Firing arms instructor killed by 9 year old

[gunmut]

I think the reason many of us come down hard on this guy is he had responsibility for the girl's safety, it could have been the girl that took one to the head; even with this outcome the girl is going to come out of it with some damage.

[TheLastDaze]

I for one cant imagine ANYONE on a PUBLIC range allowing an inexperienced 9yo shoot a full auto in any caliber, but its apparent he wasnt thinking this through.. not sure his experience or the range rules but none of it changes anything..it js what it is

[ltxi]

I think the reason many of us come down hard on this guy is he had responsibility for the girl's safety, it could have been the girl that took one to the head; even with this outcome the girl is going to come out of it with some damage.

Pretty much what I was thinkin'. With less than half a thought the potential, and now actual, outcome could have been easily foreseen. No sympathy here at all for the guy. I have no patience at all with adults who endanger innocent children, whether intentionally or through simple plain stupid. Just glad the little girl didn't get killed, hope she realizes it wasn't her fault, and is resilient enough to come out of this without long term damage.

[ltxi]

Wow
While I agree this was not smart and should never have happened I'm surprised of the responses where people don't feel bad someone died.
Just wow!

Dead people happen and natural selection deaths are in all our best interests. He's now no longer available to damage any more kids. Nothing to feel sorry about.

[muggsy]

Itxi, what were the parents of the girl thinking, or were they?

[ltxi]

Assuming they were there, as per the reported range rules, methinks they are complete morons if they knew what was coming/about the full auto. Irrespective, wth...an Uzi?

[TheLastDaze]

Complacency is dangerous, just when you think you know everything you find out just how little you know..

Many people are killed annually by ND from being to complacent, guns are no more dangerous than the people that use them, I think what we can learn from this is never be to complacent around firearms...

In fact just a little over a month ago I stopped shooting at in door ranges, last time I was there I stepped back and observed others around me, scary scene... People are to sure of themselves, even those that have been around firearms their whole life...

Shamefully I've had two ND's my whole life, can I blame the gun?? not even close, even though both were with the same gun 7yrs apart.. Me and the gun soon parted as it was obvious we didn't get along.... still my fault however no matter how I tried to blame the gun..

[knkali]

Itxi, what were the parents of the girl thinking, or were they?

not sure Muggs if this is a rhetorical question but I bet the parents were not gun people otherwise this probably would never have happened. Instead they put their trust in the "instructor" and he failed big time.
Am I sorry this happened? Heck yes, I am human(sic). BUT I am also mad as hell for reasons I cannot articulate at this juncture.

[knkali]

Complacency is dangerous, just when you think you know everything you find out just how little you know..

Many people are killed annually by ND from being to complacent, guns are no more dangerous than the people that use them, I think what we can learn from this is never be to complacent around firearms...

In fact just a little over a month ago I stopped shooting at in door ranges, last time I was there I stepped back and observed others around me, scary scene... People are to sure of themselves, even those that have been around firearms their whole life...

Shamefully I've had two ND's my whole life, can I blame the gun?? not even close, even though both were with the same gun 7yrs apart.. Me and the gun soon parted as it was obvious we didn't get along.... still my fault however no matter how I tried to blame the gun..

I have to admit I am with you regarding indoor ranges. When I do go I am in and out .

[addictedhealer]

Full auto shouldn't be handled lightly. Ridiculous, now he is dead and the girl is traumatized for life. Such a ridiculous idea, what's next? What is next let a 9 year old operate a nascar?

[TheLastDaze]

Full auto shouldn't be handled lightly. Ridiculous, now he is dead and the girl is traumatized for life. Such a ridiculous idea, what's next? What is next let a 9 year old operate a nascar?

Exactly... The rules where I shoot most USSA you can teach your own kid how to shoot but you must be parent or guardian with children 6 and up you have to be there at their side regardless if you have an instructor... My son has shot since he was 6, obviously started with a BB gun, learned fundamentals, shot .22 and at 8 had shot my Glock 26, even now at 11 with his minimal off and on experience I would never let him shoot an uzi of any caliber without me being there and you bet I'd have my hands on the weapon for control....

sad, sad situation here and I just can't wrap my mind around it.. Oh and my kids all have driven on my lap at the age of 6 as well but I'd never give them the keys to the truck...

[TheLastDaze]

OOPS... double tap

[marcinstl]

I shoot and would like the general population to see shooting as a socially acceptable sport. I'd like to see more sports tv coverage of ISSF events. even Biathlon is good PR for shooting. what the sport doesn't need is tv coverage of hillbilly duck guys or crazy wayne shooting his face off.
a gun "accident" is when a gun in a drawer goes off all by itself, (actually that's a design or maintenance error, or an "act of god" if your into voodoo, whatever).
gun "negligence" would cover the other 99.9% of finger on the trigger incidents. the little girl was holding and shooting the Uzi in full auto, it was her finger that pulled the trigger and she killed the guy. 9 yr. old girls are not legally responsible to be "negligent", so it goes to the instructor, the range and the parents. if you want to rewrite that as criminally stupid(and dead) instructor, criminally stupid range and way criminally stupid parents, be my guest.

[Ohsheepdog]

What a tragedy for all involved, & I'm amazed at the lack of empathy on this forum for the instructor's death. A momentary lack of wisdom on his part doesn't reduce the fact a fellow human, and firearm instructor, lost his life & a young lady is traumatized for life.
I've instructed numerous people, some minors, to shoot a full auto weapon, including an Uzi. However, I always hold the gun with them, especially the front grip, to control the muzzle. I also keep their finger off the trigger until I'M comfortable they're ready...
The joy of firing full auto weapons is an experience few outside the military will have, so make it as safe as possible!

[knkali]

What a tragedy for all involved, & I'm amazed at the lack of empathy on this forum for the instructor's death. A momentary lack of wisdom on his part doesn't reduce the fact a fellow human, and firearm instructor, lost his life & a young lady is traumatized for life.
I've instructed numerous people, some minors, to shoot a full auto weapon, including an Uzi. However, I always hold the gun with them, especially the front grip, to control the muzzle. I also keep their finger off the trigger until I'M comfortable they're ready...
The joy of firing full auto weapons is an experience few outside the military will have, so make it as safe as possible!

Not every joy in life has to be shared with everyone at any time. Sometimes waiting is needed. There are reasons that kids have to be a certain height before they can go on certain carnival rides. So be it with firearms. Just because they can doesn't mean they should. Perhaps you should reconsider what your minimum age limit is that you are willing to instruct children with fully auto firearms. Take this tragedy and make something positive from it. The lack of empathy that you feel here is not what it appears to be. Instead, I propose that what you are feeling here from the forum members is outrage for what just happened. After the initial anger subsides, the empathy will automatically trickle in. I know that is what is happening to me regarding this tragedy. I saw the incident on video. It was horrible. Words cannot describe how sickening it was to watch. I learned that things happen very fast. I am not sure that a well placed hand on shoulder or muzzle is adequate given the fractions of a second needed to react to prevent such a terrible thing to happen again. Furthermore, there is a bit of self interest going on here that we need to address. We have all been around long enough to know that a tragedy should never go to waste in order to take away personal liberties. We will soon have pundits and legislation being ready to be passed with minimum age limits that children can shoot or risk child protection services coming to take your kid away. Also, this is another feather in the anti-gunnners cap as to the evil of these weapons in civilian's hands. No one wanted to say this but I feel we can respectfully do so now. Finally, I see the State pressing charges on the parents. I hope this is not the case. They have paid enough for what has happened.