Reckless Utah Gun Owner Gets a Big Break

Local news reports


I applaud the courts for not sending this guy to prison. That part is right and just. But the technical watering down of the definition of "reckless" is a travesty. The downgrading of his charges from felony to misdemeanor is a miscarriage of justice.

This happens in gun-friendly places like Utah. It's a disgrace.

A Juab County judge ruled there is not enough evidence to prove a Weber County man was reckless in the shooting death of his younger brother.

Please tell me how handling guns while under the influence of alcohol and forgetting there's a round in the chamber and pointing a gun at someone's head and pulling the trigger does not add up to reckless.

Reckless Turkey Hunter Incredibly Found Not Guilty

Local news reports

Richard A. Paddon Jr. was found not guilty of third-degree assault. Another charge, third-degree reckless endangerment, was dropped by County Judge Richard C. Giardino.

Paddon was indicted by a grand jury in April on charges that he accidentally shot Dale S. Gray Jr. while hunting wild turkey in an open field at 162 Hill Road in Ephratah on May 14, 2011.

Police said Paddon fired a 12-gauge shotgun and struck Gray in the back and head.

"The jury did a good job looking at the evidence,"? Horan said today. "At the end, they agreed it was an accident - it certainly was an unfortunate incident."

Hunters especially should be aware of the 4 Rules of Gun Safety.  In order to accomplish a stunt like this, at least two of the Rules had to be violated. How in the world a jury could exonerate someone for this is beyond me.

Negligence with guns is not taken seriously enough. It should not be excused by simply calling it an "accident."

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