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Western Iowa man killed after potato gun explosion
Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier ^ | 9/3/2001

Posted on 09/04/2007 12:42:49 AM PDT by hawkeye101

Western Iowa man killed after potato gun explosion

HULL (AP) --- A potato gun stuffed with explosive powder ignited and erupted, killing a Hull man on Friday night.

The potato gun apparently ruptured when it was fired by Ryan Meerdink, 21, authorities with the Iowa State Fire Marshal's Office said.

Hull authorities discovered Meerdink outside a residence around 8:20 on Friday night. He was then taken to Sioux Center Hospital, where he later died.

Authorities believe the explosion was an accident.

"It's just been real blurry today," said Betty Meerdink, Ryan's grandmother.

Funeral arrangements are pending.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: banglist; darwinaward; gun; holdmuhbeer; iowa; potato; potatogun; spudgun
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Guns don't kill people; potato guns kill people.
1 posted on 09/04/2007 12:42:50 AM PDT by hawkeye101
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To: hawkeye101

No, stupid people stuffing PVC-pipe-guns with explosive powder (gunpowder?) do.


2 posted on 09/04/2007 12:46:16 AM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: hawkeye101

You dont put powder into a potato gun, what was this guy thinking?


3 posted on 09/04/2007 12:47:04 AM PDT by Husker24
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To: hawkeye101

One for the “hold muh beer” files


4 posted on 09/04/2007 12:48:22 AM PDT by - Smokestack Lightning (End the Anchor Baby Law. Build the fence. Bounties on illegals and employers.Deport Libs Moos RINOs.)
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To: hawkeye101

Another one for Uncle Chuck!


5 posted on 09/04/2007 12:49:18 AM PDT by coydog (Keep Canada green - paint a Liberal!)
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To: Husker24

How to be latest darwin winner


6 posted on 09/04/2007 12:49:39 AM PDT by Nailbiter
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To: hawkeye101

Uhhh....when you put gunpowder instead of hairspray into a potato “gun” as a propellant, it’s no longer a spud launcher but a pipe bomb.


7 posted on 09/04/2007 12:50:55 AM PDT by nevergore ("It could be that the purpose of my life is simply to serve as a warning to others.")
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To: Husker24
You dont put powder into a potato gun, what was this guy thinking?

I thought they used ether?

The first potato gun I ever saw was fired by a group of young men behind the warehouse they just got off work from. That potato soared so high straight up into the sky that it could hardly be seen. The four guys hooted and stared up into the sky, then remembered that elementary school lesson about....gravity! That potato almost got them. I think it came straight down faster than it flew up! The men scattered in fear as the potato exploded on the asphalt a few feet away from the fleeing rocket scientists.

8 posted on 09/04/2007 12:54:52 AM PDT by Jeff Chandler ("A person's a person no matter how small." -Dr. Seuss)
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To: hawkeye101
They can be hazardous.
9 posted on 09/04/2007 12:57:38 AM PDT by Westlander (Unleash the Neutron Bomb)
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To: Westlander

It looks like you could take down a jetliner with that thing..........lol


10 posted on 09/04/2007 1:09:40 AM PDT by Husker24
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To: hawkeye101

The National Potato Association spokesperson warned that Chinese-made potato guns might be .....


11 posted on 09/04/2007 1:27:49 AM PDT by GeronL (Fred Thompson '0?)
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To: Westlander

Sure doesn’t look like any spud gun I ever used back in my misspent youth

Of course my 55 years of experience have resulted in personal survival. A few close calls, but alive!


12 posted on 09/04/2007 1:33:28 AM PDT by Knute (Tell me again ONE good reason I'm living here in Wisconsin??)
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To: hawkeye101

Dink!


13 posted on 09/04/2007 2:23:02 AM PDT by HEY4QDEMS (What happens if you're frightened half to death........................twice?)
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To: hawkeye101

When potato guns are outlawed, only outlaws wuill have potato guns.


14 posted on 09/04/2007 2:32:27 AM PDT by TheMole
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To: hawkeye101
"Let the Chips fall where they may."

Signed...Spud Dud

15 posted on 09/04/2007 3:06:05 AM PDT by A_Tradition_Continues (THE NEXT GENERATION CONSERVATIVE)
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To: hawkeye101

He definitely should NOT have tried to super-size that.


16 posted on 09/04/2007 3:44:03 AM PDT by mkjessup (Jan 20, 2009 - "We Don't Know. Where Rudy Went. Just Glad He's Not. The President. Burma Shave.")
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To: hawkeye101

Anybody else see the Al Qaeda guy in Iraq firing the hand held mortar? Fire one, Allahu Akhbar. Fire two, BOOM! No more terrorist. The potato gun guy probably never saw it. Maybe he would have thunk twice. Then again, maybe not.


17 posted on 09/04/2007 3:44:50 AM PDT by CalvaryJohn (What is keeping that damned asteroid?)
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To: Westlander

"You want fries with that?"

18 posted on 09/04/2007 3:48:05 AM PDT by Jonah Hex ("How'd you get that scar, mister?" "Nicked myself shaving.")
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To: nevergore

Aqua-Net is the best.


19 posted on 09/04/2007 4:30:11 AM PDT by gaemes
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To: Knute

Of course not...that’s an assault potato gun!!!


20 posted on 09/04/2007 4:46:17 AM PDT by xp38
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