3-Year-Old Dies From Gunshot Wound In Yellowstone National Park - Polidicks

[QUOTE]Rangers at Yellowstone National Park are investigating the shooting death of a 3-year-old girl at a campground inside the park. The mother of the girl told a 911 dispatcher that the girl shot herself with a handgun Saturday morning, according to a statement from the park. The identity of the girl and her family was not released. Visitors to the park are legally allowed to carry guns, but "discharging a firearm for any reason is illegal," according to the park.[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/08/us/yellowstone-girl-shot/[/url]

[quote]Visitors to the park are legally allowed to carry guns, but "discharging a firearm for any reason is illegal," according to the park.[/quote] That makes a lot of sense.

I hate reading about kids getting killed. I work with them every day, it hits home every time.

[quote]The mother of the girl told a 911 dispatcher that the girl shot herself with a handgun Saturday morning, according to a statement from the park[/quote] People not storing their guns correctly. Idiots going to be idiots. It's a damn shame the child had to die, and honestly the family is probably gonna get into a shit-ton of legal trouble.

This country is so goddamn stupid when it comes to firearms. If America was a child, it'd be the one who accidentally shoots his hand off.

How did a three year old girl manage to get her hands on her parents gun in the middle of a National Park? Seems like something Mom or Pop would notice.

I wish we had some sort of fingerprint system that makes sure that someone is holding a gun correctly and is the owner of said gun before it could be fired. It would stop so many of these unnecessary tragedies, would stop the problem of guns being stolen, and would effectively stop the illegal firearm trade if the encryption was good enough.

[QUOTE=JoeSkylynx;42126673]People not storing their guns correctly. Idiots going to be idiots. It's a damn shame the child had to die, and honestly the family is probably gonna get into a shit-ton of legal trouble.[/QUOTE] How does one properly store a firearm while out at the park?

[QUOTE=Frisk;42126883]How does one properly store a firearm while out at the park?[/QUOTE] In a fastened holster on safe when your three year old child can't get at it?

[QUOTE=A big fat ass;42126556]That makes a lot of sense.[/QUOTE] It's probably a deterrent to stop people from pissing around If you're in a situation where you have to either shoot your gun at a bear or get your head mauled off I doubt a judge would convict you I think a lot of times laws aren't absolute

[QUOTE=Maloof?;42126933]It's probably a deterrent to stop people from pissing around If you're in a situation where you have to either shoot your gun at a bear or get your head mauled off I doubt a judge would convict you I think a lot of times laws aren't absolute[/QUOTE] For bears, there is bear spray. It's more reliable than a handgun since bears can take quite a few hits (unless you're the best shot ever and can tear their skull apart).

[QUOTE=FunnyStarRunner;42126730]This country is so goddamn stupid when it comes to firearms. If America was a child, it'd be the one who accidentally shoots his hand off.[/QUOTE] except it really isn't compared to most other countries with lax gun laws think of how many millions of people who own guns in america that aren't blowing their hands off, the media isn't going to run a news story about a responsible gun owner "breaking news, man locks up unloaded rifle in gun safe, does nothing, more at 11"

[QUOTE=katbug;42126834]I wish we had some sort of fingerprint system that makes sure that someone is holding a gun correctly and is the owner of said gun before it could be fired. It would stop so many of these unnecessary tragedies, would stop the problem of guns being stolen, and would effectively stop the illegal firearm trade if the encryption was good enough.[/QUOTE] [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personalized_gun"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personalized_gun[/URL]

[QUOTE=A big fat ass;42126556]That makes a lot of sense.[/QUOTE] There are brown bears in Yellowstone. I wouldn't camp there without one.

Honestly this could have been prevented, but if you're camping anywhere in the Montana/Wyoming area, its understandable to have a loaded gun ready, especially if you have a child with you. Hell, its almost expected to have at least bear spray or a .22, maybe even just a dog with you if you're hiking. In yellowstone there are bison, deer, wolves, brown and black bears everywhere, walking around even in densely populated parts of the park. I guess my point in mentioning these things is that their carelessness was probably the product of being careful, its painfully ironic and tragic that this happened.

[QUOTE=Cuon Alpinus;42127080]For bears, there is bear spray. It's more reliable than a handgun since bears can take quite a few hits (unless you're the best shot ever and can tear their skull apart).[/QUOTE] I didn't know there was such a thing! I also just thought that perhaps the 'carry but not discharge' rule was perhaps a First Amendment (that is the gun one right?) issue; I mean you have the right to carry guns, but I imagine in many public places you're not allowed to discharge them without dire need

[QUOTE=The golden;42128070]Why the hell would you bring a handgun out camping rather than bear spray or something. An angry brown bear is going to take more hits than your average camper can reliably land on it. A quick shot with bear spray will quickly incapacitate it and allow you to escape harm.[/QUOTE] There are more threats than just bears out there. Also, some handguns can be quite powerful, such as those chambered in .44 magnum or .500 magnum. [editline]8th September 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=Maloof?;42128066]I didn't know there was such a thing! I also just thought that perhaps the 'carry but not discharge' rule was perhaps a First Amendment (that is the gun one right?) issue; I mean you have the right to carry guns, but I imagine in many public places you're not allowed to discharge them without dire need[/QUOTE] Second amendment, and you would be correct in your assumption about discharges. The only time it is acceptable and legal to fire your weapon in public is if you are in immediate danger, or you are at a public range.

[QUOTE=SKEEA;42128092]There are more threats than just bears out there. Also, some handguns can be quite powerful, such as those chambered in .44 magnum or .500 magnum. [/QUOTE] What, are you gonna shoot at mosquitoes and bees? Name a natural threat that you could find in a national park to which a handgun is the best deterrent or solution to.

[QUOTE=latin_geek;42128238]What, are you gonna shoot at mosquitoes and bees? Name a natural threat that you could find in a national park to which a handgun is the best deterrent or solution to.[/QUOTE] Wolves, coyotes, and mountain lions, though a handgun is hardly ideal for that sort of environment.

[QUOTE=latin_geek;42128238]What, are you gonna shoot at mosquitoes and bees? Name a natural threat that you could find in a national park to which a handgun is the best deterrent or solution to.[/QUOTE] A sundry list of predatory animals that are big enough to overpower a human, but what could prove to be a bigger problem than them is other people.

[QUOTE=BLOODGA$M;42128762]A sundry list of predatory animals that are big enough to overpower a human, but what could prove to be a bigger problem than them is other people.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=SpaceGhost;42128667]Wolves, coyotes, and mountain lions, though a handgun is hardly ideal for that sort of environment.[/QUOTE] Mace has been effectively used against smaller wildlife, since it's only logical that anything with tear ducts will get fucked up by pepper spray. Those animals, though smaller and therefore quicker to be shot down, are much faster/harder to hit, making a firearm still not a good solution, and still not something that a tourist should be carrying around

[QUOTE=latin_geek;42128907]Mace has been effectively used against smaller wildlife, since it's only logical that anything with tear ducts will get fucked up by pepper spray. Those animals, though smaller and therefore quicker to be shot down, are much faster/harder to hit, making a firearm still not a good solution, and still not something that a tourist should be carrying around[/QUOTE] says the man who has never even touched a can of mace or a firearm and has probably never encountered any game more dangerous than a mouse

[QUOTE=butre;42128939]says the man who has never even touched a can of mace or a firearm and has probably never encountered any game more dangerous than a mouse[/QUOTE] why do you need to have used a gun to talk about things that have been proven by health and safety authorities and/or personal logical thought experiments [editline]9th September 2013[/editline] I'm not saying he's absolutely right; I ain't got time to fact-check but dismissing somebody purely based on the fact that they haven't had hands-on experience is silly

you should have firearm experience to decide that it's difficult to shoot a wolf and that nobody should ever try it you have to aim with mace too anyway so his argument is completely moot

[QUOTE=latin_geek;42128238]What, are you gonna shoot at mosquitoes and bees? Name a natural threat that you could find in a national park to which a handgun is the best deterrent or solution to.[/QUOTE] I'd say other parkgoers who are harassing you? [editline]9th September 2013[/editline] Also a sense of security that very few other defensive systems give you. You don't holster your Tazer thinking "Yes, this will definitely protect me and I feel very confident in a plastic yellow toy that makes a thwang noise when I pull the trigger and nothing else!" [editline]9th September 2013[/editline] And a sense of security is [I]very[/I] valuable indeed.

[QUOTE=Maloof?;42129067]why do you need to have used a gun to talk about things that have been proven by health and safety authorities and/or personal logical thought experiments [editline]9th September 2013[/editline] I'm not saying he's absolutely right; I ain't got time to fact-check but dismissing somebody purely based on the fact that they haven't had hands-on experience is silly[/QUOTE] Well, I do know that Mace is what Park Rangers and Scientists recommend for dealing with wild animal attacks. For something like a Bear, it's more effective than a lot of firearms.

[QUOTE=butre;42129079]you should have firearm experience to decide that it's difficult to shoot a wolf and that nobody should ever try it you have to aim with mace too anyway so his argument is completely moot[/QUOTE] Actually with bear spray you are supposed to create kind of a wall with the spray. Its very potent and had decent distance, and you really shouldn't let any animal get close enough to you that you could spray it right into its face.

I was sad about this story and then I read the posts above me here and I guess nothing matters but fuck america and everyone on facepunch is capable of making mistakes

[QUOTE=evilweazel;42126748]How did a three year old girl manage to get her hands on her parents gun in the middle of a National Park? Seems like something Mom or Pop would notice.[/QUOTE] Because people are irresponsible fucks with firearms since they consider it a right and not a granted privilege that can be swiftly revoked with just the smallest fuckup.

[QUOTE=The golden;42131789]What are you even trying to argue here? That a handgun is more efficient than bear spray? Sorry but it isn't. Any professional outdoorsman will tell you right away that the spray is much more efficient and reliable if you are approached by hostile animals. Unless you're just turning this into a gun debate which it isn't. Nobody here is arguing for or against firearms - just their use in a situation such as this. Nobody is debating guns here.[/QUOTE] can't you headshot the bear?