Teen, shot while cleaning rifle, advocates gun locks

Orlando Sentinel ^ | April 24, 2004 | Lavanya Ramanathan and Keith W. Kohn

[taxcontrol]

A gun lock is not idiot proof.

[gc4nra]

How do you clean a gun with a gun lock on it?????

This kid is basically a moron. Ammunition should not be anywhere close when cleaning a firearm. Clear all guns when you first pick 'em up.

[Chewbacca]

Change the title to "Stupid kid fails to check that gun is empty before trying to clean it", and it would be more accurate.

[DiscoStu1979]

Many thanks to Dad! for pounding the basic safety rules into my head from early on.

For me it was my drill instructor.

Also not a bad idea to have someone else check the weapon as well.

[Riley]

This sort of thing amazes me. I know, for life-and-death sure, the chamber state of every weapon I have ever owned at all times, for the duration of the time that I have owned them. It is an ENORMOUS responsibility- one lapse equals somebody's shattered head.

With that in mind, ALL weapons are treated as if they are loaded, at ALL times.

[Red Dog #1]

I think the Darwin Theory as it applies to stupid humans has a serious flaw. Most of them live long enough to procreate. Although many times it’s not long enough to actually provide for their offspring.

[Rockpile]

This kid was not "cleaning his gun". He's lying. They were screwing around and he either goofed up good or more likely the buddy did it and they are coming up with a cover story.

But he does qualify as a Cleland Trophy candidate.

PS If he was cleaning his gun then why didn't he have a cleaning rod stuck in him? :}

[Gun142]

How do you clean a gun with a gun lock on it?????

That's what I wondered. I shoot revolvers mostly, just can't see how that would work out to clean it properly.

What do I know? I've never used a gun lock.
I don't trust the safety on a gun, I don't use them either.... even when hunting. (The guns I generally use allow me to do that easily.)

[Riley]

This kid was not "cleaning his gun". He's lying. They were screwing around and he either goofed up good or more likely the buddy did it and they are coming up with a cover story.

You're probably right.

[Psycho_Bunny]

Ya....I was "cleaning it" when I shot a hole in the ceiling of my apartment when I was 19 with an S&W.357 Mag.

I'm lucky I didn't blow my head off.

[phxsparks]

What sort of gun safety/proficiency training have these MORONS received? I've never heard of cleaning any 22 caliber rifle with the action closed. If the action is open it is not only possible to clean the barrel, chamber and action BUT also, the gun cannot discharge... assuming a round was actually in the chamber.

This sort of press gives competent sportsman with generations of gun ownership in the family; a black eye without deserving it.

[semaj]

"What do I know? I've never used a gun lock. I don't trust the safety on a gun, I don't use them either.... even when hunting.

Bingo! Words of wisdom bear repeating. Makes you wonder what the frontiersman did to keep from shooting themselves, absent modern safety features on their muzzleloaders? Perhaps common sense?

[RippleFire]

Go immediately to http://bugmenot.com/

[Rockpile]

You ain't the only one. For example, I shot a divot out of the yard--30-30 size-- many moons ago as a Young Halfwit. At least it was pointed into the ground. Instead of an AD I prefer to think of it as a DA---as in DumbAss.

[epigone73]

Agreed:

All too often, they stick around just long enough to p*ss in the gene pool.

That said, however, I think we can be confident that this fellow will go on to do something else equally stupid.

[Gun142]

Some people freak out when I tell them I do not use the gun's safety.
For deer, I use a revolver or muzzleloader. (usually the muzzleloader) It's real easy to open the cylinder of the handgun. I carry a speedloader in case I would dump the shells. The ML, I use half-cock sometimes and other times I remove the cap. Use musket caps for easier handling.
For squirrel and rabbit, I use break open\hinge action guns.

I keep it simple and don't take risks.
Managed to stay out of the headlines that way.

[TheBattman]

How about a little common sense....duh....

WHat sort of stupid idiot "cleans" a rifle with it loaded? The obvious fact is - you can't completely clean a firearm with it loaded anyway.

You know - if an idiot it too dumb to not play on a busy interstate highway and get's run over - it's hard to be sypathetic. The same goes for anyone who handles a firearm in such an unsafe manner -----

[PBRSTREETGANG]

An Osceola County teen who narrowly escaped tragedy this week wished Friday that the rifle he and a friend were cleaning had been equipped with a gun-safety device that's being dispensed all over Florida.

Florida voter in training. He'll be old enough to vote for Hillary! in 2008.

(But he'll probably vote for Buchanan by accident anyway. Then he'll call for voting machine locks.)

[LTCJ]

"... and through my fatty tissue"

No matter how many times I read this it comes out "teen shoots self in head".

[pabianice]

When are we going to make moron locks mandatory?? If this moron had been equipped with a safety lock, he wouldn't have been able to move or use his hands, and there would have been no shooting.