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shush
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Arizona nine-year old in Uzi gun lesson accident

'A nine year-old girl in the US has killed her shooting instructor by accident while being shown how to use a high-powered submachine gun.'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-28948946
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-28948946
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We let them ride bicycles, skateboards, and play sports. Note that the only college sport that's never had an injury is smallbore.
A Mini Uzi or Uzi pistol with its insane rate of fire - I would agree with this. A standard Uzi at 600-700 RPM, on the other hand is not nearly so squirrely. The trick with newbies and full auto is to give them only 3-5 rounds in the mag at first. This way, if the gun climbs, it's empty before there's a problem. As this "disturbing" video clip had the "disturbing" part cut out, it's hard to say where the error was, but it looks like there wasn't much prior instruction on how to hold the thing.
"Nothing is safe from stupid." - Zee
Sad to hear this and it is another tragic accident.
Words of wisdom from Big Chief: Flush twice, it's a long way to the Mess Hall
I'd rather have my sister work in a whorehouse than own another Taurus!
I have a better idea. How about we don't let little kids shoot full auto or even semi-auto until until they become proficient with single shot or bolt action firearms. This "instructor" was a moron for even attempting this. I seriously doubt the "instructor" title. Sounds more to me like a brother, uncle, or dads friend that had no business with firearms in the first place. Pathetic.
So a 9 year old kid shooting full auto and accidently killing their "instructor" is comparable to band-aids from riding a bicycle or skateboard? Come on.
Nope he was a RSO it seems.
Yes, it seems so. What on earth was this guy thinking?
Paddle faster!!! I hear banjos.
Reason for editing: correcting my auto correct
When I was about 5 or so, Dad let me shoot his 1911, but he loaded one round in the chamber and an empty magazine. Duh. Later, as I got better able to handle the big Colt, he'd load 2-3 rounds. One step at a time.
But no, there's a difference. Skateboards and bicycles can result in injury or death, but unlike firearms, they aren't lethal weapons by design.
A lot of this idiotic stuff is badly thought out -- "Hey, let's see if the kid can handle my 12 gauge, ha ha!" And of course, even if no danger results, kids can be easily turned off firearms by a bad first experience. Much better to start with a nice little .22LR bolt rifle.
You nailed it Sam.
I didn't see anything in the video that said it was her first time shooting a gun. The article didn't say anything to that effect either.
Dad 5-31-13
Ha Ha indeed. Over half a century ago, in a galaxy far far away (NJ), on a visit to my grandparent's farm, while my Mom and Nanna were doing girl stuff, Dear Ol' Dad and I were looking over Pop-pop's gun collection and although I had only shot .22s before, I asked if I could shoot his gorgeous Parker side-by-side double. "Sure." We went outside, Pop-pop gave me a brief tutorial on how to hold and operate the shotgun and position myself, then loaded 2 rounds and handed me the gun. I was at the tender age of 8 and still a virgin. Naturally, I forgot everything he had just taught me, I pulled both triggers. After an all too brief flight, I landed on my behind, bruised, sore and laughing my head off. Been a gun freak ever since. For years and years afterward, every time Dear Ol' Dad introduced me to a new firearm, he retold me the story.
The above system is nothing new. It's just old forgotten stuff from a long time ago.
― Douglas Adams
Maybe not but I get the impression from the video that even if the girl had shot guns before, she certainly had very little experience. I'm guessing it was a "Hey, let her try it!" spur of the moment thing.
Amazingly, NBC news tonight had a very neutral coverage of the story. They showed how the instructor was apparently on the wrong side of the shooter, and showed video of kids shooting autos where the instructor was on the correct (right) side, and in one case, was carefully there, ready to prevent muzzle climb. Also how instructors have their hand on the shooter's shoulder to stabilize the kid, whereas the dead guy didn't have his hand in a place to prevent bad aiming by the kid. They also said that the NRA stated the guy wasn't an NRA certified instructor.
I about fell out of my chair, actually seeing neutral and unbiased coverage.
Great story! When I shot Dad's 1911 I was of course rocked back but not as in the movies, and like you, I loved it!
But I'm guessing that many kids sadly get turned off by the experience of shooting a big gun and that's unfortunate.
Probably the closest I've been to death - twice - has been on a bicycle. Were I parent, that inevitable milestone would scare me a lot more than early firearms training.
Is a machine gun the first thing I'd hand them? No. Were certain parties involved here suffering from some judgment call issues? Most likely. Would I be extremely selective about WHICH machine gun for the first experience? Absolutely. Do I automatically wet my pants at the notion of a supervised child learning how to PROPERLY run a full auto? Not even a dribble.
FYI, the RIGHT tool for that job - a nice, slow-RPM British STEN 9mm.
"Nothing is safe from stupid." - Zee
Very sorry for all the children hurt by this negelgence.
Lots of people in three piece suits will grow rich over this in the next ten years.
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Irrelevant. The instructor is dead. Nine year old kids just don't have the experience, strength, maturity, nor the concept of the body mechanics needed for firing a fully automatic firearm ...PERIOD. It is obvious that the kid didn't know how to properly use it. This was just plain wreckless behavior on not just the instructor's part, but the dumb a** parents as well. Kids this age normally start on BB guns and single-shot 22s & 410s in addition to extensive firearm safety classes. Now this little girl has to live with this for the rest of her life. It just ain't worth it.
When kids are around 12 and up, and only when they have demonstrated firearm safety and proficiency pehaps then.
By that I mean if they did an unsafe act they weren't allowed to shoot anymore.
A bit harsh? maybe, but it taught them that gun safety is first and foremost.
Once my ex's oldest son was going to go dove hunting with me.....He picked up the shotgun that he was going to use and headed for the door without checking if it was loaded.......He was told to put the gun away and we would try it again tomorrow. The next day....and every time since when he picked up a gun he opened the action and looked.
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