Sheriff: Ohio man cleaning gun killed Amish girl

Sheriff: Ohio man cleaning gun killed Amish girl

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FREDERICKSBURG, Ohio (AP) -- A man cleaning his muzzle-loading rifle shot the gun into the air, accidentally killing a 15-year-old Amish girl driving a horse-drawn buggy more than a mile away, a sheriff said Tuesday.

Rachel Yoder was shot in the head ........

The man had fired the gun in the air about 1.5 miles from where Yoder was shot, Zimmerly said. State investigators were checking the rifle for a ballistics match, he said.

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This is just carelessness by the gun owner. I know people like this who shoot but don't think about where the bullet ends up.

I don't know the odds of this happening but they must be like winning the lottery....1.5 miles and shot her in the head .... wow.... I wonder what karma was at work here?

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(visit the link for the full news article)

The odds are extremely slim.

Still, firing into the air deserves some charge be it reckless endangerment or criminal negligence.

If not then what are the laws for?

It's not like be tripped and fell in the woods while hunting. It's not like through some fluke the bullet ricocheted off the backstop. He fired into the air. A very obvious and basic no-no.


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reply to post by fnpmitchreturns


How do you even punish it? I mean charge him, but I don't think he deserves a long sentence. I mean, what if he accidentally shot it? You can pull the trigger on those and they may not go off for ten seconds. May turn out it wasn't his shot, but still, take his guns, make him pay the family, but I can't see locking him up.

Originally posted by thisguyrighthere
The odds are extremely slim.

Still, firing into the air deserves some charge be it reckless endangerment or criminal negligence.

If not then what are the laws for?

It's not like be tripped and fell in the woods while hunting. It's not like through some fluke the bullet ricocheted off the backstop. He fired into the air. A very obvious and basic no-no.

 

Posted Via ATS Mobile: m.abovetopsecret.com

 

Based on my Law and Order Law Degree (from Professor Lenny Briscoe), the term "Deranged Indifference" comes to mind.

When you "test fire" a gun, you should fire it into a target. NEVER SHOOT INTO THE AIR unless your name is Yosemite Sam.

man that sucks.
dieing for an accident, punishment will be difficult but taking away his guns is a good start.
but how long will it be before someone with no gun to get a gun down there?
im not being anti-gun owner i just don't know these things.

I guess this proves it, gravity works in Ohio too for any of you doubters out there. Sadly i bet if he had actually aimed at the girl from 1.5 miles he would've misted her by that much. Maybe there was a strong wind that day or something.

reply to post by fnpmitchreturns


saddly - this has to be filed in the : " crap happens " folder

In Iraq, they do this everyday, killing dozens of people... injuring dozens more.

There's really people who shouldn't have guns because they are too stupid.

Sadly this sort of thing does happen on occasion, especially on new years eve.

Since most might not be aware... The most common way to unload a muzzle loader is to fire it.

If not you have to take a ball puller (similar to a wood screw) on a ramrod, run it down the barrel, twist it into the soft lead and then (with reasonable effort) pull it slowly out of the barrel. Quite an effort compared to just pulling the trigger.

I hunt with a 54 cal rifle.....thats a little too big of a piece of lead to just shoot out there with out knowing for sure where it will land. Sad that this guy didn't take that to mind before he pulled the trigger.

Also curious to know what type of projectile he was using, has anyone seen this reported?

It could have been round ball, mine ball, maxi ball, or modern jacketed bullet in sabot. If it were round ball or sabot, they most likely will have no rifling on the projectile to test.

I smell a conspiracy. But after all, it was just an amish.

Originally posted by listerofsmeg
man that sucks.
dieing for an accident, punishment will be difficult but taking away his guns is a good start.
but how long will it be before someone with no gun to get a gun down there?
im not being anti-gun owner i just don't know these things.

I'm not sure about the state laws in Ohio, but in the 1968 federal firearms legislation a single shot muzzle loader is NOT considered a firearm. A deadly weapon yes, but not a fire arm.

For that reason, at the age of 17 I was able to purchase my first black powder pistol in a kit. Federal paperwork/ permit/ age limit are requirements to purchase a "firearm", but not single shot black power rifle. (at least these were the laws ......uh several years ago).

Funny though, the VERY few Amish guys I SORT of knew growing up in the middle of now where (mid west USA) would archery deer hunt. I was not aware of the fact that any of them would own a rifle.

Originally posted by Sorgmodig
I smell a conspiracy. But after all, it was just an amish.

I believe you are an asshole.... but I'm no expert..

reply to post by Sorgmodig


I think you could have tried to be more of a troll there...

but I doubt you would have succeeded...

Originally posted by vogon42
Sadly this sort of thing does happen on occasion, especially on new years eve.

Since most might not be aware... The most common way to unload a muzzle loader is to fire it.

If not you have to take a ball puller (similar to a wood screw) on a ramrod, run it down the barrel, twist it into the soft lead and then (with reasonable effort) pull it slowly out of the barrel. Quite an effort compared to just pulling the trigger.

I hunt with a 54 cal rifle.....thats a little too big of a piece of lead to just shoot out there with out knowing for sure where it will land. Sad that this guy didn't take that to mind before he pulled the trigger.

Also curious to know what type of projectile he was using, has anyone seen this reported?

It could have been round ball, mine ball, maxi ball, or modern jacketed bullet in sabot. If it were round ball or sabot, they most likely will have no rifling on the projectile to test.

edit on 21-12-2011 by vogon42 because: ? on report

Or, just shoot it into the ground....no harm there, and it feeds the earthworms

Originally posted by phantomjack

Or, just shoot it into the ground....no harm there, and it feeds the earthworms

Exactly!
When I'm out hunting I always consider this question before pulling the trigger. If I happen to miss, will I be able to walk over and dig up that bullet?

If the answer is no, I dont pull the trigger.

reply to post by vogon42


well i know as much about firearms as a goat knows about artificial intelligence.
but anything that fires projectiles at high speed should be classed as a deadly weapon, all in the same catagory with no exeptions.
but thats just what i think, as i said i know nothing.

Originally posted by listerofsmeg
reply to post by vogon42

 

well i know as much about firearms as a goat knows about artificial intelligence.
but anything that fires projectiles at high speed should be classed as a deadly weapon, all in the same catagory with no exeptions.
but thats just what i think, as i said i know nothing.

There was never anything said about it not being a "deadly weapon". It just wasn't classified as a firearm then. By the way that classification changed in the 80's. A pistol, rifle, bow, crossbow, slingshot, a knife and other items are classified as "deadly weapons".

Originally posted by vogon42

Originally posted by phantomjack

Or, just shoot it into the ground....no harm there, and it feeds the earthworms

Exactly!
When I'm out hunting I always consider this question before pulling the trigger. If I happen to miss, will I be able to walk over and dig up that bullet?

If the answer is no, I dont pull the trigger.

Who goes and digs up their bullets after they shoot?

At that, if youre shooting at a deer and miss........how often do you actually see where the bullet hit, especially if its zooming past and probably hit 300 yards down the road......

really? Dig up your bullets .....come on now lol

Originally posted by listerofsmeg
reply to post by vogon42

 

well i know as much about firearms as a goat knows about artificial intelligence.
but anything that fires projectiles at high speed should be classed as a deadly weapon, all in the same catagory with no exeptions.
but thats just what i think, as i said i know nothing.

Oh no, I respect your quest for knowledge. I admit I could have been a bit more clear in my previous post. A deadly weapon could be anything from a grenade launcher to tire iron or simple kitchen knife.
Specifically if (in the US) you want to purchase a firearm, there are local, state, and federal "hoops" to jump through to be able to purchase the firearm.

Since a single shot black powder rifle (or pistol) is not LEGALLY considered a FIREARM, the laws regarding purchase of these items are similar to that of purchasing a kitchen knife (you walk in to the local store, pick it up off the rack, pay for it, and walk out....that's it)