9-year old kills instructor with Uzi submachine gun
Let me start by saying that I have fired thousands of rounds at a shooting range. Granted, it was all handgun caliber from .22 to .45 (but mostly 9mm and 10mm). I’ve never fired a rifle, shotgun or (sub)machine gun. I actually think more people should have training in the safe handling of firearms. Which includes actually firing a gun under controlled conditions. I do not advocate owning a gun (I’ve never owned a gun).
The above notwithstanding I don’t think young children should be handling guns let alone firing them. So I was appalled to hear that there are businesses which allow young children to fire not just handguns but submachine guns. The result is rather predictable. A 9-year-old girl accidentally shot and killed her instructor when she lost control of the firearm. The owner of that business and the girls parents need to be indicted and tried for criminal stupidity if nothing else.
Of course we can count on the National Rifle Association (NRA) to say something gobsmacking stupid. They responded to the event just two days later by tweeting a list of ways that children can “have fun at the shooting range.” Yep, by all means let’s teach children that firing guns is something you do for “fun”.
UPDATE: More information about the business where this tragedy occurred.