Safety and 44 magnum penetration

[Dr T]

I just got a call from my younger daughter and I am still shaking. She is a senior at Colorado State in Fort Collins, and she and her roommate just moved into a new house for next years school year.

While she was in the house alone yesterday evening, the IDIOT fiance of the girl next door got into the fiance's family's gun safe and was playing around with a 44 magnum. He apparently cocked the gun (without checking if it was loaded) and then, when he was lowering the hammer, the hammer slipped.

The gun was loaded.

The gun fired.

The bullet went through the outside wall of the house, through the outside wall of my daughter's house into the upstairs bathroom (my daughter was in the bathroom downstairs), through the bathroom, through the shower door, through the shower, through the bathroom wall, and the spent bullet ended up on the second floor landing of the stairs.

My daughter heard a thump, but did not check what happened upstairs since she was busy unpacking.

The IDIOT then apparently said oops, put the gun away and pretended that nothing happened.

When my daughter's new landlord dropped by about an hour later, they asked "What is this hole doing in the wall, ...er, shower, ...er, outside wall.

The police were called and they tracked the trajectory of the bullet back.

The IDIOT got a ticket. I think that he deserves more than a slap on the wrist.

This is why I NEVER keep loaded guns in the house unless they are under my direct, personal control, even if they are in a safe.

And I am so, so thankful that my daughter used the downstairs bathroom.

 

[Is_That_A_Gram?]

wow that is scary. I lived in Fort Collins for 4 years, as i went to CSU too. It is a very safe town and that would have been a completely freak accident and would be the first time i have heard of a gun related death in that town in years. Dont worry too much - if stray bullets from an idiot neighbor (who probably has learned his lesson by now and wont be repeating stupid actions) is all you have to worry about, I'd say you are in good shape.

And I agree OP, that guy needs to be looking at jail time for that. That is absolutely inexcusable.

 

[amflyer]

I agree that the person that puller the gun out of the safe should have been taught better, but the owner of the safe and weapon should have known better and either supervised the kid or secured his weapons better too.

 

[Dr T]

The "kid" is in his 20's.

The owner is on vacation, and the owner's daughter is the one in town. (The IDIOT is her fiance).

 

[FirearmsEnthusiast]

I think he deserves a slap, maybe 10 of them full force right in the face. He might learn his lesson then.

 

[mothermopar]

Let's hope he learned a lesson... more importantly, I'm glad your daughter is ok... that's what matters most.

Jail won't fix stupid, but hopefully him almost harming someone might.

 

[rd2007]

I just fired a .44 Magnum for the first time yesterday and I can believe all that penetration. That is an extremely powerful round (not that anyone needed convincing I'm sure) and the fool that did that really needs a clue. The dirt behind the target was flying everywhere like it does when I fire my AK. Definitely not the round I would want to be in front of if I had to pick one.

 

[Cosmoline]

got into the fiance's family's gun safe

How does that happen? Did they leave it unlocked?

 

[huntsman]

I would think the ringing in his ears would add to the punishment and with the ticket that’s about all the penalty for stupid should be.

 

[mothermopar]

This is a case of being 'felony stupid'.

 

[Buck Snort]

Bozos abound.

 

[leadcounsel]

Glad everyone ended up okay...

I agree that it's incredibly stupid - however the jerk that runs the stoplight or weaves in and out of traffic is likely more dangerous but draws less emotional reaction. Running a traffic light frequently results in many people dead, 10s of thousands of dollars in hospital bills and in property damage, and thousands of hours peoples time spent sitting in traffic (wasted manhours), and the risk of after effects of spilled fuel on the highway, several emergency vehicles racing to the scene (EMS, Fire, Police, tow trucks, etc.).

Yes, Negligent Discharges are incredibly stupid, dangerous and they are easily prevented. But the ODDS of the trajectory of the bullet actually hitting someone are in reality slim. Sure it happens, but in the grand scheme it's unlikely.

For an uneventful red light runner, he gets a slap on the wrist - a few hundred dollars in fines and a few points on his license. Much more dangerous in the grand scheme... So I think that for an 'uneventful' negligent discharge, restitution and a small fine is appropriate.

 

[481]

Sounds to me as if the vacationing owner of the unsecured safe and firearms oughtta be subject to at least a ticket also.

Perhaps "Accessory to 'Felony Stupid' "?

...But the ODDS of the trajectory of the bullet actually hitting someone are in reality slim...

True, until some poor sucker's luck runs out and those "slim odds" catch up to them.

 

[Cel]

How the (non high road word) did he only get a ticket? Glad your daughter is ok.

 

[DWFan]

The phrase "reckless endangerment" comes to mind. Glad your daughter is ok.

 

[wmeSha]

If he got a ticket, then that isn't the only punishment. He's going to have to pay to fix a fair number of holes in walls, bathrooms, etc. in two buildings. The ticket is basically the cops certifying that it was him, which will make it easier to collect.

 

[Dr T]

I still have many questions and few answers about this incident.

The dust is still settling from this situation. Apparently the police took over an hour to sort this out. My daughter told my wife that they secured all of the weapons at her neighbor's house before leaving.

My daughter also mentioned something about a restraining order on the IDIOT to my wife, so I have some hope that justice will be served.

 

[rmfnla]

"...got into the fiance's family's gun safe ..."

How does that happen? Did they leave it unlocked?

My first thought exactly!

This is one of the antis' best arguements: "Average people are not responsible enough to be trusted with firearms."

The only way to combat this line of reasoning is to prove them wrong.

 

[Dr T]

On how he got into the gun safe:

I can think of three ways:

1. He was entrusted with the key/combination.
2. The girlfriend (owner's daughter) had the key/combination and let him open it.
3, He found the key/combination and used it.

Someone may want to re-think their prospective choice of in-laws.

 

[Dnaltrop]

with all the focus on testing, there really needs to be one national, standardized set of lessons for basic existence in the world.

example classes .

How to clear a suspect firearm without killing those around you .
Why you do not wear headphones while crossing dimly lit train tracks at night.
Screwdrivers, Not your Eye's Friend!
Hot Coffee!
Sharp!
How credit card interest and payments work.

Common sense is less common every day.

 

[TexasBill]

I am not sure how these things work in Colorado, but I am pretty sure if your daughter's landlord has any trouble collecting damages from the idiot, the neighbors are probably also on the hook for contributory negligence. I know they were out of town but the firearm should either have been secured so the idiot did not have access to it or they should have instructed the idiot to either leave it along or how to make sure it was not loaded.

I am glad your daughter is okay. Mine is getting set to move into her first off-campus apartment and I have the jitters worse than I did when she started college two years ago.

Incidentally, I wish every person who thinks something like a .44 Magnum or .50 Desert Eagle is a good HD weapon would read your description of the damage done.

 

[teumessian_fox]

If the guns were stored in a safe, how come the idiot shooter could get to them?

 

[Shadow 7D]

Once again, a single instance of stupid
among many, sorry it happened to your daughter, hope she and the neighbor (the adult not the idiot) get together, maybe go shooting. Just remember bad things happen, and unfortunately, we are guilty too of doing what the Antis do and blowing a single instance out of proportion.

Sides, I imagine that the "fiance" probably isn't too welcome any more, esp after the homeowner gets done paying for repairs, I image the landlord is going to nail them.

 

[leadcounsel]

My daughter also mentioned something about a restraining order on the IDIOT to my wife, so I have some hope that justice will be served.

Overreacting IMO...

So - let me get this straight. Many on THR have admitted to a ND or AD in their lifetime, often in residential neighborhoods and mostly only minor property damage and bruised ego. Are we ready to throw people to the wolves for a 'no blood no foul' moment of carelessness?

Or how about if you fire 3 shots at a bona-fide intruder, and one goes stray and damages your neighbors house but causes no injuries. Are we ready to be thrown or throw others to the wolves!!

It was an accident. Nobody got hurt. Ticket, talking to, pay for damages, lesson learned.

Many here, including myself, gripe about a bigger Government and police state - yet many of you here want heads to roll for a mistake that resulted in minor damages and some over-reacting frightened people. Again, do you behave the same way when you see a dangerous act on the highway? I doubt it.

Heck, there was/is a member here that was recently shot through the leg by his friend during a ND and he was completely forgiving!


What this DOES show is that gun safety should be a required course in schools.

 

[iibao]

Education works a lot better than punishment.

Yes, it was a very stupid thing to do.
But we all had made mistakes, we are only human.