Lawful West Virginia Gun Owner Shoots Neighbor in the Head - It Was the Gun's Fault

Local news reports

A 15-year-old Pleasants County girl was sent to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown Wednesday afternoon with a head wound after what is being deemed an accidental shooting, officials said.

The 15-year-old, whose name has not been provided, was rushed by Healthnet helicopter to Ruby Memorial Hospital after being shot in the head during the accident, said 1st Sgt. B. Snodgrass with the West Virginia State Police.

At approximately 4 p.m., Robbie Knight, 36, of Cloverdale Estates Road accidentally discharged his .40-caliber handgun inside his mobile home, said Snodgrass.

The incident took place at the Cloverdale Estates mobile home park, 5.2 miles southeast of St. Marys.

Knight was preparing to clean his handgun inside his mobile home when it accidentally discharged, Snodgrass said.

The bullet went through the wall of Knight's mobile home without injuring anyone. It traveled the distance between mobile homes, penetrated the wall of the neighbor's mobile home, and struck the 15-year-old in the head while she was watching television in the living room, Snodgrass said.

Lawful West Virginia Gun Owner Kills Two

West Virginia 10-Year-old Dead - No One Responsible

Local news reports

A 10-year-old girl was shot and killed Sunday in Kanawha County in what police say was an accidental shooting involving another child.

A 911 call was made around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, reporting that the girl was accidentally shot while she and a 9-year-old boy were "target practicing" with a shotgun in Quick, according to dispatchers.

While further details of the case have not been released, Sheriff's Department Cpl. Brian Humphreys said generally in cases like these involving minors, negligence of the parents must be investigated.

The preliminary investigation points to an accidental shooting, Humphreys said, and neglect is typically harder to prove in cases involving a 10-year-old as compared to a toddler.

"At this age, it's pretty much impossible to watch their every move ... they are not inherently careless at this age," Humphreys said. "We're not blaming the parents, but we do urge everyone to make sure that your firearms are secure.

"Store them in a box that only you know the combination to," he said. "They were so young. ... Everyone has learned a hard lesson in safety."

Gun-rights fanatics are perfectly OK with the sheriff's reaction to this.  Neglect is hard to prove when the kids are 1o years old, says the idiotic hillbilly.  How in the world can allowing kids who are 9 and 10 access to a shotgun NOT be neglect?

He goes on to offer advice.

The family of that little girl should make such a stink that the sheriff loses his job and the responsible parents of the young shooter end up in jail.  But that won't happen, for one reason, because they're probably as guilty as everyone else in accepting these totally avoidable and negligent situations as simple accidents.

Our own commenters support this. It's pathetic and despicable.

West Virginia Grandma Charged with Involuntary Manslaughter in the Shooting Death of her Grandson

Local news reports further to our earlier post

A 57-year-old Salem woman was indicted Wednesday in the death of her 11-year-old grandson.

Tina D. Owens was charged with involuntary manslaughter in one of several indictments handed up to Harrison Circuit Judge John Lewis Marks Jr.

Owens thought she heard potential intruders outside her house, and fired a .40-caliber handgun three times during the nighttime hours, Harrison Prosecutor Joe Shaffer said.

Harrison Sheriff’s Lt. P.B. McCarty, who investigated, believes one of those bullets traveled about 200 yards toward her son’s home, through the press board shell and a section of drywall, and struck the boy in his upper body.

The bullet struck vital organs and arteries, resulting in the child’s death, Shaffer said.

The case was presented to the grand jury first rather than law enforcement filing a charge initially in magistrate court.

Because of that, bond will be addressed for the first time during the arraignment of Owens next week. Shaffer anticipates his office will seek a personal recognizance bond.

West Virginia Woman - Lawful Gun Owner - Shoots Dad Goes to Jail

 Local news reports

A Huntington, W.Va., woman accused of shooting and wounding her father during an altercation late last month was arraigned in the Common Pleas Court of Gallia County on Friday.

Sophia N. Chattin, 28, pleaded not guilty to a second-degree-felony felonious assault charge during a hearing on Friday before Common Pleas Judge D. Dean Evans.

When he arrived, the victim reported that both his wife and daughter were at the Prospect Church Road residence, and, after an argument ensued, he was allegedly attacked by Waneta Myers with a baseball bat and he was subsequently allegedly attacked by Chattin with a golf club.

The victim further reported that he was shocked with a taser before Chattin produced a gun and threatened to “blow his head off.”

Reportedly, after Waneta Myers told her daughter not to shoot Carl Myers, Chattin allegedly lowered her aim and shot her father in the hip with her .38 caliber pistol.

After their arrival, deputies secured the suspects, as well as the firearm which reportedly contained five live rounds and one spent round.

West Virginia 8th Grader Arrested for Gun T-Shirt

WOWK 13 Charleston, Huntington WV News, Weather, Sports

That kid's in the 8th grade? I wonder how many grades he's repeated in his young academic career.

He and his gun-nut daddy didn't think it would go this far.  I guess they didn't get the Ghandi memo about non-violent resistance.  You have to be prepared to take your lumps.  That is, after all, what you were asking for.

I do think having the kid arrested was a bit over the top.

What's your opinion?  Please leave a comment.

Making Gun Theft Easy West Virginia Style.

Local news reports

Theft of five firearms from vehicles in southwest Keyser in an area known as “The Hill” remains under investigation by the Keyser Police Department.

Three incidents were reported Saturday, including theft of a Remington .270 caliber rifle and a Remington  .223 caliber rifle from an unlocked vehicle in the 500 block of Baltimore Street; theft of $648 worth of assorted items from an unlocked vehicle in the 500 block of Richmond Street; and theft of two wallets from a vehicle in the 400 block of Ridge Street.

Keyser Police also investigated theft of three firearms from a locked vehicle at the rear of an apartment building on Carskadon Road. Valued at $1,600, the stolen firearms included a Remington .270 caliber rifle, a Savage .22 caliber rifle and a Ruger .22 caliber Magnum rifle. Hunting equipment was also taken.

“We urge residents to keep their vehicles locked to help deter this type of crime,” said a Keyser Police official.

It is my contention that leaving a gun in the car is wrong and should be illegal. Leaving the car unlocked is just further evidence of that irresponsibility.

I'm not saying the thieves are not wrong.  They are responsible for what they do.  But the gun owner who fails to properly store his firearms in a safe manner is guilty of that and should be held accountable.

What's your opinion?  Please leave a comment.

Accidental Shooting of West Virginia Man by Himself - He's Dead

Local news reports

David J. Holiday Jr., 53, was pronounced dead after the incident that investigators are describing as a tragic accident.

Sgt. Seth Place of the Morgan County Sheriff's Department said that Morgan County 911 received the call reporting the accidental shooting at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday night.

The accident occurred at Holiday's residence, located on Amoretta Lane off Highland Ridge Road in Morgan County. Place said it is believed that Holiday, described as a gun enthusiast, had invited some friends over to his residence for the purpose of either selling or giving away some firearms.

Place said it is believed the friends arrived sometime between 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday. While Holiday was showing the pistols to his friends, witnesses told police that he stated he always keeps the firearms in his house unloaded.

According to Place, a witness said at one point Holiday picked up one of the pistols and raised it just above his head.

At that point the gun, which Holiday believed to be unloaded, discharged and he suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

He was a military veteran, a gun enthusiast and still he shot himself in the head unintentionally.If someone who knew what he was doing around guns could do something so stupid, imagine all the less experienced gun owners out there.

Guns are dangerous.  Gun owners, as a whole, are not as safe as the gun-rights crowd keep saying they are.

What do you think?  Please leave a comment.

2 Dead, 3 Wounded in West Virginia Shootout

 Local news reports

Two West Virginia State Police troopers were involved in a deadly shootout Tuesday night.

The West Virginia State Police confirms that two troopers were involved in a shootout that killed one trooper, left another in critical condition, and left the shooter dead. A Roane County deputy and a tow trucker driver were also injured by gunfire.

The troopers stopped the suspect, whose name has not been released, at the Wallback park-and-ride on Interstate 79 in Clay County. When they approached the vehicle, the suspect started shooting, injuring one trooper and a tow truck driver and killing the other trooper.

A Roane County deputy tracked the suspect to a nearby barn, killing the suspect and taking a shot to the arm. The deputy's name has not been released.

Does this count as a mass shooting? It probably does, but since it didn't happen in a school, most lists of "mass shootings" will not include it.

One thing it has in common with most incidents we readily recognize as mass shootings is the people involved do not consider whether the locale of their action is a gun-free zone or not. They just act.

What's your opinion?  Please leave a comment.

Accidental Shooting of West Virginia Man by Himself - No Hospital - No Charges

Local news reports

The Monongalia County Sheriff's Department is investigating an apparent accidental shooting in Morgantown. 

The sheriff's department said a man shot himself in the leg sometime on Tuesday, but EMS did not take him to the hospital. 

I wonder how often that happens, a negligent discharge results in a minor enough wound that no hospital or police report is involved?

What do you think?  Please leave a comment.

Three West Virginia Gun Bills Being Considered

via Opposing Views

Senate Bill 149, introduced by state Senate Majority Leader John Unger (D-16), would mandate police authorities return all seized firearms, not currently being held as evidence in a criminal investigation, to the lawful owner if able.  If the lawful owner is not found or unable to take possession of the firearm, SB 149 would require these agencies to sell these firearms at a public auction to a licensed firearms dealer.  Current West Virginia law allows for seized guns to be immediately destroyed.  SB 149 would prevent the wasteful and expensive practice of destroying firearms that could be re-circulated through licensed dealers to the retail market.  

Senate Bill 353, introduced by state Senate President Jeff Kessler (D-2) and Senate Majority Leader Unger, would expedite the process of purchasing a firearm for valid concealed carry permit holders by making West Virginia eligible for an exemption from the FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).  Such carry permit holders have already cleared a background check.  This legislation would further conform state law to federal law and lead to greater reciprocity for permit holders throughout the United States.

Senate Bill 478, also sponsored by state Senator Unger, would create an apprentice hunting license that is available to West Virginia residents and non-residents alike.  The licenses established pursuant to SB 478 are similar to current youth hunting licenses but would be available to apprentice hunters of any age.  Apprentice hunters will be encouraged to go afield while under the supervision of a person eighteen years of age or older who possesses a valid West Virginia hunting license.  This would allow the “apprentice” to be introduced to hunting without having to take the otherwise required hunter education course.

I would have to say no to that middle one. The other two can pass, I suppose.

What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.

The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia

From Boing-Boing.

The Appalachian clan is notorious for criminal activity and reckless, larger-than-life characters. They tap-dance, shoot and stab people (including each other), and sell (and do) a lot of drugs. Think "Sopranos" meets "Coal Miner's Daughter."

When we talk about gun owners, as Guy Ohki pointed out, instead of "law-abiding" we should say "innocent." Yet, I don't suppose anyone would call these folks either law-abiding or innocent. But they're not inner city gangbangers either.

When folks talk about 80 million gun owners, you know in that way they have of trying to say there are that many who are innocent and stick together on gun rights issues, these rural characters must be included.

That's some fine company the pro-gun people are keeping.

What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.