viscountdriver Loc: East Kent UK

I saw on our news pictures of a little girl who accidentally killed her instructor with a machine gun.
I don't take sides in the US gun law, none of my business but what on earth was a tiny girl doing with a machine gun?

Picdude Loc: Ohio

I'm 53 years old, I've been handling rifles and shotguns since I was 8. The gun range in question specialized in exotic weapons and providing exposure to people who would otherwise not have the opportunity to handle such equipment.

Having said all that, the question that first went through my mind and still keeps going through it is the same as yours: What the hell did they expect?

RichieC Loc: Adirondacks

I can't say, was at a formal shooting range, under close supervision by an instructor (who lost his life), and an accident caused by poor judgement all around. She lost control of the weapon. What was she doing with it? It did not belong to her, nor did she get it as a prize in her cereal box.

Everyone is in constant mortal danger from poor judgement, the vast majority of of which could be avoided. Of all the dangers you or I will expect to meet in an entire lifetime, this will never appear on the list, anywhere. Your chances are better at winning the lottery twice, or getting stuck by lightning three times.

I did see where a 3-year old drowned in a pool in the UK... What was a 3 year old doing alone, unsupervised in an area where she could fall into a pool with no parent around to rescue her?

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lancashire-28799584

Answer? Poor Judgement.

viscountdriver Loc: East Kent UK

Sure you are right but it does not answer the question, what was a nine year old kid doing with a machine gun?
It was poor judgement on her instructor that got himself killed and I accept many of you enjoy the gun range, and why not? But, come on, a nine year old girl with a gun that many adults could not handle. I am told the kick back is swift and sudden.

dljen Loc: Central PA

Evidently, the parents wanted this and even taped it. From what I've heard and read, Viscountdriver, the rules for allowing guns and minors are very lax on that gun range and even though a child that age cannot own a Uzi, he/she may shoot one. People have said that the instructor was not following regulations. It's a losing situation, the man is dead and the child will always know she took someone's life, though it was an accident. In the future, the full impact will hit her.

I heard a representative on TV say that shooting an Uzi was on the child's "bucket list!"

Picdude Loc: Ohio

I hadn't heard the "bucket list" thing. I did see video on TV of other young people firing automatic weapons but they all showed a stock attached so that the weapon could be braced against the shoulder and therefore more easily controlled. The UZI the young lady was firing had no such stock or brace attached. That weapon is difficult to control for a trained adult. While I understand what the firing range is trying to accomplish and can support their ideas, it's extremely important that common sense be applied to each situation. In this case, I really believe had she been guided toward firing a different weapon, this tragedy would have never occurred.

Frankly, the parents should have been able to see this as well as the range instructors and managers.

dljen Loc: Central PA

Here it is:

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/08/gun-range-9-year-old-uzi-horrifying-details.html