Thursday, August 30, 2012

Negligent Discharge of a Firearm and a False Police Report

Dusty Moore, 30, called police Saturday claiming that a man had entered his corn stand and demanded money. Moore told police he was later shot while the alleged robber fled on foot.

Police determined after an investigation that Moore accidentally discharged his firearm, with the bullet hitting him in the lower back. Police also concluded that the corn stand had not been robbed.

Police said Moore told them he reported the robbery to save himself the embarrassment of shooting himself. Moore was treated for his injuries and released from the hospital.

Instead of an aggravated robbery, police now are investigating the case as an accidental discharge of a firearm. Moore also could be charged with making a false report to police.
The police don't like it when you lie to them. They get so upset at it that you could even be charged for "accidental discharge of a firearm," which is rarely done.

What's your opinion? Shouldn't "accidental discharge of a firearm" be charged in every negligent discharge?  Why does it take also filing a false police report to bring it out of the moth balls?

Please leave a comment.

8 comments:

  1. This is why the experts discourage small-of-the-back holsters.

    But Mikeb, you still don't understand the difference between an unintended act and a crime. If this man hadn't lied by making up a robber--thus perhaps putting someone else in danger of being falsely arrested and put through the court system--he would have harmed no one but himself. That's not a crime.

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  2. Second try at this comment:

    Experts tell us that a small-of-the-back holster is a bad idea. That may be a contributing factor in this case.

    But what Moore did that draws the ire of law enforcement here is he made up a false report about someone trying to rob him. That could have put an innocent person in legal trouble. That's the crime here, and I hope he's punished for it.

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  3. Who's deleting comments?

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  4. The police would have been involved either way. The hospitals are required to report any shooting victim to the police, accidental self inflicted or not.

    Depending on what state, county or city, the authorities determine any charges. There is not a uniform standard.

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  5. Comment removed,,, again, still??

    Please leave a comment you ask, Mike. Then delete them? Good going.

    Either way the police would still be involved as the hospitals are required to report shotting victims, self induced accident or not.

    Depending on the state, county or city, the law enforcement decide on what charges if any.

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  6. Fourth attempt at this comment:

    From the report here, it appears that Moore was using a small-of-the-back holster. Experts discourage such things for a variety of reasons, but the chance of pulling the trigger while stowing the gun is higher than I like.

    That being said, the crime that he committed was making a false report to the police. They could have gone out in search of the supposed robber, and someone could have faced legal trouble, all because of Moore's lie. For that crime, I do hope he's punished.

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  7. Third attempt, comment removed twice.

    The police will be involved anyway. The hospitals are required to report shootings even if self infilcted accidentally.

    Charges will be depending on the laws of that state, county or city involved. There isnt a unified rule to what charges, if any, and at what level between states, county or city law enforcement investigating.

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  8. Given the details of the story, it sounds like Moore was using a small-of-the-back holster. Those are discouraged by experts for a variety of reasons, but this is one. Getting a finger on the trigger while putting the gun in that position isn't hard.

    But what Moore did wrong was make a false report to the police. What if the cops had found a "suspect" and put that person in legal trouble because of what Moore said?

    I've got you beat, Texas Colt carry. This is my fifth or sixth try at this comment.

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