Gun violence 9.29.14

Gosh it seems like gun violence goes on every day doesn’t it?  Probably bc there are a lot of people with guns and a lot of them really ought to NOT have any guns.  Shame there’s no way to screen out the irresponsible, violent, or criminal people before they acquire a gun.  We could probably get something like that started if the NRA and the GOP weren’t so opposed to it (and if people in this country stopped complaining about “they’re going to take away our guns” when the discussion is “gun control” NOT “gun confiscation”).  After the jump are 4 more examples of gun violence, which continues to take upwards of 30,000 lives a year.

First up, we have the story of George Byrd IV, responsible gun owner.  So responsible in fact that he claims to have discharged his gun bc he didn’t know any other way to unload it.  I’ll take fatal eyeroll for $500 Alex.

A Pennsylvania felon who fired a handgun into his neighbor’s house told the judge at his arraignment it was because he didn’t know how to unload a handgun.

George Byrd IV, 31, was hauled in front of a judge Friday after police found a handgun and a few rounds of ammunition in Byrd’s home following a call that shots were fired into a neighbor’s house.

The Bucks County Courier Times reports that a Middletown resident called police around 12:30 p.m. Friday after hearing gunshots.

* * * *

If you don’t know how to unload a gun, you shouldn’t be allowed to own one.

Next up is a shooting at a Miami nightclub.  15 people were shot. Among them were minors as young as 11.  Why were minors at a nightclub?  That’s a damn good question.

At least 15 people were wounded in a shooting at a Miami nightclub, including several minors, police said.

Five girls ranging in ages from 11 to 17 were hit by gunfire during the pre-dawn incident on Sunday at The Spot, Miami Fire Rescue Capt. Ignatius Carroll said, The Associated Press reported.

“What was very surprising to the responders was that these were kids that were out at 1 o’clock in the morning in a club, and this type of violence took place where a bunch of kids were gathering,” Capt. Carroll said, AP reported. “It’s very disturbing to see that.”

Investigators were interviewing the owner about the presence of the underage children, said police spokeswoman Frederica Burden, AP reported.

“Was it a private party? Was it open to the public? That’s what we’re trying to figure out,” she said, adding that she’s worked in the neighborhood for years but never heard of The Spot.

Of the 15 who were reportedly injured, one remains in critical condition.

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Next up is another tragic story involving a 5 day old boy who was accidentally shot by hunters:

The 5-day-old boy who was accidentally shot by hunters near Saltsburg Thursday night is more seriously injured than authorities first thought, according to Indiana County District Attorney Pat Dougherty.

“It was originally reported that the bullet had grazed the child’s head, but it had actually penetrated the child’s head,” Dougherty said.

Dougherty said the infant’s father was sitting on a couch at about 7 p.m. Thursday holding the infant when the bullet tore through the window of the home on Elders Ridge Road in Young Township.

The shot came from a .308 hunting rifle, Dougherty said.

Dougherty said the bullet is believed to have come from hunters on private property across the street, and they had permission to be there.

“The hunters have been cooperative,” Dougherty said. “We think we know which individual fired the shot that struck the child.”

The child had surgery at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Thursday night and remains in the intensive care unit. A condition report could not be obtained Friday.

The injuries to the baby were an improbable accident, Dougherty said.

“Nobody would be able to make that shot if they tried,” he said. “It’s unbelievable.”

The hunters are cooperating but Dougherty says the case “appears to be an accidental shooting.”

Accidental or not, if we lived in a society that didn’t glorify guns (and teach boys and men that there are things you do if you want to be a man-such as hunt; most people in this country do not need to hunt for their food, and I’m not a fan of hunting for sport), such occurrences might happen less.

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Here’s the story of a 12 year old shot in the leg walking home from school:

12-year old Levon Gilliam used crutches as he left Kings County hospital with a smile and a big lipstick stained cheek from his mother’s kiss. A happy ending to what could have been a whole lot worse.

It was just after 4 in the afternoon when Levon was getting off the bus returning home from school when shots rang out on Lott Avenue in Brownsville. According to police, two men were involved in a shootout and Levon was caught in the middle. He was hit in the leg and fell to the ground in pain, screaming for his mother.

“It felt like something bit me,” described Levon as he left the hospital.

“He was calling mommy, mommy and he told me he was shot,” said Shakeeca McCollum, Levon’s mother.

The two gunmen ran off, and Levon was rushed to Kings County Hospital.

Police had the street closed off for much of the afternoon as they looked for clues including surveillance video. According to police, there were no witnesses who got a good description of the two men.

Community Activist Tony Herbert was at the crime scene, saying this is another example of an innocent kid shot due to too many guns on the street.

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Gun violence 9.29.14
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