Teaching Children Safe Weapon Use

MSgt Chris Adams — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 22:25:27 -0400

This article really irked me today. I am all for teaching my kids how to safely use firearms...but I would not give any of them a weapon they could not control. A nine year old has no business firing an UZI. There are adults who can't handle full-auto let alone a child. The parents and the instructor who was killed are fully at fault in this situation. http://news.msn.com/us/girl-accidentally-kills-gun-instructor-with-uzi?ocid=ansnews11

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Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 28 at 2014 1:04 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 13:04:47 -0400

I'm surprised the range also didn't have age limits in place, especially for automatic weapons.

Response by SSgt Gregory Guina made Aug 28 at 2014 3:24 PM

SSgt Gregory Guina — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 15:24:50 -0400

MSgt I saw this article yesterday and was surprised to see that a 9 year old was firing an Uzi as well. I am all about getting kids exposed to weapons and having them shoot if they are interested but I would be hesitant to give anyone much less a 9 year old a weapon that is as uncontrollable as an Uzi.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Aug 28 at 2014 3:27 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 15:27:57 -0400

No too many folks out there would support changing, altering or rewording the second amendment. Unfortunately, IMHO, passing laws or having rules about these sort of things, though they could prevent such infrequent tragedies, would ultimately infringe on somebody's second amendment rights.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Aug 28 at 2014 3:41 PM

SGT Richard H. — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 15:41:21 -0400

It's amazing that this kind of thing isn't just plain common sense to a parent. My daughter has been pretty proficient with both rifle and pistol since about the age of 13, but prior to that, I just didn't feel that she had the maturity.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 28 at 2014 3:54 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 15:54:45 -0400

I just had a family member shoot herself in the leg while she was practicing her quick draw. Everyone has been very quick to label it an accident.

Getting hit by a meteor is an accident. Shooting yourself, or in this case getting shot by a girl to whom the range official handed a fully automatic weapon, doesn't really qualify as an accident to me.

I am sorry he was killed. I'm sorry the girl did it, and is now, no doubt, traumatized. But the range should have had better policies.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 28 at 2014 5:16 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 17:16:38 -0400

I would have thought any decent RSO would have put the brakes on that scenario before it started. This is a tragedy with more than one casualty. That little girl will be traumatized for the rest of her days. And if she isn't, she will probably become a statistic.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 28 at 2014 6:44 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 18:44:16 -0400

It's dumb crap like this that gives power to anti-gun groups. On what planet does a 9yrold need to use an Uzi??? Who thought that was a good idea????

With so many people becoming "preppers" I have a feeling this will happen again. I watched an episode of Doomsday preppers and a guy was teaching his 6yrold how to shoot.

I'm all for gun safety and teaching kids how to use them, how to respect them but there has to be a line of what is age appropriate...start with a BB gun. I'm still trying to figure out why the instructor thought that was a good idea......

Response by SGT Mark Sullivan made Aug 28 at 2014 8:01 PM

SGT Mark Sullivan — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 20:01:45 -0400

Looks like the Instructor was an idiot, he should have known the weapon would ride up on full auto, what the hell was he thinking? What's sad, is this 9 year old girl, now has to deal with the death of this man, which was not her fault.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 28 at 2014 10:37 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 22:37:07 -0400

This is a failure on so many levels. First the parents are fools for taking their child to fire fully automatic weapons. They have no respect for what a weapon can do. The owners probably thought it was a cool idea to say you had a kid shoot a Uzi. I did even understand how you could think this wouldn't be a liability to the business. A lack of maturity at the very least and a lack of professionalism as an business owner. The instructor was cheering her on. I question once again. How could you think this was a good idea. What safety measures did he have in place.

Now the girl suffers the most. She killed a man and will most likely fear guns from now on.

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Aug 28 at 2014 10:41 PM

CW2 Joseph Evans — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 22:41:20 -0400

Eh, 7 billion people on the planet... Beginning to think taking all the warning labels off of stuff is a good idea....

Response by SPC Richard White made Aug 29 at 2014 3:45 AM

SPC Richard White — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 03:45:04 -0400

As far this particular incident it was against the law for said child to be firing automatic weapon.I am of the mind that children should be taught respect and proper firearm safety.I have been around firearms all of my life.I am a Life member of the NRA.There are reasons why laws are made.This is the only incident lately involving a child.There was another where a child was firing an automatic weapon and the backfire killed the child.In that case it was illegal for that child to be firing that weapon.The instructor was charged with involuntary manslaughter.Children should not be put in to these scenarios.I blame the parents and the instructors who should know better.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Aug 29 at 2014 6:28 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 06:28:36 -0400

Brought to you by:

http://youtu.be/oGNUFhoQHPI

"Air America" Excuse me is that an Uzi

Uzi scene from "Air America"

Response by PO1 Eric Corralejo made Aug 29 at 2014 12:36 PM

PO1 Eric Corralejo — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 12:36:43 -0400

I think the irresponsibility these "instructors" are putting on display is criminal. I have seen a few videos of people getting hurt by recoil. I am no expert but a 90 pound woman and a desert eagle is not sexy or funny its asking for someone to get hurt. I know a lot of Military Range Safety Officers and not a single one of them think this kind of behavior should be encouraged. Hell most of them think that there need to be laws to keep these idiots from exploiting those that are not knowledgeable enough to keep themselves safe on the range.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 29 at 2014 8:17 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 20:17:06 -0400

An Uzi? What in the world were they thinking?!

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Aug 29 at 2014 9:11 PM

Cpl Dennis F. — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 21:11:29 -0400

I completely agree with your conclusions. At least Darwin was at work here.

Response by SPC Gary Welch made Jul 28 at 2018 7:22 PM

SPC Gary Welch — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 19:22:54 -0400

This instructor was a freaking moron and the parents too. I do a lot of instructing mostly with kids and with proper instruction they can become very good marksman but an Uzi get real. And another thing when instructing specially with kids the word weapon is never used except maybe LTC classes I don't about those classes don't have that qualification yet.