Charges possible in shooting death of boy with UZI

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Found this posted on Fox. They are possible considering charges related to the death of the boy that shot himself with the UZI.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,444510,00.html

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Authorities are considering whether criminal charges should be filed in the death of an 8-year-old boy who accidentally shot himself with an Uzi submachine gun at a gun show.

Hampden County District Attorney William Bennett said Tuesday he hasn't been able to find any law that would authorize a child to possess or fire a machine gun.

Click here for photos.

Christopher Bizilj was trying out one of the weapons at the Westfield Sportsman's Club on Sunday when he lost control, shooting himself in the head.

An instructor was watching the boy at a firing range and the youngster's father was a few feet away.

Bennett says he's looking into whether anyone committed a reckless or wanton act when they allowed the boy to fire the weapon.
 
Hampden County District Attorney William Bennett said Tuesday he hasn't been able to find any law that would authorize a child to possess or fire a machine gun.
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Is there a law that says he CAN'T under adult supervision? There probably will be now, if I know Massachussetts.
 
Laws tell you what you can't do....they don't tell you what you can do.

The DA is just trying to look good. Would they file charges against the father if the father took his son target shooting and something happened???
 
Since when are laws written to "Authorize" anything? Has the American Dream fallen so far as to require laws written for individual permissions instead of restrictions?
Good Grief! Maybe we DO need a Nanny State. :(

Poper
 
Since when are laws written to "Authorize" anything? Has the American Dream fallen so far as to require laws written for individual permissions instead of restrictions?
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I lived in Europe for 5 years and the idea that something has to be made legal is quite common there. They also belive it's a good thing to distribute the wealth....
 
If anyone should be charged, it is the range officer for allowing the boy to shoot that gun on his own. The mini uzi has a strong and fast muzzle rise. What I imagine happened is the boy pulled and held the trigger back and the muzzle rose upward and the gun rolled over pointing at his head.

This is very sad. A child lost his life because some idiot's placed that gun in his hands and said go for it.
 
Hampden County District Attorney William Bennett said Tuesday he hasn't been able to find any law that would authorize a child to possess or fire a machine gun.
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How about a law that says a child can't posses or fire a machine gun?
 
It's a tragedy, and in my opinion, the fault of the RO and the father, of course, you don't give a kid such an uncontrollable weapon and tell him to have at it without being close enough to take control of things if they get out of hand.

That said, nothing criminal occurred, 'sfar as I can see. Shame that a kid had to die because his adult supervisors didn't do what they ought to have.
 
That said, nothing criminal occurred, 'sfar as I can see.
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Just a thought, but what about a charge of criminally negligent homicide for the RO and/or father? Both failed to perceive a risk that they should have known, and that failure resulted in a death.

Since a reasonable prudent person in the RO's position likely would have known not to allow an 8-year old to handle a full auto Uzi, and this act is arguably a gross deviation from the standard of care a reasonable prudent person would have used, I could see the elements of CNH being fulfilled.

Haven't researched this...just thinking out loud.
 
I think that would be the only possible way for charges.

It's really just a shame. I imagine, the instructor and parents are having a really tough time.
 
I agree with criminal negligance. If I handed an eight year old boy a running chainsaw, told him to have fun, and then watched him lift it over his head and star running with it, and he fell and killed or maimed himself, It would be negligence on my part.

Sometimes I think it helps to look at situations objectively by taking guns out of the picture and substituting another potentially dangerous tool.
 
Hampden County District Attorney William Bennett said Tuesday he hasn't been able to find any law that would authorize a child to possess or fire a machine gun.
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More evidence that we are moving into a society wherein UNLESS ENUMERATED PROHIBITED instead of the other way around.

jeeeeeeeeez, why are we trying to charge people with this? Kids die at Amusement Parks all the time, I am not trying to make light of it, but there is an inherent degree of risk in living... I can understand the judge kicking him (dad) in the pants and fining him and ordering him into counseling (more for his own good after the affair) but I don't think jail time would help anyone.

If I handed an eight year old boy a running chainsaw
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I wonder where most of the old timers parents would be if people took that view. Kids used to do work on the farm all the time. Should we charge moms when their kids are burnt by hot stoves? Tragedy, kick the dad in the pants, fine the range, leave it alone.
 
I wonder where most of the old timers parents would be if people took that view. Kids used to do work on the farm all the time.
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On average, I'd wager they had a few less fingers and toes than most of us folks today.
 
No matter what they charge that boys father with he won't even notice or care. You can't do anymore to him than has already been done.

When I was teaching my wife to shoot I was constantly ready to control the pistol in case the muzzle flip got away from her. I cannot imagine stepping back to snap a picture...if I had and this had happened, it would be an endless loop in my head for the rest of my life. If only....
 
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Man, I took my 11y.o. grandson to an MG shoot this spring, and with every gun he fired, there was an attendant right there, almost on top of him, ready to grab the gun, just in case. One guy even leaned against his shoulder because of the recoil of the AK47.

It's funny though....the biggest of them all, the Ma Deuce, just sat there and rocked! Very easy to shoot. But I was impressed with all the safety precautions at the shoot. There were RSO's everywhere.
 
I just can't imagine the grief of the parents in this case. My guess is the father feels directly responsible.
 
If stupidity was illegal, most if not all of our latest Congress would be in jail!
The parents have lost the most precious thing they can, anything else is just Big Brother BS.
The DA is working so he can gain further Gubermint control of the masses, no other valid excuse - simply a power trip.
Oh, they will say its to prevent other deaths but if that was true we'd have to outlaw cars, stair steps in the home, kitchen knives and many, many other everyday items.
 
think thats the end of machine gun shoots at that club.
there was negligence if it was criminal thats a question for lawyers.
 
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