Senseless Tragedy in MN

[06]

As a young Marine and later I drank heavily, did some drugs, and smoked lots of pot. It does diminish your reasoning, thought processes, reaction time, and most every conscious need you have. That is why it is called dope-stupid(not calling anyone here stupid). Alcohol is just a legal drug but inhibits you more than you realize. I have done some terribly stupid, foolish, and careless things "under the influence". Thanks to God alone I never killed anyone while that way for I have carried my entire life. wc

 

[jon_in_wv]

Are you seriously making a correlation between aspirin, high blood pressure meds and alcohol and weed!?!!?

We are all adults here. I think we know the difference.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I don't agree with what you wrote, but I probably agree with your sentiment. I take medication daily, for my blood pressure, I am therefore under its influence 24/7/365. I shoot regularly. I take aspirin now and then to alleviate headaches, definitely a mood altering drug, because I can be downright nasty with a real booming headache, and get calmer when I take the aspirin.

I don't recall any medical group classifying aspirin as a mood altering drug. I think you are misapplying terminology.

 

[jon_in_wv]

If a guy is driving a car and takes medication that makes him drowzy, when he falls asleep at the wheel is that an "accident" or is it negligence? If he runs over a child when he falls asleep are you saying he should have no liability? I see some very faulty logic being used here.

Also, it is the DUTY of responsible gun owners and shooters to be sober and responsible with their weapons. I find it disappointing that several posters have suggested it is OK to have a few beers while out shooting and yet I am the one who has been criticized for saying that should not be acceptable. Its THAT attitude that hurts our cause. Not mine.

 

[Sage of Seattle]

If a guy is driving a car and takes medication that makes him drowzy, when he falls asleep at the wheel is that an "accident" or is it negligence? If he runs over a child when he falls asleep are you saying he should have no liability?

It's negligence, not accident. But at least what I'm trying to say is that there shouldn't be an enhanced penalty for certain types of negligence, nothing more.

Again, in my opinion, negligence is negligence, no matter the root cause. So, a guy is awake for 36 hours straight, falls asleep and kills some pedestrian -- doesn't matter why that accident occurred; the pedestrian is still dead and the driver is still negligent.

Same thing in this case, that's how I see it. The man should be punished according to his negligence, and not according to whatever substances he did or did not ingest.

 

[jon_in_wv]

Theres a HUGE difference. Its not illegal to stay awake for 36 hours. However the following in this case WERE illegal.
1. Normally hunting intoxicated or under the influence of drugs is illiegal.
2. Driving under the influence is illegal
3. Possession of Marijuana is illegal.
4. and finally child neglect.
Why do you guys equate accidents that happen to the people in the course of LEGAL behavior with what this guy was doing? Not only was it DUMB it was illegal and clearly meets the definition of a negligent homicide. It is his fault. Its not an accident.

This guy did EVERYTHING wrong. He was being a TERRIBLE parent. This is stupidity and carelessness, not an accident.

 

[mr.trooper]

Dennis:
Just because you're lucky doesn't mean you're good - or smart. And brother, you are one lucky fellow.

Having a Beer with your onion rings at a tavern is one thing. Drinking "all night" with your friends while stumbling around the woods, wielding firearms in pursuit of a Racoon?

Thats ridiculous.

 

[Sage of Seattle]

This is stupidity and carelessness, not an accident.

Good, then. We agree completely as I've stated in every post I've made in this thread.

Its not illegal to stay awake for 36 hours. However the following in this case WERE illegal.

No, it isn't illegal to stay awake for 36 hours; it's not malum prohibitum like the others you listed. So what?

If, in fact, a person is GUILTY OF NEGLIGENCE, then in my humble opinion, it doesn't matter HOW it happened. The guy is still guilty of negligent homicide.

 

[jon_in_wv]

It would matter if those items listed are what happened in this case. What are you talking about? Are you saying the facts of this case don't matter and your hypothetical posturing does?

 

[wilson]

If he only smoked pot once in awhile, then he wouldnt have had the pipe in his truck. I bet he was smoking all the time.

 

[Flyboy]

thats bull**** that hes charged with manslaughter. It was an accident.

...which is pretty much the definition of manslaughter. Throw in the willful abdication of mental faculties (by partaking of alcohol and marijuana) and you get a highly preventable accident; some might even call it negligent homicide. The charge is a good one.

 

[Sage of Seattle]

It would matter if those items listed are what happened in this case.

No. It doesn't. Negligence is negligence.

What are you talking about?

Negligence is negligence no matter how the negligence is caused. Negligent homicide is what I believe is an appropriate charge. He did not commit premeditated murder, and the supposition that he was high or drunk doesn't matter.

Are you saying the facts of this case don't matter and your hypothetical posturing does?

My 'hypothetical posturing?' That was a rather rude, personal thing to say.

 

[OAKTOWN]

Like the other poster said, it's not uncommon for guys to drink a little while hunting. Is it stupid? Yes. But it doesn't mean that everyone who does it is a sociopath. No.

Yes it does. Like every moron who has a sixer and just has to jump behind the wheel. What these people are saying is, "I really don't care if I kill you, your dog, wife, kid or neighbor. I'm not letting a little thing like the safety of others get in the way of me getting my drink on anytime I feel like." If we could be assured that the drinking/hunting goons would only blow away themselves and their friends; I'd say, "go for it, drink up". Unfortunately we can't.

 

[quatin]

I didn't realize that so many of you guys drink and smoke while hunting.