accident next town from mine

[model 12 toby]

Last week a kid shot at a ground hog. musta been on the horizon, missed and hit a girl by sitting by the fire in the leg. guess she was 700 yards from where he was shooting. I'm pretty sure he's being charged. Heard they said he was using but they said he was using too big a caliber. wouldn't bout anything have went 700 yards? wonder what he'll be charged with?

 

[fr3db3ar]

They all would go that far with the right trajectory. I'd imagine it will be something like reckless discharge.

 

[model 12 toby]

I would think it would too. musta not been much a back stop no matter what he coulda been shooting. stuff like that is why bogus laws get passed for irresponsible shooters.

 

[5spd]

We can be thankfull she was not killed. To many shooters out there not making sure of the backstop.

 

[model 12 toby]

I agree. it's temping to shoot something sometimes but gotta know where gun will shoot. it's nice to have google map now too you can look at imagine and see what's beyond hills in case of ricochet. I quit using my magnum for ground hog hunting this year and I'm less nervous.

 

[XTR]

Skyline shots are pretty much always a no-no.

Most states have something in the hunting regs about shooting people not being allowed. At a minimum it's a very long if not permanent loss of hunting license. I'm sure some kind of recklessness charges added.

 

[model 12 toby]

it def stinks.

 

[K22]

A few years back a deer hunter, shooting at a deer, hit a pregnant woman sitting in a car. Forturnately, she was not seriously injured but it almost resulted in eliminating all centerfire rifle hunting in our area (Lehigh Valley in PA).

The hunter was arrested and eventually sued.

Every time we pull the trigger in a hunting situation we are placing our life savings and freedom on the line so all of us need to make sure we observe all the safety precautions before sending the bullet because you can't pull it back.

 

[model 12 toby]

I shoot a light load in a 6.5x47 lapua. it doesn't have much left if it gets too far from me. I think I'll keep it that way. might even switch to a lighter bullet for what I do.

 

[lpreddick]

if i am not 100% !!!!! sure that my target is a ghog, i DO NOT shoot! i have stared at many partially hidden in grass until i could definitely identify the animal, no question about it. in my part of tenn , a few years ago, a varmint hunter saw a red moving "ghog" just over the hill in a field and he shot a young boy who was lying in the field. a tragedy from which nobody ever recovers. i recall this event every time i go hunting. i also ask myself "where will my bullet go if i miss?" safety, safety, safety.

 

[Larryh128]

Guys, you can shoot 1000 yd target supersonic with about any centerfire. You don't think that they will penetrate? 1st issue is the #1 thing that we teach in hunter safety, KNOW YOUR TARGET and what's beyond. Classic error in judgement that most likely could have been eliminated. Might sound a little harsh, but we are responsible for our actions.

 

[Scotsman1]

As far as the Criminal charge goes, the DA's office will probably go with (Reckless endangerment ). However, if he's a kid/ juvenile, the DA's office will probably do nothing, dropping the charges and making a "recommendation" to the judge for a serious BUTT CHEWING and mandatory safety classes. Not to mention, loss of hunting privileges.

But, none of this will have any bearing on the civil suit the victims family will be sure to file.
Perhaps a lesson has been learned by this boy.

 

[effendude]

Guys, you can shoot 1000 yd target supersonic with about any centerfire. You don't think that they will penetrate? 1st issue is the #1 thing that we teach in hunter safety, KNOW YOUR TARGET and what's beyond. Classic error in judgement that most likely could have been eliminated. Might sound a little harsh, but we are responsible for our actions.

This cannot be stressed enough. The lowly .22 Long Rifle has a max trajectory of over 1.5 miles. A modern centerfire rifle with a bargain FMJ bullet and who knows. A buddy of mine was a Marine, (always is) and when we talk about range safety, he tells a story about live firing at night with tracers. He says the tracers went everywhere after impacting the target. Makes you think twice about shooting without a good backstop and an fragmenting bullet.

Scott

 

[pwdrbrn]

Larryh128 hits it on the head; Know your target and what's BEYOND! Besides ethics, the 4 basic rules are repeated ad nauseum to our students. You WILL see this again!

 

[Bangs OH]

In this area last year, an Amish girl was killed when a 50 cal. slug came through the roof of her buggy and into her head. The guy who was cleaning his muzzle-loader a mile away was recently charged. Last month, a 3-year-old neighbor boy pulled a loaded, cocked large-cal. handgun from the top of the TV where, according to his mom "he usually can't reach it", and shot himself in the face, killing him. Just as stupid as his parents were the people who claimed this was "an unfortunate accident" and that the parents "have suffered enough" and shouldn't be charged with a crime (preferably after being sterilized.)

 

[people]

A few years ago a person fired a shot and it almost made it to fall into a ditch. Bad timing caused a highway patrol officer to be shot in the neck. The 30 cal hunting bullet broke the side glass and hit him in the neck. The officer did make a full recovery.

 

[chino1969]

It goes without saying but bears repeating. Never fire a shot unless you have a backstop. From the time that bullet leaves the muzzle to point of impact, you own it. Whatever that bullet hits, you are responsible. I personally rest much easier knowing my misses are burrowing into dirt as opposed to open sky or the unknown.

 

[model 12 toby]

no horizon shots ever