A glass display case shattered, but fortunately no one was hurt when a handgun was accidentally fired at a crowded gun show in Fond du Lac.I couldn't help but notice that the first mention of the incident was accurate: "a handgun was accidentally fired." Of course you could argue about the "accidentally" part, but I'm talking about the correct use of the "it was fired" idea.
Police say a man was showing the gun to a vendor at the Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds Expo building during the weekend when it fired. Capt. Mat Mueller says the bullet could easily have struck someone.
Mueller tells The Reporter that everyone carrying a weapon is required to have it checked at the door to make sure it doesn't contain ammunition. He says the man who fired the gun bypassed the security check.
He was cited for firing a weapon in the city.
The second mention goes back to the usual sloppy description that takes all the responsibility away from the guy who pulled the trigger and places in squarely on the gun. "when it fired."
Now, this trickery is especially humorous because the pro-gun voices are continually telling the gun control people that the gun is just a tool and we should stop focusing on it and look at the people who use or misuse it. In these cases though, they love to take the focus off the shooter and put it right on the gun, "it fired."
But the best thing is the final line:
You don't need to know anything about Wisconsin law to know that we're talking about a slap on the wrist misdemeanor, which might be bargained down from there. And this upstanding citizen who fired a gun in a crowded room will continue to do his thing.He was cited for firing a weapon in the city.
What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.
"You don't need to know anything about Wisconsin law to know that we're talking about a slap on the wrist misdemeanor, which might be bargained down from there. And this upstanding citizen who fired a gun in a crowded room will continue to do his thing."
ReplyDeleteI guess you would rather they took him outside and shot him?
Here's the part that got me:
ReplyDeleteMueller tells The Reporter that everyone carrying a weapon is required to have it checked at the door to make sure it doesn't contain ammunition. He says the man who fired the gun bypassed the security check.
Why would he bypass the security check? These gun nutz tend to think they are above the law, they are their OWN law. By God they're armed and don't need no stinkin' gummint telling them what to do!
Uh, Beale, that "security checkpoint" that he bypassed was self imposed by the gun nuts. Created by gun nuts for the safety of gun nuts.
ReplyDeleteThere is no law that says there must be a security checkpoint at a gun show. Your "above-the-law rant is, well, pointless.
Uh, Beale, that "security checkpoint" that he bypassed was self imposed by the gun nuts. Created by gun nuts for the safety of gun nuts.
ReplyDeleteApparently that little fact was too complex for SoBeale to understand.
I wonder if the man who bypassed the security check is a retired "Only One".
ReplyDeleteMikeB: “The second mention goes back to the usual sloppy description that takes all the responsibility away from the guy who pulled the trigger and places in squarely on the gun. "when it fired."
ReplyDeleteWell, police did cite the person instead of citing the weapon. I really don’t understand why you keep getting hung up on these types of reports. We have been over this many times, (about reporter’s not assuming culpability in ANY case), yet still this one is pretty clear that the guy is in trouble (yet not declaring him guilty). Still you fixate on one line…
MikeB: “Now, this trickery is especially humorous because the pro-gun voices are continually telling the gun control people that the gun is just a tool and we should stop focusing on it and look at the people who use or misuse it. In these cases though, they love to take the focus off the shooter and put it right on the gun, "it fired."
Since when is the Chicago Tribune a “pro-gun voice”? Come on, Mike.
You're absolutely right, TS, the Chicago Trib is not a pro-gun voice, but the idea expressed is. You think I'm hung up on it, well, maybe I am. When the passive voice is used and the result is the very thing you guys always criticize us about, namely focusing on the gun instead of the man, in fact in these cases you're anthropomorphizing the gun, I call you on it.
ReplyDeleteCall the Trib on it then.
ReplyDelete