8 year old at a gun show

[VonMessa]

The instructor should never instruct again, don't think he should be charged criminally, hopefully tort reform has not insulated him totally from some responsibility.

Dad has already paid the price, anyone who thinks he should be charged is a heartless moron.

shamus     
 

What about just wearing a sign, Shamus?

Like a scarlet letter.

Heartless = yes

Moron = no

Just think that if he had cared enough when his son was alive, he wouldn't be dead.

[evenhaim]

All a matter of perspective, I think.

Poll some Israeli's, find out how early they begin weapons training.  ( I honestly don't know, but I think it's pretty young)

You start at 16 with a week of m16 training and 1 day of range, then when you get drafted at 18.

I have personally fired the uzi and depending on what version of the uzi it is, it can have a little kick but nothing that any sensible person cant handle, the problem i suspect here was this poor child didnt know how to even hold the weapon let alone fire it safely. Blame is on the instrucer and father. I see no reason for an 8 year to even be holding a weapon, let the kid be a kid.

[Modas]

You never ate lunch with Modas have you?

hehehe, stupid forks...   

[VonMessa]

I was waiting for for you to show up   

Happy belated New Year, and I hope you had an easy Yom Kippur.

How about on a personal level.  Do any families start teaching their kids about firearms earlier than 16?

[humble]

So what would the headline be if the poor kid had been spun (which can happen also) and gunned down his dad, the "instructor" and a few folks on the firing line + the odd spectator or two. Absolutely one of the most stupid things I've ever heard about.

[evenhaim]

I was waiting for for you to show up   

Happy belated New Year, and I hope you had an easy Yom Kippur.

How about on a personal level.  Do any families start teaching their kids about firearms earlier than 16?

lol thank you, Well not really but the thing is nearly everyone serves their compulsary service bieng anywhere from 2-3 years, many people sign keva which is like additional years and time to advance rank wise and postionwise, making the army a career for many many parents, i personally grew up with both parents in the army and father was in the golany חיר brigade so we always had a  gun around, and thats how it is for the majority of the country be it your brother mother father sister whoever depending on thier job that will have a semi automatic weapon in the house. Plus we are very numb to the weapon aspect as here soldiers walk in the streets with you, ride the train with you, and eat with you, all in uniform and weapon.

[VonMessa]

That is how it was explained to me by my boss.

He was a bit freaked upon his first visit, but says he got over it.

I guess that was sort of what I was getting at.  Weapons and armed citizens are a way of life in some countries, and a culture shock to some others.  I bet you knew just how dangerous firearms (of all types) were at age 8, though.


Ever since we were granted the right to bear arms, there has been a constant flow of people who are trying to prove (mostly by their own stupidity) or take away, this right. 

[evenhaim]

That is how it was explained to me by my boss.

He was a bit freaked upon his first visit, but says he got over it.

I guess that was sort of what I was getting at.  Weapons and armed citizens are a way of life in some countries, and a culture shock to some others.  I bet you knew just how dangerous firearms (of all types) were at age 8, though.


Ever since we were granted the right to bear arms, there has been a constant flow of people who are trying to prove (mostly by their own stupidity) or take away, this right. 

your boss visit israel often?

[VonMessa]

A few times.

[Skyeho]

lol thank you, Well not really but the thing is nearly everyone serves their compulsary service bieng anywhere from 2-3 years, many people sign keva which is like additional years and time to advance rank wise and postionwise, making the army a career for many many parents, i personally grew up with both parents in the army and father was in the golany חיר brigade so we always had a  gun around, and thats how it is for the majority of the country be it your brother mother father sister whoever depending on thier job that will have a semi automatic weapon in the house. Plus we are very numb to the weapon aspect as here soldiers walk in the streets with you, ride the train with you, and eat with you, all in uniform and weapon.

I spent many years in Turkey and the sight of military with guns was very common.  Here in the states it would invoke a riot. 

[Getback]

Father should get an Honorable Mention Darwin Award.  If I were the dad I would shoot myself to assure first prize.

My Gawd where are these guys brains. This is just horrible horrible horrible!

[Iron_Cross]

My daughter had learned the four rules, and ten commandments of gun safety, by age 8.  When she was 11, I took her down to the range/gun shop and let her pick out her very own pistol (.22), and as a special treat we rented a MP-40 machine gun.  She was curious, and after about 10-12 rounds, didn't want to continue(curiosity sated).  I was on her left side, the instructor/clerk was behind her, and we were both ready to take control of the weapon, in case she was not able to control it. 

There's no such thing as an accidental shooting, only criminal negligence.

[Xasthur]

Father should get an Honorable Mention Darwin Award.  If I were the dad I would shoot myself to assure first prize.

Anax, with a post like that you'd fit right in at Flame Warriors 

[OldBull]

A weapon is a tool, nothing more, it has a specific purpose and like any tool should be respected, I would no more let my child handle a loaded weapon without proper instruction that I would let him try to operated a table saw or hay bailer without proper instruction. I was raised in a home where loaded weapons were always present, as was my son and from my earliest memories I was aware of the fact that my dads gun was NOT to be touched as was my son. This type of education didn't come from a two hour class on Saturday morning but was instilled as a way of life. I have great pity for this father, one moment of oversight has wrecked his family forever, prosecuting the father can't hurt him more than he has been hurt already nor will it bring back his son. He will live with this every minute of every day for the rest of his life.
Maj OldBull
XO Avengers

[Skyeho]

I agree, it was a dumb to allow a child to handle a loaded weapon.  Especiallty one of such caliper.  However, it was a stupid thing to do not criminal. I feel sorry for the father.  He will have to live with how a stupid mistake changed his life forever.