Hunting, shooting, and responsibility (Republic, Branson: condo, home, school)

[ShadowCaver]

My sincere condolences to the family and friends of Allison M. Schneider, the 3-year old girl who was accidentally hit by a stray bullet by a neighbor who was target practicing. Sympathies also to him also, as he will carry the burden the rest of his life with realization that his actions took the life of a young girl. This occurred in my home county, Gasconade, south of where I grew up.

As a hunter and shooter, it saddens me terribly that someone was injured and, now, died. Those who bear arms have the highest responsibility to ensure beyond any doubt that what they are shooting towards is what is intended [deer, turkey, squirrel, rabbit, dove, target, etc.], and that if by chance their aim or sights are off, that the stray has NO chance at all of ricocheting or whatever to somewhere to do damage.

Gasconade County Republican - Local girl, 3, critically injured by gunshot wound to head, dies

Sheriff’s investigators suspect stray round came from neighbor’s target-practice range. A 3-year-old rural Owensville girl struck early Monday afternoon in the head by a suspected stray 9 mm bullet died Tuesday afternoon from her injuries. ...

Southeastern Outdoors - Fatal Hunting Accidents by State

There are about two - three accidental deaths per state each year related to some sort of "hunting accident". While any loss of life is tragic, these incidents represent a very low accident rate when considering to the hundreds of thousands of people who are participating in hunting activities. ...

Missouri Deer Hunting | Hunter Ethics and Safety

According to the National Safety Council, hunting is a safe activity. In fact, hunting results in fewer injuries per 100,000 participants than do many other sports, including cycling, bowling, golf and tennis. However, as with any activity, you must always use good judgment and take responsibility for your actions. Deer and turkey hunters should follow safe, ethical hunting practices. These include...

Take this post as not only about this young girl, but about ALL hunting and shooting activities. Many people have been injured, by falling out of a tree stand, by being shot, etc. Be careful out there.

EDIT to update original story: http://gasconadecountyrepublican.com.../view/2555/29/

... Esphorst has personally verified with bank officials that an account has been set up for the child's family at Legend's Bank of Owensville for those wishing to assist the family. The youngster was flown from the scene of the shooting by helicopter air ambulance and was in intensive care until she was pronounced dead the next afternoon. Donations may be made to the Allison Schneider Benefit Fund, c/o Legends Bank, P.O. Box 508, Owensville, Mo., 65066.

[Northwoods Voyager]

My husband and I would like to add our condolences to the family of little Allison Schneider. We had heard about this terrible tragedy on national and local news stations.

Our family has hunted in our immediate area for many years and target practiced many times, Always observing safety rules to the utmost. Our sons were raised to respect guns and the necessity of safety steps to be foremost any time firearms are being handled.

None of this will bring this child's life back, nor absolve the person who was shooting, from his responsibility in his matter. All concerned will live with this forever. As always, it only takes a split second for lives to be changed. How sad. Prayers for all.

Thank you, ShadowCaver, for bringing this to our attention. First line of the MO hunting and ethics safety: Be sure of your target and beyond before you shoot.

[kshe95girl]

I read of this tragedy today in the SEMissourian, and was greatly saddened.
Growing up in my own home county of Sainte Genevieve, I was surrounded by hunters, and was thoroughly schooled in gun safety. This was reiterated by my husband when I moved to rural Florida, where we are surrounded by hunting properties.
My condolences go out to the Schneider family, I pray for all of you.
Please, all shooting enthusiasts, be aware of what is behind that target!

[chrokee69]

Yes I will to send any type of condolences to the family of that little child. It is heartbreaking to hear that has happened. But when you live the country anything can happen just like this. I know it almost happened to me getting ready to go to work, when a stray bullet came within hitting me and i am on my front porch. Stupid people who don't live around where you live think that they can come on another persons property and shoot away. Sad.

[MoNative34]

I have a neighbor that thinks its perfectly fine to roll down his window and take a shot if he's driving down the road and happens to see a deer and he brags about it too. I asked him how would he know if someone might be back in the woods and his response was "It would be their fault if they weren't wearing hunter orange...."

[DinsdalePirahna]

Originally Posted by chrokee69

Stupid people who don't live around where you live think that they can come on another persons property and shoot away. Sad.

My neighbor would lose at least one cow per year because of some trespassing, drunk knucklehead coming up from NYC.

Owning fire arms is not only a right, but a responsibility.

[Northwoods Voyager]

Click on this site that ShadowCaver has provided, if you haven't already:

Southeastern Outdoors - Poachers by State

Amazing statistics. Esp. the tree stand incidents. Never knew that this was such a problem. Again, it only takes a split second for any incident to change our lives.

[jeepejeep]

Condolences to the family of the child and as the OP said, the person who fired the shot.
I target shoot on my land in upstate NY a lot but I'm damn sure of the backstop and will not tolerate anyone not being safety concious at all times. If all gun owners would be aware of the direction of their muzzle at ALL times, these terrible things would not happen.
While hunting no shot is taken without knowing what is behind the animal.
Terrible and avoidable

[20yrsinBranson]

So many people don't realize how far a bullet will travel. Before becoming a realtor, I thought that you had to have at least 10 acres to hunt, only to find out that is not the case. It seems you can hunt on an acre if you want to. I wonder where people think the bullets go that miss the deer/target/etc. That they just STOP at the property line?

It's really sad when someone's lack of foresight cause injury and death to someone of ANY AGE.

20yrsinBranson

[ShadowCaver]

Another shot, and almost another accidental death...

Drive in Missouri countryside almost turns deadly - STLtoday.com

Lisa Long was driving through Cass County farm country last week when somebody -- maybe a mile or more away -- pulled the trigger on a high-powered rifle. The bullet zipped over fields and pasture from the south as Long's car traveled west from her aunt's house. The two would meet at the same point at precisely the same instant. Not only that, Long's driver-side window was down six inches or so and the bullet was at the perfect trajectory to enter the opening as she drove past that point at 40 mph. The slug tore through her cheek, exited her mouth, then plopped onto the floorboard of the 1998 Ford Taurus. ...

Great sense of humor and life this lady has, much spunk to her. Glad that all is good with her.

However, good friggin' grief people - get your guns aligned and/or shoot w/ more knowledge of where your shot may go!

These situations happen too often - and here are just two documented cases within week of each other, where the probability of something so amazingly against odds has happened. If Lisa was just a bit shorter, the bullet would not have entered her cheek.

Responsibility here people!!!