in Rifle Shooting and Shotgun Shooting which focus on safety as well as the ability to use the firearm, actually hitting what you are aiming at.

If the Scout decides to Go into Venturing, Boys and Girls ages 14-21, they may use Pistols. Always supervised by BSA certified instructors.

Last year we partnered with the Rod and Gun club in Georgetown and most of the kids in our troop got there Rifle Merit Badge....this year we are looking to do the same for the Shot Gun Merit Badge.

I had this argument with my wife, who is one of them paranoid anti-gun types, and told her that if my son ever comes across a gun that I would prefer he knows exactly what to do with it than have no clue what to do with it and just fumbles around with it. She couldn't argue that logic

I think lack of common sense is far more dangerous than fire-arms.......there is something they should have laws against.

[nightfighter]

While all weapons discussed above can inflict deadly force, we've got apples and oranges. The weapon in the accident was a micro uzi. This weapon is more inclined to "climb" when in fully automatic mode. An eight YO with the short stock, not in "firing position", could easily have lost control and had his finger freeze on the trigger, IMO. Tests showing the climb or spray from increasing distances magnify the effect of recoil with such a weapon fired in extended automatic mode. The weapon was designed for close action, such as clearing bunkers, in the hands of "elite" forces.... A totally different animal from a single shot .22 on a range with the BSA....

[BigFish]

Kevin this is an age of irresponsibility and litigation! Every little thing that happens and its someone elses fault and there is a lawsuit and life as we know it changes going forward because nobody wants to get sued. Wait until there is a Boyscout incident (God forbid) and the Scouts will be forced to change their rules, policies and beliefs because someone was irresponsible and could not simply own it! I agree with everything you say about the Scouts and that type of experience has great value in teaching young children to be responsible in so many ways.