Ohio Man Shoots Himself in the Head - Thought the Gun Was Unloaded

Local news reports

A man has died following an accidental shooting Saturday night in an apartment, according to Middletown police.

According to a press release, officers found Dimetrian Wright, 21, in the kitchen with a single gunshot wound to the head.

A revolver was recovered in the kitchen, police said.

Lt. Scott Reeve said Wright’s girlfriend reported hearing the clicking of a revolver and told him to stop playing with the gun.

“He said it is not loaded, putting it to his head and pulled the trigger,” Reeve said. There was one round in the gun.

The Poorest Counties in the US Are All Rich in Guns

Man with a Muckrake

No surprise there. Red state legislators seem to be happy to keep their people poor and ignorant. That way the legislators can keep their cushy jobs election after election.

Texas, 17; Kentucky, 16; Mississippi, 14; South Dakota, 10; Louisiana, 5; Alabama, 4; Georgia, 4; Montana, 4; New Mexico, 4; North Dakota, 3; Arizona, 2; Idaho, 2; Nebraska, 2; Tennessee, 2; West Virginia, 2; Alaska, 1; Arkansas, 1; Colorado, 1; Florida, 1; Missouri, 1; Oklahoma, 1; South Carolina, 1; Utah, 1; Wisconsin, 1.

The almost perfect overlap with gun availability and loose gun laws is unmistakable.

In North Carolina - Drunken Gun Owner Kills His Friend

Local news reports

A  Salisbury man is behind bars, accused in the accidental shooting death of his cousin.

When officers arrived on scene, 23-year-old Roy Jacob Bryant was found suffering from a shotgun wound. He was taken to Rowan Regional Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries a short time later.

Investigators say Bryant and his 22-year-old cousin, Timothy Scott Glover, had been drinking liquor that night, and Glover had been in possession of a shotgun. Further investigation revealed Glover, who authorities say was intoxicated, was "carelessly" handling the shotgun when it discharged, firing a fatal blow into Bryant's body.

Authorities say Glover's shotgun was a 20 gauge, sawed-off shotgun. It's considered an illegal weapon and was seized.

Glover is charged with felony involuntary manslaughter and felony possession of a weapon of mass destruction.

Chipotle Restaurants in Texas

@ChipotleTweets @ChipotleMedia difficult to eat a burrito AND secure your weapon. #BurritosNotBullets pic.twitter.com/eJwpVCRYKG

— Lana Koga (@KogaLana) May 19, 2014

Southern Beale's Take on the 93-Year-old Texas Woman Shot By the Police

Southern Beale

Right now everyone is focusing on whether the officer, who was subsequently fired, was right to shoot the woman. I think it’s debatable either way without seeing video. What I want to know is, if a 93-year-old woman isn’t able to operate a motor vehicle without endangering public safety, why did anyone think she was capable of handling a firearm? Based on how this story unfolded, clearly she was not.

Louisiana Rejects Child Protection Law - Children Under 10 Can Have Access to Guns - No Problem

Guns dot com

A bill that would have made it a crime to expose a gun to a child in Louisiana was soundly defeated 8-4 in a House committee vote Wednesday.

The legislation would have made it illegal to intentionally expose children under age ten to a firearm that was not locked in a container or secured by a locking device.

Introduced earlier this month, HB 1189 was crushed during hearing of the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee with bipartisan opposition.

“I’m not asking you to give your gun up … I’m only asking you to protect those children,” said Rep. Barbara Norton, (D-Shreveport), the bill’s sponsor to the committee. “I hope one day in the state of Louisiana that we put children first. I am hoping and praying.”

Tennessee Open Carry Defeated

Washington Times

A bill seeking to allow Tennesseans to openly carry firearms in public without permits was overwhelmingly defeated a House subcommittee on Monday night.

The House Finance Subcommittee voted 10-1 against the measure sponsored by Rep. Micah Van Huss. The Jonesborough Republican later told reporters that he will abandon an effort to bypass committees and call the bill for a full floor vote.

“I’m going to withdraw that, because they killed it fairly,” Van Huss said. “They killed it fair and square.”

The unusual step of calling a bill directly to a floor vote would have required the support of 66 representatives in the 99-member chamber.

Under current law, permit holders who undergo background checks and special training can carry firearms both openly and concealed. The bill sponsored by Van Huss would have allowed firearms to be carried openly by anyone legally allowed to own a gun.

The full Senate had passed its version of the bill on a 25-2 vote last week.

Georgia 15-Year-old Shoots and Kills 10-Year-old - It Was Just an Accident - No Charges - No Sign of the Parents

Local news reports

The 10-old-girl and a 15-year-old male relative were at a home in 4000 block of Jana Road north of Waycross when the fatal shooting occurred about 1:01 p.m., Royal said.

The victim, Taylor Marie Jowers, wanted to hold a 12-gauge shotgun that was in the home, and the 15-year-old was unloading it to make it safe for her when a round accidentally discharged, Royal said.

The boy ran to a neighbor’s house next door and someone there called 911, Royal said.

Ware County deputies responded, found the girl lying in the floor and were rendering first aid when Ware County EMTs arrived, Royal said.

Arrangements were made to have Taylor Jowers life-flighted to a trauma center, but she died moments later, he said.

Ware County detectives investigated and determined the shooting was accidental, Royal said.

Fascinating Second Amendment Discussion at the Florida House Judiciary Committee

I can't wait to hear the gun-rights fanatics who comment here explain away the fact that the Sheriff's association opposes permit-less concealed carry during emergencies while, according to them, cops generally agree with them on gun rights issues. Let me guess, cops are different than sheriffs, right?

The other interesting thing is that one of the speakers said 20% of Floridians have concealed carry permits.  Wow. I suppose that means that the next public mass shooting we have there in which no one intervenes will be because not a single one of them happened to bring their gun that day.

Iowa Supporters to Push ‘Constitutional Carry’ Measure

Local news reports

An Iowa House member hopes to force action Wednesday on legislation to do away with the requirement that Iowans get a permit from their sheriff to carry a weapon.

Rep. Tom Shaw, R-Laurens, plans to use a procedural move to bring House File 2284 out of the Judiciary Committee to the House floor. The bill was never acted on by the committee and without representatives voting to suspend their rules it is not eligible for debate.

HF 2284 strikes a portion of the Iowa Code that requires a person to have a valid permit in order to carry certain weapons, such as handguns.

“We don’t think you should have to beg the government to get a permit to exercise your 2nd Amendment rights,” Shaw said Tuesday.

Yeah, you know, the way we all have to beg the government for permission to drive cars.

I think they should call this the Jared Loughner Bill. He's the most famous Constitutional Carrier.

Virginia Man Shot by Accident - Shooter May Get a Slap on the Wrist

Local news reports

A 22-year-old man in Colonial Heights suffered a gunshot wound to the stomach after an acquaintance accidentally discharged his firearm inside of a residence, according to the Colonial Heights Police Department.

At 8:30 on Tuesday evening, authorities responded to a call that someone had been shot within an apartment on the 1100 block of Lakeview Avenue, said Sgt. Rob Ruxer, with the Colonial Heights Police Department.

When police arrived on the scene, the victim was discovered to have been shot in the abdomen with a .40-caliber handgun, which had gone off while a man he was with was disassembling the firearm, according to the police.

Originally transported to the Southside Regional Medical Center for treatment, the victim suffered non-life threatening injuries and is expected to make a full recovery, Ruxer said.

Authorities would not release any names while the investigation is still pending, but said that the shooter faces a misdemeanor charge of reckless handling of a firearm.

Both the victim and the shooter were reported to be in possession of a firearm, Ruxer said. 

Georgia Legislature Passes "The Guns Everywhere" Bill - Governor Expexcted to Sign

WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather

Indiana Man Charged in Accidental Shooting Death of a Child

Jason L. Forshee

Local news reports

Felony charges have been filed against a local man in the accidental shooting that killed a Greensburg teen. 

Jason L. Forshee, 34, was arrested and charged Friday with neglect of a dependent resulting in death, a Class A felony, and dangerous control of a child, a Class C felony. 

Craig A. Roberts, 13, was accidentally shot at his home on North Carver Street on the afternoon of March 11 when a sibling picked up an M4 assault rifle that authorities allege Forshee had left unattended. 

The sibling pointed the rifle at Craig in the living room of the home. The weapon discharged, and a bullet struck the teen in the chest. Craig died at Decatur County Memorial Hospital that evening. 

Court documents state that Forshee told police he was cleaning the weapon and had removed the magazine. He was unaware a bullet was in the chamber. 

Forshee told police he could not explain how the bullet was in the chamber. He was out of the room approximately 10 to 15 seconds, he said. 

A short time before the shooting, Forshee had shown the rifle to a plumber at the home. The 6-year-old asked to see the weapon, and Forshee handed him the gun, according to court documents. 

A child visiting the home shared by Amy Roberts, Jason Forshee, Craig and his two siblings March 11 told police that the 6-year-old had pointed the same rifle at her and another child through a laundry room window that day. 

Interviews with a child and Craig's mother indicated Forshee had previously let the 6-year-old hold the weapon. Allowing the child to hold the firearm and failing “to make reasonable efforts to prevent the use of that firearm” constitutes the charge of dangerous control of a child, authorities said. 

Minnesota Man Injured Himself in Negligent Gun Incident - No Charges

Local news reports

A 33-year-old Brainerd man was treated at a hospital Thursday for injuries he suffered after he accidentally shot himself with his pistol.

At about 4:52 p.m. Thursday, Brainerd police officers responded to a report that an adult male had accidentally shot himself in the hand at the Tony Powers Designs Tattoo & Piercing business in the 200 block of South 10th Street in Brainerd.

Officers arrived and learned that 33-year-old William Anderson of Brainerd was suffering from a gunshot wound to his left hand. Anderson and witnesses reported they were talking about firearms and Anderson removed the gun from a holster he was wearing so he could show another person the gun. Anderson stated he thought he had rendered the gun safe. Anderson told authorities that he was having difficulties reinserting the magazine back in it and was trying to push the slide from the barrel end when the gun discharged into his left hand. The firearm involved was a .40 caliber Glock pistol. No one else was injured.

The Proposed Surgeon General

Dr Vivek Murthy is President Obama’s nominee to be the next Surgeon General of the United States. Photograph: Jason Reed / Reuters

The Guardian

Only in America’s up-is-down, sky-is-green, right-is-wrong discussion about guns would views like those of Vivek Murthy be considered radical. Indeed, the good doctor’s views are remarkably similar to those held by a majority of Americans. According to the most recent polls:

• Should America’s gun laws be more strict or less strict? A full 54% of Americans go with more, compared to 9% who say less. (And 36% are fine with the way things are.)

• How about a background check on all potential gun buyers? Yup, 85% are in favor, and 12% are opposed.

• A ban on assault weapons? How about 54% support that and 42% are opposed?

• Even when asked about creating a database to track all gun sales, 66% of Americans are for it, with 31% against.

So Dr Murthy’s views fall within the political mainstream – and are similar to the views of the man who nominated him. Surely that’s enough to convince the Senate to confirm him as Surgeon General, right?

Think again.

In a depressing reminder of the NRA’s outsize influence in Washington, an aggressive lobbying campaign by the pro-gun lobby to block Murthy appears to be paying off. Over the weekend, the New York Timesreported that as many as 10 Senate Democrats – many of whom are from red states and running for re-election – were leaning toward voting against him. Of course, every Republican is opposed. The White House, suddenly, is “recalibrating”.

The Latest Gun-Nut Paranoia - The United Nations is Taking Over the Internet

Prison Planet

Louisiana 18-Year-old Shot while Dirt Biking

Local news reports

An 18-year-old man who was shot in the head Saturday while riding a dirt bike in Schriever survived the incident, and authorities believe he was the victim of an accidental shooting, possibly from someone target shooting in the area.

The 18-year-old victim had indeed been shot in the back of the head, and was taken by ambulance to Thibodaux Regional Hospital, said the sheriff's office. After undergoing surgery at the hospital, the man was release Saturday evening. His injuries are not life threatening and he is expected to make a full recovery.

During the investigation detectives learned that the field where the man was shot is an area where people go to shoot guns for target practice, said the sheriff's office, but they have not been able to locate the shooter. 

Washington Shooting Accidents Soar; State Gun Laws Remain Unchanged

Seattle Times

In 2012, more people were seriously hurt by accidental gunshots in Washington state than in any previous year in nearly a generation.

Hospitals here admitted 122 people with “unintentional firearm” injuries that year, the latest for which data is available. Hundreds more were treated in emergency rooms but not admitted. More still were wounded in accidents that were not classified as such.

It was the highest injury tally since 1995 and 30 percent higher than the average over that period, according to a Seattle Times analysis of state Health Department records. The state’s population grew about half that much over that time.

State officials and local law-enforcement authorities say the surge may correspond to a soaring rise in gun ownership.

Florida 2-Year-old Dead - Lengthy and Thorough Investigation Continues - Charges Very Unlikely

Local news

The self-inflicted shooting death of a Pensacola toddler is still being investigated, Escambia County officials said. 

A 2-year-old boy reportedly shot himself in the head at a duplex in the 1500 block of South Fairfield Drive the morning of March 1. 

The death is being investigated as an “accidental shooting,” Escambia County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Deputy Delarian Wiggins said the day of the incident. 

Sena Maddison, Sheriff’s Office public information officer, said on Friday that the shooting is still being investigated, and that she did not have a timeframe for its completion. 

A representative of the State Attorney’s Office said they cannot comment on whether any charges will be filed in the shooting until the investigation is complete.

Alabama 9-Year-old Shot in the Chest - No Problem - There Was No Foul Play

Local news 

The Thursday afternoon shooting of a 9-year-old boy appears to be accidental, said Prattville Police Chief Mark Thompson. 

At this time there is nothing to point to foul play being involved the chief said. 

As of 7:45 a.m. Friday, the chief was unaware of the child's condition. He expects to call a press conference about the incident sometime today. The boy was transfered by helicopter to Prattville Baptist Hospital about 6:30 p.m. Thursday to Children's Hospital in Birmingham. 

Radio dispatch logs show Prattville fire medics were dispatched to a home in the 600 block of Upper Kingston Road at about 5:10 p.m. Thursday for a male subject shot.

I say we need to redefine "foul play."