New York woman killed by hunter while walking dogs (Page 2): Well, it is CNN. They know nothing of firearms. But they did take the time to write "single shot pistol." Of course, that's...

Pegasus Loc: Texas Gulf Coast

Heather Eliza wrote:

what the heck was he doing hunting after dark - the law prohibits such thing. And there is no way a woman walking can be mistaken for a deer. A responsible hunter knows better, and you have to be a pretty damn good shot to hit anything from 200 yards... and its impossible with a pistol. Something does not add up with this story. I send condolences to the family of the woman.

Well, it is CNN. They know nothing of firearms. But they did take the time to write "single shot pistol." Of course, that's a misnoner but it does give us the clue.

Those are called "specialty pistols," and you can most certainly hit something at 200 yards and beyond with these things. They are essentially rifles without a stock. The Remington XP100 was an early example of this, as was the Thompson-Center Contender. The discipline has grown quite a bit in the last 20 years.

Btw, I have been spending a lot of time competing, sometimes winning, at 1000 yards. I guess I'm a "pretty damn good shot." :)

It's still a terrible tragedy and you are correct about hunting after dark and making that mistaken misidentification.

sourdough58 Loc: Maine

How could he even see her at 200 yds in the Dark?

Pegasus Loc: Texas Gulf Coast

sourdough58 wrote:

How could he even see her at 200 yds in the Dark?

That's a great question, and a good reason for the hunting laws that usually state hunting hours are from half hour before sunrise to half hour after sunset. That's for game animals. I have hunted late at night for pigs in Texas, and I have the riflescope to do it, but you have to be sure of your target. I don't think he could see her properly and he should not have taken the shot. It's very sad.

Heather Eliza Loc: BFE :)Upstate, NY, Adirondack Park, Foothills

BobHartung wrote:

Reminds me of a few years ago when a former Iowan was living in Maine and went out on her back deck with white mittens on. She was shot by a local who was found innocent of manslaughter as he said she looked like a deer (the gloves supposedly mimicking a whitetail). So, yes, you can mistake a woman for a deer. Disregarded the fact that he was hunting in town.

that is not being mistaken for a deer, that is idiocy.

bedouin Loc: Big Bend area, Texas

Negligent homicide!

Pegasus Loc: Texas Gulf Coast

Heather Eliza wrote:

that is not being mistaken for a deer, that is idiocy.

I agree completely.

bedouin Loc: Big Bend area, Texas

Although I do not do it, I am not opposed to hunting. Nor do I oppose gun ownership by properly vetted, stable citizens. Unfortunately many deer hunters like to drink while hunting and I think that is mostly responsible for why they shoot one another and innocents or livestock so much.

Pegasus Loc: Texas Gulf Coast

bedouin wrote:

Although I do not do it, I am not opposed to hunting. Nor do I oppose gun ownership by properly vetted, stable citizens. Unfortunately many deer hunters like to drink while hunting and I think that is mostly responsible for why they shoot one another and innocents or livestock so much.

I don't hunt much but I have never seen any hunter drink alcohol or do drugs while hunting. I think the vast majority of hunters are responsible people who do not drink whike hunting. But it only takes a few that do to promote the idea that all hunters drink while hunting.

In this case it does appear that the hunter was not drunk, but it's still a tragedy.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

BobHartung wrote:

Reminds me of a few years ago when a former Iowan was living in Maine and went out on her back deck with white mittens on. She was shot by a local who was found innocent of manslaughter as he said she looked like a deer (the gloves supposedly mimicking a whitetail). So, yes, you can mistake a woman for a deer. Disregarded the fact that he was hunting in town.

Here in Missouri you are not allowed to discharge a firearm within 600 ft of an occupied dwelling. A law that is not generally enforced. However if it was enforce it would or could eliminate hunting in a large portion of our state.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

bedouin wrote:

Although I do not do it, I am not opposed to hunting. Nor do I oppose gun ownership by properly vetted, stable citizens. Unfortunately many deer hunters like to drink while hunting and I think that is mostly responsible for why they shoot one another and innocents or livestock so much.

Those same people also drink while driving!

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Pegasus wrote:

I don't hunt much but I have never seen any hunter drink alcohol or do drugs while hunting. I think the vast majority of hunters are responsible people who do not drink whike hunting. But it only takes a few that do to promote the idea that all hunters drink while hunting.

In this case it does appear that the hunter was not drunk, but it's still a tragedy.

Believe me they do drink before going out, while out in the field and after the hunt, I have seen this too many times, I consider these people SLOB hunters ( if the shoe fits wear it). You don't point you firearm at something you don't intend to shoot, loaded or "empty", I was taught that all guns are loaded.
This guy is guilty of a crime whether drunk or sober.

Dalek Loc: Detroit, Miami, Goffstown

And 64,000 die from drug overdoses and another huge number killed by drunk or impaired drivers. Take a look at Chicago through the Hey Jackass website. Shooting someone like the hunter is outrageous - I hope he goes to jail.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Manglesphoto wrote:

Believe me they do drink before going out, while out in the field and after the hunt, I have seen this too many times, I consider these people SLOB hunters ( if the shoe fits wear it). You don't point you firearm at something you don't intend to shoot, loaded or "empty", I was taught that all guns are loaded.
This guy is guilty of a crime whether drunk or sober.

Correct! In NY the appropriate charge would be criminally negligent homicide if there is no evidence that he intended to shoot a person.

Cykdelic Loc: Now outside of Chiraq & Santa Fe, NM

Heather Eliza wrote:

what the heck was he doing hunting after dark - the law prohibits such thing. And there is no way a woman walking can be mistaken for a deer. A responsible hunter knows better, and you have to be a pretty damn good shot to hit anything from 200 yards... and its impossible with a pistol. Something does not add up with this story. I send condolences to the family of the woman.

Agreed.....sounds like b.s.

jaycoffman Loc: San Diego

There are so many things wrong and missing from this story it could be a law school exam. The facts are unclear. All we have is his word it was a 200 yard shot. Even if it was it is possible to hit someone at 200 yards--as pointed out some specialty shooters can do it but there is also dumb luck. Did they know each other and if so could that be involved? Was he really hunting? Why was he hunting in a [presumably] residential area? Who is the local District Attorney and will s/he prosecute? Certainly from the facts given so far it appears a manslaughter charge of one type or another may be appropriate. Killer is young so probably judgement prof for a civil action.

In all it's a human tragedy.

No comment about guns except to note that cars and medicine have a generally beneficial purpose for people so are a bad comparison.