Robert Adams used to think the gun range was a good place to teach his teenage sons about gun safety.
Now the St. Petersburg lawyer says he won't return.
Adams and his two sons were at the Shoot Straight Gun Range in Pinellas Park on Saturday when a man shot himself to death with a rented gun.
Before the incident, Adams did not know it was possible to rent a weapon for target practice.
"You don't know who's driving the car next to you," he said, "or who's shooting the gun next to you."
"To send someone back there without any training or knowledge is frankly irresponsible," Adams said.
It wasn't until Adams and his sons started to pack up about 3 p.m. that the man turned the gun on himself.
Adams and his younger son, picking up shells on the ground and facing away from the man, heard the shot. The older son saw everything.
Adams grabbed his guns and pushed his sons out the emergency exit.
Shootings with rented weapons have happened at ranges around the country. A manager reached at Shoot Straight's Apopka headquarters declined to comment for this report.
At least one other person attempted suicide at the same Pinellas Park gun range in August, Unmisig said.
In January, a 37-year-old St. Petersburg man shot himself at a Shoot Straight branch in Tampa.
In 2009, a 44-year-old woman shot her 20-year-old son and then herself at a branch in Casselberry.
Florida law does not require background checks before a person rents a gun.
"Florida law does not require background checks before a person rents a gun."
ReplyDeleteOne important item they forgot to mention was whether a background check would have made any difference in any of the cases. If none of the people were prohibited persons, they would have passed.
1. Background checks take time. You'd shut down a business like this if you required background checks for renting guns.
ReplyDelete2. Background checks aren't likely to identify someone who is feeling suicidal, but hasn't been through the court system.
Besides, we're being histrionic even worrying about the small number of gun-range suicides, right, Greg?
DeleteThe fact is with the increased attention on upgrading the mental health reporting, background checks would screen out some of the worst cases. But, for some reason, you don't want that.
Because I know your real goal. You want background checks on guns, ammunition, and gun rentals. Anything else? Your goal is to clog up the system so as to make timely purchases impossible.
DeleteIn that way, it's something like the Obamacare roll out.
Felons know exactly where to get guns. Places that don't ask questions, like a gun rental, gun show and other situations who refuse to use background checks. That's why background checks must be forced.
ReplyDelete"Felons know exactly where to get guns. Places that don't ask questions, like a gun rental, gun show and other situations who refuse to use background checks."
DeleteAnon, in order for felons to "get guns" at gun rentals they need to engage in theft. Just like someone who runs out of a gun store when being shown a gun. Also, the concern in Mike's post I believe was those who are adjudicated as mentally ill.
If there is no background checks felons can buy openly. Not sure where you get the idea they would have to steal them.
DeleteAnon,
DeleteThe article is about people who rent guns to use at their range on site. The firearms never leave the property. Therefore, leaving with the firearm would be theft. Where did you get the idea that firearms were being sold?
Anonymous, are you seriously doubting that felons would steal?
DeleteNo criminal liar, if there are no background checks a felon does not have to steal them.
DeleteOnce again, Anonymous commits libel.
DeleteWhat libel criminal, coward liar. Care to explain your criminal statements yet? It's been weeks now, coward liar.
DeleteFigures, no response from the criminal liar.
Delete