This is why we need to get as strict as possible with issuing gun licenses. The only way to prevent this kind of stupidity, fatal stupidity, is to prevent guys like this from having a gun in the first place. With higher standards for gun ownership, many of the ones capable of this kind of behaviour would be disqualified for various reasons.A Daytona Beach man was killed today in an apparent gun-cleaning accident, Volusia County deputies said.
According to a sheriff's spokesman, deputies were called to the home of 49-year-old Jeffrey Williams about 5:15 p.m. by his wife. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators determined that Williams had been cleaning his shotgun in the work area of a pole barn on the couple's property, when he was struck by an accidental discharge.
What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.
Something about this story doesn't add up. However, for the sake of argument we'll say it happened just as presented here. So tell, us. How do you pre-screen for this? How do you determine he was capable of this and be disqualified?
ReplyDelete"The only way to prevent this kind of stupidity, fatal stupidity, is to prevent guys like this from having a gun in the first place."
ReplyDeleteWrong. There are MANY ways to help prevent this kind of tragedy. Your blinders won't allow you to see them.
We won't ever eliminate ALL accidents, but we CAN reduce them further with better education.
Like this, for example.
...Orygunner...
"This is why we need to get as strict as possible with issuing gun licenses."
ReplyDeleteWorks so well for driver's licenses, eh? Oh wait, people with licenses still kill themselves and others and those without them still drive.
"The only way to prevent this kind of stupidity, fatal stupidity, is to prevent guys like this from having a gun in the first place."
What do you propose - having a psychic test people to see if they will become suicidal in the future?
"With higher standards for gun ownership, many of the ones capable of this kind of behaviour would be disqualified for various reasons."
Um, no. You say it, but there is no reason to believe it. The requirements for driving doesn't prevent people from drunk driving or committing suicide with their vehicle (happens fairly often for the same reasons - loved ones get the insurance and they can tell themselves it was just an accident).
You can't legislate away stupidity.
ReplyDeleteIf stupid people don't kill themselves with guns, they'll kill themselves in some other fashion.
FWM, I'm thinking this kind of stupidity goes hand in hand with one or more of my Famous 10% disqualifiers. Screening for mental health or violent misdemeanors or addictions would pick up many of these guys.
ReplyDeleteNo license is required to own a shotgun, which is as it should be. If the story did happen as it's related, it's Darwinism in action. The stupid remove themselves from the gene pool. How is this bad?
ReplyDeleteTB, If the stupid only removed themselves, I might agree with you (first I'd have to be a callous idiot, of course). The fact is, the stupid ones also remove some innocent people and kids from the gene pool. How does that work in your smart-alecky world view.
ReplyDelete@Mikeb, To keep things in perspective, gun accidents are a slim minority among all firearm-related injuries and deaths, so remember we're talking about a relatively rare event. It's even, what, about the 8th leading cause of accidental death in the US, far behind car accidents, poisoning, falls, and drowning?
ReplyDeleteThen, you've got a difference between stupid and ignorant. Ignorance can be cured with education and training, which is why I think the best approach (especially in a unique nation with as high of a gun ownership rate like the US), that we should have mandatory gun safety education in schools.
Yep, innocent people besides the stupid/ignorant get hurt and killed. What do you really think would have the best effect on accidents - educating everyone, or prohibitions and restrictions?
...Orygunner...