I was shot at--they missed

[daveshoe]

On a roof at a rental property,and I was running bottom 3 courses of roofing,when I heard ''pounding'' on metal. I was adding to this noise for a while before I noticed it was a pellet gun with the pellets hitting metal buildings. Since I was next to one. I started watching for activity and saw two kids moving at an upstairs window. I kept working and thought that they may have sensed that they had been spotted. Then a laser caught me in the eye,and I wasted no time getting away from their line of sight. I called 911 and the cops came. It turns out that these kids were 6 years old and got some BB's for their brother's rifle. Without being informed of this,a dad and a little boy showed up and the little boy said 'I'm sorry''

When I tried to explain to the father about how I felt that I had been targeted by a laser weapons sight,he just got huffy with me because I had not immediately accepted his son's apology. He also claimed that the laser was just a toy pointer. I do not believe this because a toy pointer would not have stayed on target like that thing did. I got no help from the cops, who stated that juvy court would not do a thing about it anyway. I asked the cops what would be their probable reaction if their cruiser had been lasered as it rolled up--- stony silence.

Fine with me. The next time I go to that job,I will be carrying openly. Of course the reason will not be to defend myself against little kids,but from the total lack of law enforcement in case the real bad guys show up. I feel that at the minimum,the father should have been responsible for what his kids did. Just think for a moment what would happen to that kid if he had taken that gun to school and fired it. As I see it ,there is very little to discourage that very thing from happening,given the fact of his father's attitude and the attitude of law enforcement. I should probably mention at this point that the father is a fireman for the city,and the cops probably wanted to cut him a giant amount of slack.

If I were the father,and in the same situation,I would have offered the weapon to the victim. If the victim did not want it,I would have smashed it on a tree and then explained to my son that he would be working to pay for the lost gun. I am still so angry as I write this that I know that it will take a while to get over it.

 

[WDaniels]

The cops are wrong. When ANY ONE aims and shoots at a structure that houses occupants or where people are they are commiting a class A felony. And the father is liable because he let his child get a hold of a weapon. And target lasers are a class 3 device and will cause blindness and or eye damage. The cops just didn't want to do any extra work. The little brat should have his butt kicked up to his shoulders and then have his shoulders kicked off. I have no sympathy for people like that no matter what age they are! Ok off my soap box.

WD

 

[AHarris]

Exactly what he said! Sounds like an overly arrogant fireman and an overly arrogant policeman are too close of "buddies" in this situation! The little brat and his sperm donor got off WAY too easily! Next time it could be a REAL gun he decides to play with since there was really no lesson learned (by "father" or son)in this incident.

I third this notion! Do yourself and the rest of your community a favor and don't let this oversight in law enforcement drop. Those people need to be taught a lesson!

 

[AMink]

Sounds like the old "kids will be kids" theory of taking care of business. Of course when that was said when I was a kid, "parents will be parents" and the kid would have got a whoopin'! I'd definately file a report at the main police station. That officer needs a little kick in the butt too. You're right though; if it was his car get lasered and shot at with a bb gun, the kid and the dad would have a free ride. Even though the pellet probably wouldn't cause you a lot of damage (eyes and face could), you could get hit and fall off the roof. That could cause some damage!

 

[Rotty]

I would go file a police report and hand it directly to the supervisor.



If I were the father, that kid would have a severe butt tanning and grounding for the next 6 months. #@$%!The gun and laser point would have been confinscated. Then locked up in a gun safe, which should have been done in the first place.

And that would have been before he appoligized to you and not a simple I am sorry.



My theory are all guns are loaded, and all guns can kill. There are responsible guns owners and that "fireman" is not a responsible gun owner.

I do not take lightly gun(s) ownership and responsibility. And yes, I have several guns.



I never want to have to say, "Oh, I sorry". It is too late at that point.



Yes, kid are naturally curious, but also instill into them, their are conquenses to pointing weapons at other people.

 

[daveshoe]

Guns at School

What I really wonder about is what kind of skitzo society we live in where pointing a french fry and shouting ''bang'' at school is taken much more seriously than firing a weapon at a person and shining a laser in his eye.

I am considering your suggestions.

In the same town, less than a month ago,a 10 year old boy set a fire that killed his mother,three other kids,and an adult male. Maybe this incident could create too much publicity and add to the pain for a town of less than 25,000.

 

[AMink]

Sage advice:

"Once the bullet (or bb, arrow, pellet, etc. ) leaves the muzzle, you can't call it back. "



I don't think much is going to leave the muzzle of a French fry! We have that same stupid thinking here too.

 

[B.G. Smith]

BB/pellet guns available today are lethal weapons. Can put out eyes and do serious bodily harm at the least. Follow up with the local authorities/DA if necessary. That is serious business. bg

 

[JoshPeters]

Bad press or not, I'd go through with reporting it to whomever nessissary. Guns of ANY way shape or form are no "toy. "

To me it sounds like BAD parenting. At that age if the kid is going to be around Firearms AT ALL, he should know better. No if's and's or but's about it. The other side of that is, at that age, he should not have had access to that weapon without parental supervision.

 

[PToombs]

I agree with all that's been said!



I would like to add, DON'T go and carry your gun! The cops won't hesitate to throw you in jail! That's unforunately the way things work now. You would be the bad guy, and draw all attention from the real problem, the brat and his dad.

 

[TWilkening]

This is exactly why my dad never gave me a pellet gun. No one takes a pellet gun as a dangerous weapon. Instead, my dad waited a year and gave me a . 22

 

[tgordon]

I too would go to the police station and report it to the proper authorities, since they didn't show when you dialed 911. INHO there is to much buddy buddy crap going on here. If that kid had been shooting at the fire department I doubt that it would have been a simple "I'm sorry". I would break the gun also and have some sort of disaplinary action for the runt. On the other note unless you have a CCW I would discourage carrying as you would probably not recieve the buddy buddy treatment#@$%!

 

[scootergmc]

Reading through this thread I had to check everyone's location. I thought I was listening to a bunch of CA liberals. Not to make light of your situation, but what charge exactly would be brought against kid or the father? Juvy court won't do a thing (he's six, for cryin' out loud, you can't criminalize a kid that young), and CPS has better things to do. What you have is an unfortunate situation, a kid being a kid, and you can only hope the kid is scared from the cops and he's getting the smack down from the father.



And you made the assumption the cops are buddy buddy with the dad... do you have any proof to substantiate your claim? Or you just don't like being told the court won't do anything about it? And you said you were shot at? I didn't read that. I read you had a laser pointer pointed at you and you heard some shots hit a metal building. Nowhere does it say you were shot at.

 

[scootergmc]

The cops are wrong. When ANY ONE aims and shoots at a structure that houses occupants or where people are they are commiting a class A felony. And the father is liable because he let his child get a hold of a weapon. And target lasers are a class 3 device and will cause blindness and or eye damage. The cops just didn't want to do any extra work. The little brat should have his butt kicked up to his shoulders and then have his shoulders kicked off. I have no sympathy for people like that no matter what age they are! Ok off my soap box.

WD

The cops aren't wrong. What's the youngest age you can prosecute a child in AK? I'm betting it's over six... .

 

[2broke2smoke]

what the kid did was wrong ...

what the dad did was worse ...



but open carry on a jobsite because of it is ridiculous ...



you guys just got a decent concealed carry law and you walking around with a gun on your side because some 6 year was shootin' his bb gun is just what the anti's are looking for ...

 

[bmoeller]

This is exactly why my dad never gave me a pellet gun. No one takes a pellet gun as a dangerous weapon. Instead, my dad waited a year and gave me a . 22

I knew someone that was allowed to shoot a 12ga. shotgun at age 5. Wasn't allowed to use or buy a . 22 'til quite a bit later. The dad wanted to make sure that they knew that a gun can be powerful and dangerous. The 12ga. knocked him over the first time.



A . 22 and BB/pellet gun don't kick hard at all, and could easily be thought of as not a big deal at all to someone who doesn't know any different.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Reading through this thread I had to check everyone's location. I thought I was listening to a bunch of CA liberals. Not to make light of your situation, but what charge exactly would be brought against kid or the father? Juvy court won't do a thing (he's six, for cryin' out loud, you can't criminalize a kid that young), and CPS has better things to do. What you have is an unfortunate situation, a kid being a kid, and you can only hope the kid is scared from the cops and he's getting the smack down from the father.



And you made the assumption the cops are buddy buddy with the dad... do you have any proof to substantiate your claim? Or you just don't like being told the court won't do anything about it? And you said you were shot at? I didn't read that. I read you had a laser pointer pointed at you and you heard some shots hit a metal building. Nowhere does it say you were shot at.

It needs to be reported so some heat will come down (hopefully) on the parent/parents, a six year old has no business with a rifle unsupervised. If a person leaves a weapon out where children can get it, that person can be liable for their actions, I don't see any difference here. bg

 

[scootergmc]

It needs to be reported so some heat will come down (hopefully) on the parent/parents, a six year old has no business with a rifle unsupervised. If a person leaves a weapon out where children can get it, that person can be liable for their actions, I don't see any difference here. bg

Why should a government agency have anything to do with this? What are they going to do? We already have a society of government babysitters. If there are laws pertaining to child access to pellet guns, then by all means, I'm sure the cops would've done something about it. And for the love of everything holy, let's not equate pellet guns to real guns, although society is heading that way... Let's hope the parents are thoroughly embarrased, punishing their child accordingly, and have learned something about leaving their child unsupervised with a pellet gun.



If anything, it sounds like the parents may have some civil liability for possible damage done to a metal building...

 

[WDaniels]

scootergmc,

I didn't say that they would or should prosecute a 6 year old. I just said that the law regarding shooting at a residence doesn't differentiate ages. And I did mention that the father is liable. I don't want to be a flamer but you sound like a California liberal with the "oh the poor child didn't know what he was doing because of his age" and "we need both sides of the story on why he shot at a stranger. " If he didn't know what he was doing, why was he hiding? And yes the cops were wrong! There are laws regarding letting underage children getting a hold of weapons. The father should have been charged right then and there. That is called "being accountable for one's actions. " And yes, the parent is responsible for their children's actions.

WD

 

[scootergmc]

scootergmc,

I didn't say that they would or should prosecute a 6 year old. I just said that the law regarding shooting at a residence doesn't differentiate ages. And I did mention that the father is liable. I don't want to be a flamer but you sound like a California liberal with the "oh the poor child didn't know what he was doing because of his age" and "we need both sides of the story on why he shot at a stranger. " If he didn't know what he was doing, why was he hiding? And yes the cops were wrong! There are laws regarding letting underage children getting a hold of weapons. The father should have been charged right then and there. That is called "being accountable for one's actions. " And yes, the parent is responsible for their children's actions.

WD

Again, nowhere did I state the poor child didn't know what he was doing because of his age. I'm just saying he can't be criminalized. The kid still needs a beating.



Nowhere does it say the kid was hiding. He says "sensed they may have been spotted" after seeing them move in an upstairs window. Also, nowhere does it say he shot at daveshoe.



There are laws regarding children getting ahold of firearms. A bb gun is not a firearm. What should the father been charged with? What law, praytell? If there is an Ohio law that he violated, then I'll agree with you.





*If you guys are reading a different thread please let me know... :-{}