It's just an air rifle

[proper job 1]

I used to have a contract on a farm to do the rats, whenever I went there during the school days or weekends I used too have a "mate", the farmers 9yr old son, he was a great little lad, just what a country boy should be, full of mischief, asked endless questions, and loved to point out the rat holes and on occasion spoon some bait down. I went there one day to find his hair bright red, he had sprayed it with the aerosol marker spray his Dad used on the sheep, that tells you what sort of a lad he was. Anyway, today I found out that just before Xmas he was accidently shot by his 18yr old brother and an air rifle. Not exactly sure what happened but obviously everyone thought the gun was unloaded, he is now in a wheelchair, cannot speak or feed himself, cannot co-ordinate any of his movements, and is going to need care for the rest of his life. I know there are a lot of younger members on this forum, but this also applies to the older members as well, unless you are in the military and your life is threatened, never ever point a gun at anyone, not in fun, or anger, and never ever think, "it's just an air rifle". Please.

[Guest Rabbiteer]

I used to have a contract on a farm to do the rats, whenever I went there during the school days or weekends I used too have a "mate", the farmers 9yr old son, he was a great little lad, just what a country boy should be, full of mischief, asked endless questions, and loved to point out the rat holes and on occasion spoon some bait down. I went there one day to find his hair bright red, he had sprayed it with the aerosol marker spray his Dad used on the sheep, that tells you what sort of a lad he was. Anyway, today I found out that just before Xmas he was accidently shot by his 18yr old brother and an air rifle. Not exactly sure what happened but obviously everyone thought the gun was unloaded, he is now in a wheelchair, cannot speak or feed himself, cannot co-ordinate any of his movements, and is going to need care for the rest of his life. I know there are a lot of younger members on this forum, but this also applies to the older members as well, unless you are in the military and your life is threatened, never ever point a gun at anyone, not in fun, or anger, and never ever think, "it's just an air rifle". Please.

 

Agreed,.................A gun is a gun..................... lets keep them pointing in a safe direction.

[leegreen 2,244]

That is one seriously sad story.

[woz 260]

IS THIS STORY FROM SHROPSHIRE???? IF SO THE YOUNG LAD WAS WALKING UP STAIRS AND THE OLDER BROTHER FOLLOWING WITH THE RIFLE.THE RIFLE ACCIDENTLY DISCHARGED....VERY UNLUCKY SITUATION......THE SONS HAVE BEEN OUT WITH US SHOOTING....JUST GOES TO SHOW....

[Deker 3,478]

Stories such as this are always tragic and very sad.

 

They are also the sort of thing that fires up the media into a frenzy about banning guns.

 

We all make mistakes in life but we cannot afford to make them with guns.

 

We all know the rules, lets make sure everyone sticks to them for the benefit of EVERYONE!

 

Deker

[ginge2k6 0]

accidents like that are the reason why my brother and sisters aren't allowed near me when I am handling my gun.

A young lad that came to buy a Staffy pup of us once was shot in the head by his mate with an airrifle when he was younger.

 

Feel sorry for the young lad and his brother who must feel terrible for what happened.

[proper job 1]

IS THIS STORY FROM SHROPSHIRE???? IF SO THE YOUNG LAD WAS WALKING UP STAIRS AND THE OLDER BROTHER FOLLOWING WITH THE RIFLE.THE RIFLE ACCIDENTLY DISCHARGED....VERY UNLUCKY SITUATION......THE SONS HAVE BEEN OUT WITH US SHOOTING....JUST GOES TO SHOW....

Yes, it is.

[Coney 3]

A valuable point & well raised let's only hope a lot more people log onto this "Post" and give it the thought and consideration it deserves in order to prevent this sort of tradegy happening again.

[Malt 379]

Very valid point. I was brought up around air rifles, and from a very early age was taught the right way to be around airguns. It's very easy for the experienced of us on here, to forget to mention personal safety when replying to some of the unexperienced folk that come on here. What I mean by 'unexperienced', is the type of youngster who posts, "I've just bought my first gun, please can I have some land." Air rifles are not toys, they can cause serious injury or worse in the wrong hands.

[macconraoi 0]

A sobering story.Tragic

[woodchip 2]

real sad story poor kid

[Bagpuss 0]

a friend of mine was a promising young jockey,some lads were messing around with an air rifle on the yard where he worked, he lost an eye and that was it to being a jockey.

you just can't be too careful

[spike 0]

More than one terrible story on this thread. As the o/p says, some are blase about ar rifles, "toy guns" etc. They should be treated as any other firearm as stated above.