No Accidental Discharges
- Thread starter JWJacobVT
- Start date
- Status
coloradokevin
Member
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2008
- Messages
- 3,285
Hmmm... I have to wonder if there is more to that story, even given the limited facts they stated:
1) Involved in a disturbance
2) Picked up his gun to "calm down".
3) Fired his weapon in a reckless/unsafe manner.
FWIW, we now call these "negligent discharges" within my department. As we all know well enough already, guns don't magically fire all on their own.
In short, I'll reserve judgement on this deal for now.
1) Involved in a disturbance
2) Picked up his gun to "calm down".
3) Fired his weapon in a reckless/unsafe manner.
FWIW, we now call these "negligent discharges" within my department. As we all know well enough already, guns don't magically fire all on their own.
In short, I'll reserve judgement on this deal for now.
Likewise, I can't say it's right or wrong, but I can add some information:
I know that street, and it's a relatively dense urban area, not suburbs. Inexpensive wooden homes are side-by-side, and usually multiple tenant up/down or side-to-side. Having a rifle discharged there is a bad thing.
Most urban areas have "no-shooting" rules. That he discharged a rifle in the city limits is likely already a crime.
I know some LE in that area, and they are by NO means anti-gun (the first person I ever met who wanted to get a Barret .50 to play with was a local Sheriff's deputy, for example).
I know that street, and it's a relatively dense urban area, not suburbs. Inexpensive wooden homes are side-by-side, and usually multiple tenant up/down or side-to-side. Having a rifle discharged there is a bad thing.
Most urban areas have "no-shooting" rules. That he discharged a rifle in the city limits is likely already a crime.
I know some LE in that area, and they are by NO means anti-gun (the first person I ever met who wanted to get a Barret .50 to play with was a local Sheriff's deputy, for example).
LemmyCaution
Member
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2008
- Messages
- 897
Until the matter is investigated an adjudicated, given the fact that it was related to a domestic disturbance, I don't have a problem with the police holding the weapon.
For all anyone knows, the kid fired at his brother and missed. At best we have a negligent discharge in an urban area, in which case the kid pays a hopefully eye opening fine and gets his rifle back.
At worst, he gets attempted homicide, does some time, and never owns a gun again.
See? The laws already on the books work. No need for more.
The one thing I will say is that the county prosecutor is either woefully ignorant of his options regarding the determination of who gets a firearm and who doesn't, or he's using the case to work out an ulterior agenda in the court of public opinion. My guess is the latter, given that this is Chittenden county we're talking about.
Sad that this is the second serious ND in VT in a few months.
For all anyone knows, the kid fired at his brother and missed. At best we have a negligent discharge in an urban area, in which case the kid pays a hopefully eye opening fine and gets his rifle back.
At worst, he gets attempted homicide, does some time, and never owns a gun again.
See? The laws already on the books work. No need for more.
The one thing I will say is that the county prosecutor is either woefully ignorant of his options regarding the determination of who gets a firearm and who doesn't, or he's using the case to work out an ulterior agenda in the court of public opinion. My guess is the latter, given that this is Chittenden county we're talking about.
Sad that this is the second serious ND in VT in a few months.
ServiceSoon
Member
Will this prosecutor have the same feelings if a LEO where to make the same mistake?
coloradokevin
Member
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2008
- Messages
- 3,285
servicesoon said:
They sure would around here. Personally, I haven't seen any extra warm-n-friendly treatment towards officers in these parts as of late.
If I ever fired my weapon in the course of "cooling off" from a Domestic, I'd guarantee that I'd not only be charged, but would ALSO lose my career!
Did this kid lose his opportunity to work at Taco Bell as the result of this incident? I doubt it. Not to mention, the article really didn't explain the factors behind the gun "just going off". As educated gun owners, we all know darn well that guns don't just "go off".
actually, a gun could 'just go off' if you had a case commonly referred to as "the hand of god." or left a round sitting on black concrete, with a magnifying glass sitting on top of it, in AZ in the middle of July, and it managed to get hot enough to ignite.
Otherwise, no, a round does not just fire of its own free will.
As to the OP, unless his brother comes in and testifies that he tried to kill him or something, I cant see him being legally barred from owning firearms. Yes, he needs to learn how to properly handle them, not to mention how he managed to discharge it in the middle of cleaning (sounds like it was in the middle of cleaning, so i would assume the rifle was partially disassembled). I see it as: he needs to learn proper gun handling, but thats about it.
Otherwise, no, a round does not just fire of its own free will.
As to the OP, unless his brother comes in and testifies that he tried to kill him or something, I cant see him being legally barred from owning firearms. Yes, he needs to learn how to properly handle them, not to mention how he managed to discharge it in the middle of cleaning (sounds like it was in the middle of cleaning, so i would assume the rifle was partially disassembled). I see it as: he needs to learn proper gun handling, but thats about it.
- Status