Shot rings out at gun show: Exhibitor, stepson wounded by personal handgun

http://www.timesdaily.com/news/stories/20298newsstories.html ^ | June 23 2002 | Emilio Sahurie

[2Trievers]

FLORENCE - Terry Joe Runager had just sold an AK-47 rifle to a customer and was hoping a little salesmanship would lead to another sale.

Instead, it led to blood.

Runager was showing his personal handgun from a side holster, when the weapon discharged, wounding him in his left hand and his stepson in the leg.

Runager wasn't a stranger to guns and bullets.

The 51-year-old Decatur man was a registered dealer at a Saturday gun and knife show at the Florence Conference Center. He was released from Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital along with his 25-year-old stepson after being treated for gunshot wounds.

Organizers of the two-day show that ends today said Runager's actions were inexcusable in an event where safety is a priority. Rule No. 1 printed in a large sign near a registration table reads, "No loaded firearms at any time except by full-time law enforcement officials."

Safety rules also were printed on two sides of a piece of paper given to dealers. Warnings reminding people not to dry fire any guns were printed on cards left at each vendor's table.

Brent Oliver, coordinating the show for his firm, Killen-based Valley Productions Inc., said his company would consider civil or criminal action against Runager.

"It's standard policy that if you are caught with a loaded firearm, it's a lifetime ban from the show," Oliver said.

No charges had been filed against Runager as of Saturday afternoon, said Florence Lt. Barry Brewer.

"Our investigation is not complete, but it looks like the weapon was discharged accidentally," Brewer said.

Brewer said Runager's handgun discharged while he was showing it to a customer. Runager had just pulled the gun's magazine out and then re-inserted it when a bullet went through his hand and struck his stepson, Keith Stanley, in the leg.

Runager's hand was wrapped as he looked at paramedics taking care of his stepson, Keith Stanley, 25, reclining on a stretcher in an ambulance.

Oliver said he intended to spread the word about the incident in the state circuit, a move that could also ban Runager from other shows.

He said that's how serious safety is considered among dealers and gun show promoters.

Runager's handgun was his personal weapon, and it did not have plastic ties like other handguns and rifles on his display table, Oliver said. Florence police officers were providing security at the show, ensuring guns entering the building through the front door of the conference center had safety ties.

"He should have had a tie on it or stored it in a container," Oliver said. "He did not follow the rules."

The shooting not only scared dozens of people looking at guns but cast a shadow over gun shows, said Mark Peeples, who brought his son and another boy to the show.

Peeples said the gunshot silenced the banquet room as people figured out the direction of the gunfire. The silence didn't last long with a woman near Runager crying out loud, "Oh my God, Terry shot himself."

"He wasn't paying attention," Peeples said.

"The people here love guns, but for someone to be that absent minded and irresponsible, it makes everyone look bad."

The 1 p.m. incident was one of at least two gun calls in the city in two days. Florence officers charged 19-year-old Randall Schook on Friday night with second-degree assault after he fired several rounds outside Martin's Clothing Store, including one that ricocheted on the ground and wounded a person in the foot.

Emilio Sahurie can be reached at 740-5803 or emilio.sahurie@timesdaily.com.

 

[2Trievers]

Be careful out here! &;-)

[Inge_CAV]

Thanks for posting this 2Ts. : )

[umgud]

Yep, the old finger on the trigger routine.

[2Trievers]

You are welcome CAVster ... the URL came across kinda phuny ... but it does link ... oh well.

[umgud]

Or maybe a failed 1911 decocking routine

[2Trievers]

Hi Lowbie ... can you ping your list for us, please? &;-)

[vetvetdoug]

I have seen rifles discharged in gun stores on two different occasions. Luckily, both went through the roof. Nevertheless, the incidents were unnerving but stresses the need for safety and the axiom that one never points the barrel of any weapon at anything except the floor or ceiling unless you are going to shoot at something. Never pass a weapon to another unless the cylinder is open in a revolver or the slide back in an automatic with the clip out. This guy obviously did not observe safety lessons.

[Khepera]

Every now and then the same thing would happen to Barney. Good thing Andy nor any one else ever got hurt when this happened.

[Ditter]

My huaband was at a gun show in Houston a few years ago when a shot was fired accidentaly. No one was hurt but he said he had never heard a convention hall full of people get so quiet so quickly.

[Inge_CAV]

I think we are supposed to list this on a *Bang* list.

FYI! blam.

[fella]

The gun shows in Cow Town not only require that all guns be unloaded but must if possible have the bolts removed and or a ty-strap run through the barrel and chamber. This dufuse should be baned because the media and political gun grabbers are goping to glomb onto this story and pertray it as the norm instead of the exception.

[dighton]

Be careful out here! &;-)

I kinda remember that show. The CLASSIC version is "Let's do it to them before they do it to us."

;-)

[AAABEST]

Terry Joe Runager had just sold an AK-47

Don't let the AP get a hold of this one. The headline will read "Assault Rifle Dealer Shoots Family Member, Self at Gunshow"

[TheBattman]

I appreciate the humor, but unfortunately, this is EXACTLY how it will be portrayed in the media.

I wish stupid idiots would quit doing these stupid things to give all gun owners and gun shows a bad name. This guy got a hard lesson in gun safety, and I hope the lesson doesn't end there - he needs to be banned from all future gun shows, period. He is guilty of giveing the gun-haters more amunition for their fight against us and the 2nd Amendment.

It wouldn't bother me if someone gave him a thorough butt whoopin' - he certainly needs it - It would be even more appropriate if it were his step-son that he shot....

[bybybill]

bump

[Inge_CAV]

"FLORENCE - Terry Joe Runager had just sold an AK-47 rifle to a customer"

Mr Emilio Sahurie, Ya know, I would be willing to say that if you did a little research before writing this article, the AK-47 rifle sold is only a semi-automatic civilian version. Not the fully automatic military assault rifle carried by muslim extremists.

Guess it just fits the leftist agenda of the press to not report the truth.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Bang

[SW6906]

It's worse than that.....the AK-47 by definition is fully automatic (e.g., a selective fire machine gun), it is the AKS that was likely sold at the show. The AKS is semi-auto only. AK-47s are not legal in very many states.

[Inge_CAV]

That is what I was thinking. A dealer sells a AK-47 at a gun show ... with lots of LEOs in attendance, and in Podunk, Alabama. Yeah, Right.

[Erasmus]

All it takes is a little brainfart.

That's why safety habits have to be so ingrained they don't depend on the brain (at least not on the neocortex).