Accidental shooting at ExpoMart gun show

[Berg]

http://www.gatewaynewspapers.com/timesexpress/news/46968/

No charges from accidental shooting at ExpoMart gun show
Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Monroeville police don't plan to file any charges in relation to a shooting that took place on Saturday at a gun show at the ExpoMart.

The shooting appeared to be accidental, according to police.

They said that at about 11:25 a.m., John Hannah, a 61-year-old resident of Tipton and vendor at the show, handed a 9-mm semi-automatic handgun to John Bogesdorfer, 61, of Monroeville, a visitor at the show.

While in Bogesdorfer's hands, the gun went off and hit Walter Gladowski, 65, of Monroeville, in the shin, even though guns on display at such shows are not supposed to be loaded.

Gladowski, who was standing about 32 feet away from Bogesdorfer when the gun went off, was taken to Mercy Hospital, treated and released. His injury was not life-threatening, police said.

Monroeville police concluded the shooting was accidental because Bogesdorfer and Gladowski didn't know each other.

 

[Chipperman]

OK, tinfoil hat time.

Did an anti slip a cartridge into the gun hoping this would happen? There have been numerous reports of this at gun stores.

Reason number 1436 to always clear a gun before handing it to someone, even if you "KNOW" it's not loaded.

 

[dasmi]

While in Bogesdorfer's hands, the gun went off

Wrong. When Mr. Bogesdorfer pulled the trigger, then gun fired, doing exactly what it was meant to do.

 

[Berg]

Man Hurt In Gun Show Shooting
Shooting Victim Taken To Mercy Hospital

POSTED: 8:41 am EDT May 16, 2005
UPDATED: 9:17 am EDT May 16, 2005

MONROEVILLE, Pa. -- A shooting victim will survive, but police want to know why there were bullets in a gun that was not supposed to be loaded.

Richard Vensel said, "We just heard a noise -- a pop -- sounded like a metal chair folding. But it was an accidental discharge of a firearm."

Vensel, president of the Pennsylvania Gun Collectors Association, was in the Pittsburgh ExpoMart Saturday when a handgun held by a customer at the association's gun show fired, hitting another customer, 8 to 10 feet away, in the leg.

Vensel and Monroeville police are still trying to find out who put a shell in the 9 millimeter Russian-made pistol.

"The dealer said it wasn't loaded but that's not the fact. It was the dealer's responsibility to show that customer it was not loaded," Vensel said.

The wounded man, Walter Gladkowski, 65, of Monroeville, was treated at Mercy Hospital.

Police identified the man who held the gun as John H. Bogesdorfer, 64, of Monroeville.

Vensel said the gun vendor, John Hannah, of Blair County, voluntarily left the show after the incident.

Vensel said, "It is totally against our rules and regulations to have any loaded firearms in the hall. We do not permit that. We try to police the hall."

One customer said he was shocked by the incident.

John Waldor said, "I hope this is a lesson to all gun owners and shows to just be a little more careful."

No charges have been filed as a result of what happened. Monroeville police are investigating.

Guns shows must follow strict rules, enforced by the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

All guns must be unloaded, tied and their magazines removed. This also includes firearms of concealed permit-holders.

All ammunition must be in sealed containers.

No loaded magazines are allowed in the show.

And all federal, state and local laws must be obeyed.

 

[thatguy]

I guess it's time to review.

1: Every gun is always loaded. The only gun not loaded is the one YOU have personally cleared. If it leaves your hands it is considered loaded again.

2: Never point the muzzle at anything you don't want to shoot.

3: Finger off the trigger until you aready to shoot.

4: Make sure of your backstop. What's beyond your target?

As Jeff Cooper has noted, it usually takes violations of two rules to cause an injury. In this case, the gun wasn't treated as loaded, it was pointed directly at a human being, and the trigger was obviously pulled. I'm pretty sure the moron holding the gun didn't check the backstop, either, making him a perfect four-for-four in the violation department.

As a seller, I clear every gun I hand to a shopper. As a shopper, I clear every gun handed to me. I do this with the muzzle pointed in a safe direction and finger off the trigger. I wish I had a nickel for every time I see people handling firearms without following basic safety rules.

So far, in 35 years of gunshows, I have only seen one AD and I am surprised I haven't seen more.