Bigbobber may be deliberately being dense, but to suggest that a kid who is being beaten in a closet with a pool cue, and kicks to try to get out of the closet is “clear and present danger” is major league hyperbole. If you are blocking the path of exit, how in God’s name is the young man supposed to do what you ask?
Bottom line for me is that the guy discharged his weapon into a room in which he knew his daughter was present. After the bullet hits something, he has no control over the path, as another poster has suggested “bullets ricochet”. I have nothing but contempt for a man who would so endanger his own daughter.
No argument here. Any of the firearms instructors/advisors I've ever had would blow a gasket at the suggestion of firing blind into an area where "friendlies" are.
I hope no one comes away with the idea I think this guy is some kind of hero; I don't think that at all -- but I also don't think he should do a life stretch for this. He should have handled it a heck of a lot better, I'd like to think I would, but I don't think I could vote guilty if I were on the jury, unless the charge was reckless endangerment or if it came out that he told some one before he ever got the the house something like "If her boyfriend is there, I'm gonna kill the sumb!+ch..." -- that's a whole different kettle of fish.
It occurred to me after I hit the post button -- everybody agrees that Daddy Dearest left the room where Young Love was expressed, went to his room and got the gun from his nightstand.
So what was the kid's problem then? He does'nt make a run for the door when gets a break in the action? He and Daddy's Little Girl come up with enough energy to barricade themselves in the room? That might have been enough to send Pops over the edge, right there. Kid wants lock me out of a room in a house I pay the mortgage on? After her punk boyfriend fights with me? Yeah, I could see some one coming unglued on that one.
There are some major problems with both sides of this story. When I was 19, I could have out run any lard butt 40 something, even after getting my ashes hauled and popped a few times with a pool cue. The classic Lynyrd Skynyrd song "Give Me 2 Steps" comes to mind.
Not that I would know anything about situations like that, of course... This kid sure as heck got 2 steps toward the door and did'nt take 'em. Just another bad decision in a day where every body made a bunch of them.