Words from the web
The accidental shooting death of a firing-range instructor in Arizona by a 9-year-old girl with an Uzi has set off a debate over youngsters and guns, with many people wondering what sort of parents would let a child handle a submachine gun. Some states such as Connecticut enacted a law banning anyone under 16 from handling machine guns at shooting ranges. Should other states enact similar laws, or should this decision be left up to parents and gun instructors?
“Irresponsibility on the range and the instructor. However, as an instructor, I firmly believe in safe, responsible firearms safety training for adults and children.”
“We’re responsible gun owners. I believe that kids can and should be taught gun safety, but a nine-year-old child with an Uzi? Stupid range owners, stupid instructor. There is now a dead man and a child scarred for life. Completely unnecessary, and incredibly sad.”
“Why in the heck would a 9-year-old be shooting a machine gun? You’re not allowed to drive a car at that age.”
“Chances are the ‘instructor’ was a range employee with little or no experience.”
“Emphatically NO!. Twelve is the age kids can hunt here in my state, and I would say 16 is more than right for this type of weapon! Irresponsibility on the part of the parents and the range equals the needless death of an instructor.”
“Wow, it almost seems like common sense firearms regulations are being proposed here. Nah, couldn’t be.”
“I thought that people had automatic weapons so that they could defend themselves from criminals and the government? Shouldn’t 9-year-olds have that right, too?”
“Why the need for an Uzi at all? If you need that kind of firepower at any age, you’re probably not a good enough shot to use any weapon.”
“What is she learning to shoot an Uzi for?”
“The “instructor” should have known better. He paid for his stupidity with his life. The reality is that no amount of legislation will prevent stupid people from hurting themselves and others.”
“People talk about ‘common sense’ gun legislation, but it won’t do much good, because the people who will obey the law would have done so anyway, and the idiots will just ignore it and get hurt.”