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UK: Another airgun shooting
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by Beaulieu | August 26, 2009 at 04:03 am
195 views | 6 Recommendations | 3 comments
Airguns in the UK are readily available but they're not banned despite this story:
The mother of a 5-year-old boy who died after being shot by an air rifle has described him as a "gorgeous, cheeky, beautiful, bright little bundle of joy". Joe, is believed to have died after being shot while playing in the garden of a family friend. His mother Emma, 43, said the death was a "tragic accident". She said: "He died in a tragic accident and we love him to infinity and beyond. His death will leave a huge hole in our lives. He will be missed by anyone who knew him, as he touched so many lives.
It is a little worrying when people think 'airguns' are toys and young children are being left with them. Just who was supervising this child? There is no information on the friend who killed this killed the child in the ' accident', and how this person had access to the airgun, the age was not mentioned either.
It should be regarded as a crime not 'downgraded' to a silly accident.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (3)
at 09:19 on August 26th, 2009
AS far as I am concerned Guns are Guns when used in the commission of a crime or illegal act such as scaring the beejeezus out of someone, whether it be a toy gun used in a robbery, or pointed in the direction of someone like a pellet rifle, I see no difference in prosecuting the pukes who pull the trigger, I don't care if it is a teen or not. Even a 11 year old knows the rules unless he is a complete tard. I think jail would be appropriate and if he is a minor or Mummy and Daddums should be hit in the wallet BIG TIME. Betcha little Johnny will never even look at a toy gun once his ass is tanned by his parents. There have been instances when a 12 year old kid, who was damn near 170 pounds and stood 6 feet tall, he jokingly pointed a toy gun at a police officer and was gunned down and killed PRONTO!
The Public, his Family and the Media had a field day chastising the Police who shot him late at night thinking his own life was in danger. The kid enjoyed emulating his Rapper Heroes, and thought carrying his toy gun in his waistband made him feel grown up! That's exactly what the officer thought when he gunned him down in a blaze of glory.
at 13:33 on August 26th, 2009
Airguns are not what many of us used to know them as: they are much more powerful these days. Some border on shooting at the velocity of a .22 rifle! That is NOT a toy, in such a case. Even lower-velocity airguns are often much more powerful than the kind I grew up with. Back then, unless it was a pump-style gun, it could put an eye out or sting and make you angry if you were shot elsewhere. Things have changed, and they need to be regarded with greater respect. People don't let small children drive cars, and neither should they simply "play" with airguns -- there's too much danger in it, especially unsupervised & without safety training. Just as a note to what power airguns may possess, hundreds of years ago, I believe it was the Swiss military that had for awhile adopted the use of airguns rather than regular firearms as weapons.
at 11:12 on August 27th, 2009
Apparently the child was caught in 'the crossfire'. But, it doesn't explain why a child was anywhere near a person using an airgun.
The man who owned the airgun was 75. Is there an age limit for people who have airguns? It appears that there was supervision... if so, how come this happened?
Airgun should be banned. End of story.
As you say, they're more dangerous now.