Minnesota Teen Survives Shooting in ND

Inforum reports on the unintentional shooting of Payton Rufsvold.

According to the Traill County Sheriff’s Office, Payton was shot by a 16-year-old boy from Grandin who thought the shotgun wasn’t loaded. Sheriff Mike Crocker said Friday the shotgun round passed through a soda bottle Payton was holding, which Crocker said may have saved the boy’s life.

Payton had part of his small intestine removed, and a skin grafting surgery is planned to repair two injured fingers on his left hand, the journal states.

Crocker said the shooting appeared to be an accident.

The alleged shooter was taken to juvenile detention in Fargo and is expected to face charges of felony reckless endangerment and minor in consumption.

I'm not sure what that last bit means, "minor in consumption." Maybe the shooter was drinking even though young Payton was holding a soft drink when he was shot. In any case, what's the deal here about responsibility for the gun? Are teenage boys considered old enough to own and use shotguns as if they were adults? Or is adult supervision supposed to be in place in a case like this? Wouldn't the owner of the home where the incident took place have to answer for this?

What do you think? Please leave a comment.