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| -Lurid Crime Tales- |
| Boy, 8, killed in Mass. gun show accident |
| 2008-10-29 |
| SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Authorities in Massachusetts are considering whether criminal charges should be filed in the death of an 8-year-old boy who accidentally shot himself with an Uzi submachine gun at a gun show. Hampden County District Attorney William Bennett said Tuesday he hasn't been able to find any law that would authorize a child to possess or fire a machine gun. Christopher Bizilj of Ashford, Conn., was trying out one of the weapons at the Westfield Sportsman's Club on Sunday when he lost control, shooting himself in the head. An instructor was watching the boy at a firing range and the youngster's father was a few feet away. Bennett says he's looking into whether anyone committed a reckless or wanton act when they allowed the boy to fire the weapon. In an earlier story quoted here, the father had this to say: "Bizilj told the Boston Globe he was about 10 feet behind his son and reaching for his camera when the weapon fired. He said his family avoided the larger weapons, but he let his son try the Uzi because it's a small weapon with little recoil."This accident was truly a mystery to me," said Bizilj,...." It is not a mystery to me. This was a Mini-Uzi, the special lightweight model. It happened because the boy's father doesn't know the most basic facts about firearms. The lighter weapon will have more, not less, recoil than a heavier one firing the same round. For once I have to agree with the anti-gun activist who was quoted in the original article, this is not a toy, it is not for children. It is a tool for professionals and is probably dangerous even for adults who do not have the proper training or the correct information. |
| Posted by:Atomic Conspiracy |
| #13 Bottom line is that it was a tragic mistake. My deepest sympathies go to the parents and the instructor. |
| Posted by: Jolutch Mussolini7800 2008-10-29 18:38 |
| #12 "I really don't see the need for the public to have an Uzi submachine gun" Ever fired one, TB? They're fun. As for "having" one, this was supposed to be a set-up where people could try one out, not buy one. That said, somebody (besides the kid) was stupid for not having a hand on that gun all the time. I've fired one, and they're controlable, but I can easily see where an 8-year-old wouldn't have the strength - or understanding - to keep control of it. (When I fired one at the range, the instructor stood right beside me the first time to make sure I didn't lose control of it, and that was after he thoroughly discussed firing it and he debunked all the myths I'd seen in the movies. And I don't think it was because of my sex - he knew me and knew my strength. He was just being cautious.) It's a tragedy all around. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2008-10-29 14:53 |
| #11 Given the risk from the recoil factor, any automatic weapons should have been clamped. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2008-10-29 14:45 |
| #10 Slolulet, 8 is too young for an M1. Or an Uzi. I don't think it is necessarily too young for a single shot .22, properly supervised. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2008-10-29 14:12 |
| #9 FYI -- the event featured a booth where people could shoot different automatic weapons (using half loads and under professional supervision). The accident was not some kid picking up a gun that happened to be loaded, the accident was 1) the instructor not properly assisting the kid in firing the weapon, 2)the kid not properly handling the weapon, and 3) dad not saying no to his son, who'd reportedly been looking forward to this for weeks. |
| Posted by: regular joe 2008-10-29 12:36 |
| #8 I have to admit, I think 8 is way too young for a kid to be allowed to use firearms. I had to wait until my 12th birthday before I was allowed to shoot my uncle's M1. |
| Posted by: Slolulet the Imposter4064 2008-10-29 12:08 |
| #7 This was a gun show. Questions -- 1) who owned the firearm in question? 2) if it wasn't the father, why did the owner allow an eight year old to handle a loaded weapon? 3) who knew the weapon was loaded? 4) was the safety checked prior to handing the firearm to the boy? 5) was the firearm checked to see if a round was loaded prior to handing it to the boy? |
| Posted by: Steve White 2008-10-29 11:47 |
| #6 Gee dad, what was the plan after the gun show - take the boy out to the farm and have him fix an auger using a plasma torch? |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2008-10-29 11:37 |
| #5 I'm not a advocate for gun control and a firm believer in the 2nd Amendment, but I really don't see the need for the public to have an Uzi submachine gun. Mess up the deer meat, and all. |
| Posted by: Thealing Borgia 122 2008-10-29 11:33 |
| #4 An instructor was watching the boy at a firing range and the youngster's father was a few feet away. Perhaps the instructor didn't have a chance to say anything before the gun was fired. The father, however, is definitely a fool. If Mr. Bizilj knew no more about firearms than I do, why did he take his family to a gun show? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2008-10-29 11:00 |
| #3 If anyone is responsible, it's the father for sheer negligence and stupidity. He should know a little kid wouldn't have the wrist strength to handle a full auto machine-pistol. |
| Posted by: Scooter McGruder 2008-10-29 10:42 |
| #2 I was thinking the exact same thing. Has he found a law that prohibits a minor to possess or fire a machine gun? |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-10-29 08:44 |
| #1 Hampden County District Attorney William Bennett said Tuesday he hasn't been able to find any law that would authorize a child to possess or fire a machine gun. Ya got that whole concept backwards, Bill. That's not how the law works. And he's a D.A. too. Sheesh. |
| Posted by: Parabellum 2008-10-29 08:39 |