Topic: what in the hell where they thinking??
Jill298's photo
Mon 10/27/08 11:51 AM
This is one of the sadest stories I've heard in a long time. It was just so preventable...

WESTFIELD, Mass. (Oct. 27) - An 8-year-old boy died after accidentally shooting himself in the head while firing an Uzi submachine gun under adult supervision at a gun fair.
The boy lost control of the weapon while firing it Sunday at the Machine Gun Shoot and Firearms Expo at the Westfield Sportsman's Club, police Lt. Lawrence Valliere said.
The boy, Christopher Bizilj of Ashford, Conn., was with a certified instructor and "was shooting the weapon down range when the force of the weapon made it travel up and back toward his head, where he suffered the injury," a police statement said.
Christopher died at Baystate Medical Center.
Police said the boy's father was at the gun fair and accompanied his son in the ambulance, but it wasn't clear if he was at the firing range with Christopher at the time of the accident. Police didn't give the father's name.
Although police called it a "self-inflicted accidental shooting," police and the Hampden district attorney's office were investigating, officials said.
"We are going to review all the circumstance regarding what happened, who was involved, what authorities they may or may not have had, who was supervising," District Attorney William Bennett said Monday.
It is legal for children to fire a weapon if they have permission from a parent or legal guardian and are supervised by a properly certified and licensed instructor, Lt. Hipolito Nunez said.
Those conditions were met in this case, he said. He declined to release the supervisor's name.
The club said on its Web site that the event, run in conjunction with C.O.P Firearms and Training, is "all legal and fun." People are allowed to fire weapons at vehicles, pumpkins and other targets, it said.
Officials of the private club and the firearms group could not be reached for comment. There was no response to a message left on a club answering machine. The C.O.P. group's machine clicked off without taking a message.
The sportsman's club was founded in 1949 and describes itself on its Web site as promoting "the interest of legal sport with rod, gun, and bow and arrow, both directly and through training."
It has eight firing ranges as well as archery and fishing facilities located on 375 acres in Westfield, about 100 miles west of Boston.

Winx's photo
Mon 10/27/08 11:53 AM
An 8 year old with an Uzi.:cry:

writer_gurl's photo
Mon 10/27/08 11:54 AM
It is sad

no photo
Mon 10/27/08 12:36 PM
I think I saw something similar on the Simpsons..if it wasnt so tragic it would be morbidly funny...indeed, what where these people thinking...?
shocked

beachbum069's photo
Mon 10/27/08 12:44 PM
I love my town.flowerforyou

no photo
Mon 10/27/08 12:50 PM
I can see wanting to teach your son how to shoot and such, but an Uzi?

Something isn't right when they can give such a weapon to anyone at a FAIR???


Redshirt's photo
Mon 10/27/08 12:56 PM
My 5 year old nephew was killed in an accidental shooting 25 years ago. And people wonder how come I support gun control. slaphead

I have been to a couple of gun shows. Have seen everything from a Uzi to a 50 cal sniper rifle. What does the average person need with either???