The gun didn't just "go off" (Idaho paper gets it right)

[Idaho]

For those of you who are grammar police (you know who you are):

http://www.idahostatesman.com/News/story.asp?ID=38574

From the Idaho Statesman:

Caldwell man, 24, shoots self in leg


A 24-year-old Caldwell man accidentally shot himself in the leg Saturday night, Caldwell police reported.
Christopher Jordan was parked on the 1500 block of La Cresta Avenue at about 8 p.m. He was unloading a Ruger .45-caliber handgun and shot himself in the upper left leg, police said.

Jordan was listed in serious condition Sunday at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise.

Edition Date: 04-28-2003

(Yeah, ok, some of you will still be unhappy because they said "accidentally" instead of "negligently" )

 

[zahc]

yeah, negligently would've been better. But it is very refreshing anyway. Nice

 

[Matthew Courtney]

Negligently shot himself on a Saturday night. Isn't that special.

 

[Frohickey]

A 24-year-old Caldwell man accidentally shot himself in the leg Saturday night, Caldwell police reported.
Christopher Jordan was parked on the 1500 block of La Cresta Avenue at about 8 p.m. He was unloading a Ruger .45-caliber handgun and shot himself in the upper left leg, police said.

Jordan was listed in serious condition Sunday at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise.

This is the version I would have wrote... thats probably why I'm not a journalist.

A 24-year-old Caldwell adult with poor gun handling skills shot himself in the leg Saturday night, Caldwell police reported. The police responded 20 minutes after the incident was reported, and we on scene for approximately 2 hours. This incident end up costing the taxpayers $2000 in associated police salaries, fuel costs, and other support personnel salaries and equipment. Christopher Jordan was parked on the 1500 block of La Cresta Avenue at about 8 p.m. Mr Jordan claims to have been visiting the neighborhood, even though no one in the neighborhood claims to know Mr. Jordan. He was unloading a Ruger .45-caliber handgun and shot himself in the upper left leg, police said.

Jordan was listed in serious condition Sunday at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise. His hospital bill is expected to be between $50,000 and $100,000. Mr Jordan does not have medical insurance, and his health care bills will be passed on to taxpayers as well.

 

[Shweboner]

Why was he sitting in his car unloading a gun?

 

[Standing Wolf]

Why was he sitting in his car unloading a gun?

Because he's dumb.

 

[Ladybug]

I posted on TFL last year wondering how it is that people always end up shooting themselves while "cleaning" their guns... I mean, at least when I clean my gun, there's no part of the process where I am pulling the trigger of my loaded, fully-assembled weapon. Some kid here did the same thing last year and ended up bleeding to death before the medics arived - it was reported that his "gun went off while he was cleaning it." Sheesh! The same thing goes for unloading a gun - don't really see where in the process you would be pointing the barrel at your leg and pulling the trigger.

 

[Idaho]

I like Standing Wolf's answer.

 

[gudel]

how do you shoot yourself when you are unloading the gun (ie releasing the magazine, pull the slide back to eject chambered cartridge?)

 

[Pendragon]

My best guess is that the "it went off (/while cleaning)" line is what they - either the authorities or the family put out there when:

1. the person is dumb
2. the person may have comitted suicide
3. there are some other embarassing details

Sure maybe the departed is a dummy, but that does not mean his family wants everyone to know they come from dummy stock.

 

[PATH]

Well, I guess that the story shows that there truly are recessive genes in the gene pool!

 

[Sleeping Dog]

It's right there in the Ruger manual:

The first step to cleaning is to unload the weapon. Point it at your leg and pull the trigger. If all you hear is "click", it's unloaded. Proceed to step 2.

I wonder if some ambulance-chaser is dreaming up a lawsuit against Ruger for making a gun capable of producing self-inflicted wounds.

It's probably some kind of prejudice, but I was surprised this happened in Idaho. I guess morons are everywhere!

Regards.

 

[mini14jac]

I posted on TFL last year wondering how it is that people always end up shooting themselves while "cleaning" their guns

Ladybug,
With many guns, i.e. Glock and Kahr, pulling the trigger is the last step before removing the slide.
Unfortunately, many people miss the part about unloading the weapon first.
(This has happened to several LEO, thus the rumor that Glocks are unsafe.)

Negligently shot himself on a Saturday night. Isn't that special.

Matthew,
Shame on you!

Anyway, I would call or email the reporter and compliment them on getting it right.

 

[Weimadog]

Matthew Courtney: Negligently shot himself on a Saturday night. Isn't that special.

The police report indicates the weapon has a barrel that's "blue and cold."

Weimadog

 

[Al Norris]

It's probably some kind of prejudice, but I was surprised this happened in Idaho. I guess morons are everywhere!

Then we have things like this:

Charges mulled in 7-Eleven shooting

Ada County prosecutors will determine whether any charges will be filed in connection with a fight that left one man dead and another critically injured outside a Boise convenience store early Sunday.

Police say Michael Manca, 32, of Boise apparently acted in self-defense when he shot and killed Jack Jordan, 33, of Florida at the 7-Eleven at Curtis and Overland roads at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday.

Lyle Myrick, 32, of Boise was shot in the neck. He is in critical condition Monday at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center.

Police said Jordan and Myrick earlier had argued with Manca and his friends over a woman at Charlie Brown´s, a bar behind the 7-Eleven.

Police said Manca and his friends later went to the 7-Eleven to buy cigarettes. Jordan and Myrick pulled up in a pickup and started fighting with Manca´s friends.

Jordan threatened Manca with a knife, police said. Manca pulled his handgun and fired three or four times.

No charges have been filed against Manca. He had applied for, but had not yet received, a concealed weapon permit from Ada County, Boise police spokesman Rich Wright said.

Myrick may face aggravated assault charges, police said.

An earlier report stated that Manca was released at the scene. He was initially apprehended by a rentacop that had stopped for a soda and noticed that the parking lot was littered....with bodies.

Oh, the rentacop was commended by the Boise PD.