This is What Happens When You Have A Population That Has Never Seen or Interacted with a Firearm

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2012/04/robert-farago/this-is-what-happens-when-you-have-a-population-that-has-never-seen-or-interacted-with-a-firearm/ ^ | April 29, 2012 | Robert Farago

[bkopto]

A message from Vineland Municipal Utilities to their customers:

“On March 14, a Vineland [New Jersey] Municipal Utility meter reader was reading meters near the Winslow School and St. Isidore’s day care in Vineland.

The meter reader was using an automated electronic device to read water meters. This device is configured in such a way that it could possibly be mistaken for a firearm.

Given recent events and concerns about violence in schools, the presence of the meter reader carrying the device was reported and emergency procedures were immediately implemented . . .

First of all, I would like to congratulate the responders for a job well done. I believe one can never be too safe under these circumstances. I also would like to apologize to those students, school administrators and parents who were upset by the incident.

To avoid a repeat in the future, we will take the following action.

• 1) VMU meter readers, in addition to their uniforms, will wear bright yellow vests with stenciling identifying them as VMU meter readers.

• 2) The device will be clearly marked in such a way that it could not be mistaken for a firearm.

John Boyle

Superintendent of Distribution Vineland Municipal Electric Utility

[kitchen]

Maybe the squad leader knew who he was dealing with. I don’t see any magazine pouches either.

[Boogieman]

I’m pretty sure you’re still not supposed to do that, even if you KNOW the thing isn’t loaded.

[21twelve]

He needs to add one of those flags that unfurls when he pulls the “trigger” that has “bang” written on it like Bugs Bunny has!

[JudgemAll]

Ha ha ha...

[TigersEye]

You know what's really funny? When Algore was running for
pres his campaign put that pic on his official website.

[posterchild]

Not surprising. This happened in a state where motorists are not allowed to pump their own gas. Many younger residents probably don’t know what a gas pump nozzle looks like.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

The media would identify as an “assault rifle AK-47”.

Or maybe an Uzi.

[FreedomPoster]

I was wondering why people were posting in a thread I put up over a year ago. Good memory.

[Kenton]

I’m pretty sure you’re still not supposed to do that, even if you KNOW the thing isn’t loaded.

Every rural kid has to memorize the saying, "treat every gun as if it's loaded" before he gets his first .22 (which comes around the age of 12 or so). Not only that, he gets to constantly show the grown-ups in the family for the better part of the next decade.

Al's more the "metrosexual" type though; I'm sure at some point in basic training somebody mentioned firearms safety, but it apparently didn't have the same impact as learning it from a Scots-Irish grandfather...