Eight-year-old boy dies firing uzi

[db44]

I don't know if I'll necessarily blame the NRA for this... Who in their right mind gives an uzi to an eight-year-old?!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7694560.stm

New questions have been raised about US gun laws after a boy aged eight shot himself in the head with a submachine gun at a Massachusetts weapons fair.

Christopher Bizilj died after losing control of a recoiling Uzi submachine gun as he fired it at a pumpkin.

Both the boy's father and an instructor were present when the accident happened on Sunday at the gun show in Westfield.

State legislators are now considering drafting a bill banning under-21s from firing automatic weapons, reports say.

"We should take swift action to provide some reasonable restrictions on this type of unreasonable practice," Congressman Michael Costello told the Boston Globe newspaper.

"It's almost indescribable that within a year of leaving a booster seat, an eight-year-old can be holding a submachine gun."

The boy's father, Charles Bizilj, said he was 10ft behind Christopher when the accident happened at the Machine Gun Shoot and Firearms Expo.

Mr Bizilj told the Globe he had allowed his son to shoot the Uzi - which can fire hundreds of rounds a minute - because it was considered to have little recoil.

[tiger_rascal]

Thats really sad. :(

Im scared for my nephew. He is 8 and his dad lets him target practice. On Saturday he is going to a safety training class and then next week he will be in the woods with his dad hunting with a rifle. It scares me.

:(

[tiger_rascal]

Is hunting for sport really worth the risk? I know some people say they hunt for the meat, for food, but whatever, we have grocery stores and they spend more in guns and ammo and gear than what they would at the grocery store. I think hunting for food is just an excuse to hunt for sport.

I've seen too many people die from fatal accidental gun shots in the woods while hunting. :noway:

[Venisenvy]

There is nothing wrong with a child using a gun for target practice etc... but there is something with having a child use a gun that they just would not be able to handle.

[db44]

Is hunting really a sport, in general? You can't tell me there's much to eat on a quail once you shoot one with a shotgun (I admit there's more meat on a friend of the VP though).

I really don't see what the logic is to allow kids to have weapons. We don't let them drive until 15 at the earliest (and that I think is okay), but a car is important to modern day life in many places. But we don't allow younger people to drive for they might damage things and hurt people. But we give a gun to kids, an item meant mainly for killing and damaging?

[tiger_rascal]

I agree with you Dave. A child under the age of 16 should not be holding a gun of any kind. Well, maybe a bb gun, and maybe not.

But kids as young as 8 holding and shooting an uzi? :noway:

[Venisenvy]

I held my first gun when i was about 5, but that is when my mom made my dad get rid of it because she was afraid i would blow my brains out, but i held guns after that. As long as you are teaching the kids safety with guns it doesnt matter how early it is. If there are guns in the house even though they should be safely put away, the kids should know how to use them. Also for a lot fo people huntin is a sport, i have never been and would never want to but I'm not going to impose my views on others and say that they cant allow to bring their children a long. I know a lot of people that have described going hunting with dad as a kid a great bonding experience.

[db44]

What's wrong with bonding in a way that doesn't kill something? I'll even say fishing is okay, as you'd be hard-pressed to murder someone or kill anybody (accidental or not) with a fishing hook.

[tiger_rascal]

Drowning, Dave, they could drown!

But seriously, I agree with you yet again, Dave, and that does not usually happen.

Bonding over a dead deer is odd.

But, I wont stop my nephew, I cant. If he wants to go hunting with his dad, so be it.

[Whoda Thunk?]

This is so sad and could have been avoided. :(

I detest guns and I detest hunting. I can't begin to imagine having let my son near a gun at 8 years old.

[SparkleHugs]

I am pretty sure most hunters don't use uzi's.

I think children shouldnt be allowed to touch ANYTHING inside of a gun show, regardless of their safety education on guns. I wouldnt care of they banned children from gun shows altogether.

and why on earth would there be a loaded uzi with all those people there? the lawsuit from this one will be a lawyers dream.

[Venisenvy]

I wouldnt be in favor of banning children at a gun show but i would be in favor that they could not fire any of the guns at the gun show, at least if they are under the age of 16 or 14.


p.s. i need to pay more attention to the news i didnt realize the boy was from CT.