Posted on 01/07/2011 3:08:22 AM PST by Mountain Bike Vomit Carnage
A father was unable to watch as a Massachusetts jury was shown video of his eight-year-old son accidentally shooting himself in the head with an Uzi submachine gun.
Dr Charles Bizilj closed his eyes as the graphic video was shown, drawing a collective gasp of horror in the courtroom.
The video, which has not been released, shows the front of the 9mm micro Uzi kicking back towards Christopher Bizilj's head, and a part of the boy's skull flying off.
Christopher's mother had to leave the courtroom in tears before the video was played. Tragic accident: Christopher Bizili, who shot and killed himself when he lost control of an Uzi submachine gun at a 2008 fair Witness to the horror: Dr Charles Bizilj, father of Christopher Bizilj, testifies today in Hampden Superior Court in Springfield, Massachusetts
Christopher Bizilj (left) shot himself when he lost control of an Uzi submachine gun at a 2008 fair: His father Dr Charles Bizilj (right) is seen giving evidence against Edward Fleury, whose firm sponsored the event On trial: Fleury, a former police chief, is on trial for involuntary manslaughter
On trial: Fleury, a former police chief, is on trial for involuntary manslaughter
Her husband filmed the video at the fair at the Westfield Sportsman's Club. Former Pelham, Massachusetts, police chief Edward Fleury, whose company co-sponsored the fair, has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and furnishing weapons to a minor.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Well pat yourself on the back for being so much smarter than the good doctor and the police chief!
Dude - you think the same way these men did. Just letting your EIGHT year old HANDLE a loaded weapon is irresponsible IMO much less shoot one!
Its not rocket science.
8 yr olds need supervision in a lot of areas. Firing an automatic weapon being one of those.
“Just letting your EIGHT year old HANDLE a loaded weapon is irresponsible IMO much less shoot one!”
eh? depending on the weapon and level of supervision there is nothing wrong with an 8 yr old shooting a firearm.
In fact its very beneficial to the youngster.
Local news ran a clip last night - up to but not including the moment the child shot himself.
There was a person (”instructor”?) standing beside the child at all times and during the course of the video — he cleared jams twice. Articles in the local newspaper (yeah, I know) describe the person as mid- or late-teens depending what source I read. They all or most agree that the “instructor” was NOT certified (whatever THAT means) but there was a larger person beside the 8-yo at all times “supervising” or “instructing”
Rumours and anti-gun agendas are so rampant it is damn-near impossible to sort facts from mis- dis-information. For example, my total lib-tard brother-in-law asserts that the father INSISTED/DEMANDED that the 8-yo be allowed to fire the Uzi against the wishes of the sponsors of the event. Problem is he didn’t know the former Pelham cop who provided the guns from the doctor father who brought his sons to the event; BIL just KNEW the cop was the father.
We have people like my BIL spreading “authoritative” information as well as illiterate reporters writing articles that mix up facts. No wonder we’re all confused.
They only way an 8yr should fire an UZI is with very limited ammunition and someone holding the gun with him.
Adults can have a difficult time controlling these firearms, let alone a small child.
“Dude - you think the same way these men did. Just letting your EIGHT year old HANDLE a loaded weapon is irresponsible IMO much less shoot one!”
I can’t believe such an ignorant comment came from a freeper. I owned guns by the time I was eight. And shot plenty more than I owned, as was about this kids age when I fired my first auto. (Not an uzi however)
The key as always is teaching your children properly and watching out for them, so something tragic shuch as this does not happen.
Yes, this was rather irresponsible, as the kid obviously did not have the knowledge or skills to handle this weapon, and the kid is dead from his father’s lack of responsibility in insuring his son’s safety. But this court case is stupid, imo.
Spano told the jury in Hampden Superior Court that Christopher's 11-year-old brother Colin had been firing a full-size Uzi. When that weapon malfunctioned, Spano presented the Bizilj's with a similar weapon -- the Micro Uzi. But, Spano testified, he warned the Bizilj party that the Micro Uzi "kicks hard and shoots fast."Other reports indicate that the father signed a waiver that included the warning that risks included death.Under cross-examination, defense attorney Rosemary Curran Scapicchio asked Spano if Dr. Bizilj approved of his sons' use of the Micro Uzi because "he wanted them to have the experience of a fully automatic firearm." Spano said Scapicchio's description was accurate.
Whatever the case, a lot of more people could have died than just the 8-year-old; if the kid couldn't control the gun, he could have shot almost anybody at the fair.
Shot my first handgun at age of five was hunting by myself by the time I was eight. I am a certified 4H NRA firearms instructor I have taught hundreds of kids how to shoot.
Letting kids handle and learn how to shoot firearms under proper instruction is one of the best things you can do for them.
Having kids learn the proper and safe way to handle guns make them a lot safer and responsible then not letting them learn how.
It is you that are irresponsible by not teaching them firearms safety. None of my students have ever shot anybody accidentally. The children that I hear shooting others are the ones who don't have any firearms training.
“it is you that are irresponsible “
Wow! How do you make the leap from my saying that an eight year old is too young to handle loaded smg’s to my being an irresponsible gun owner or parent? You ASSumed...
Teaching children at a young age how to properly handle a firearm and to be safe with them is one of the most responsible things you can do.
If you have children in your home and haven't taught them some basic fire arm safety by the time they can walk and touch a gun. I would say that you are being irrespossible.
It starts out simple the younger they are, this is a gun look but don't tough unless I am there to help you. Moves up here this is how it works If you want to touch and handle them just ask I'll be glad to show you. Moving up to lets go out and shoot them just ask and I'll galdly take you shooting all the time talking about and training them in properly safety and handleing.
I have seen 5 year olds be told to go pick up a pistol grab it keep it pointed in a safe direction finger off the tigger and carry with no trouble.
IT IS ALL IN HOW YOU TRAIN THEM.
If you don't train them then it is in my opinon being irresponsible.
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