By Roy Denish
One child is killed every three hours, no background checks against those buying weapons in 33 states
150 Americans shot every day, 83 are killed every day.
West Field, MA October 26th 2008 10.53 am: The weather was overcast, a slight breeze swept across the open fields, a lively third-grader, son of a medical director walked past his father clutching an Israeli made micro Uzi pistolet automatique and aimes the gun at a pile of pumpkins, little knowing that he would not live another day to see the day- light.
Christopher Bizilj, the eight year old was killed due to a gun-shot injury that was caused by the weapon flipping backwards as soon as the trigger was released. The Muzzle velocity of an UZI is estimated to be 400 meter per second.
The misadventure occurred at the annual machine gun shoot and fire arms expo, organized by Westfield Sportsman Club. The organizers of the event bragged on their website “age is not limited nor licensed required” and the cost was just $ 5.00 to have “fun”
The death sparked a heated debate among politicians in the Capitol Hill. The anti-trigger happy supporters took law-makers to the task, petitions poured in, vigil services and demonstrations were held and newspapers were flooded with letters. But the pro-gun advocates came firing their cylinders to prevent the administration passing any new laws.
The obituary notice of Christopher Bizilj
Christopher
Karol Bizilj, 8, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday (October 26, 2008)
at Bay State Medical Center, Springfield, MA. Christopher was always
upbeat, smiling, and loved life. He was always looking forward to his
next adventure. His big brother was his closest and most influential
friend. Christopher is survived by his loving parents, Doctor Charles
and Suzanne Bizilj; his brother and best friend, Colin Bizilj. Burial
will be private and at the convenience of the family. There are no
calling hours. Memorial donations may be made to the Ashford School, 440
Westford Rd., Ashford, CT 06278. Donations will be used for new
computer technology at the school. Christopher’s parents, Charles and
Suzanne, ask that you celebrate his brilliant but short life, and the
positive impact that he had on so many people.
Following the death, the club prohibited anyone under the age of eight handling a gun or a bow. But the law seems to apply only to one state. Just three weeks ago in Nevada at a popular tourist shooting range, the Machine Gun Vegas; a seven year old child was seen target-shooting armed with a German made Heckler & Koch assault rifle. The kid was being taught the finer points by none other than Jackie Carrizosa, the former United States naval officer, now an instructor at the MGV.
Caption: The “Bad Ass Chick”, Jackie Carrizosa seen here with the “prepubescent” seven year old armed with the German made assault rifle, HK416, at the Machine Gun Vegas Shooting Range in Las Vegas. Picture posted on the Face book by Michael Nixon, the father of the boy.
The controversial photograph appeared on the MGV’s Face book page. The picture shows, the tattooed beauty nick named as “bad ass chick”, by Singer Robyn Rihanna instructing the “prepubescent” boy how to handle the seven pound rifle that uses a detachable magazine. The weapon with 850 rounds per minute cycle is made by the German arms maker with the collaboration of US army’s Delta Force (DF)
“Our whole family had an awesome time – our 7 year old son had a “blast”. Great staff and kickass guns. Thanks MGV!” Michael Nixon, the father of the seven year old posted on MGV’s Face book page.
The lingering question among the anti-gun advocates is whether children under the age of 18 should be permitted into shooting ranges. According to the Statistics by a non-profit organization, the Stop Hand Gun Violence, eighty three Americans are killed every day, eight children are maimed every day or one child is killed every three hours, more than 150 Americans shot every day and in 33 states there are no background checks against those buying guns. Food for thought: the national Rifle Association donated $ 6.7 million to congress in 2010.
The gun-wielding Carrizosa shot into the lime light after she was drafted as a weapon- trainer for Singer Rihanna for the movie, the Battleship, the movie to be released in may this year. Her lady luck smiled on her when the Director Peter Berg spotted her playing football with the US Navy.
However, the six million dollar question is whether States would ban under-age children handling guns or visiting shooting ranges especially when gun-related killings and injuries are mounting high.
The author is a freelance writer. Any questions contact roydenish@gmail.com
If they are going to be around guns in any capacity, they should learn gun safety as soon as possible. First thing to learn- it is a weapon. It can be used to kill. It is NEVER a toy.
I eliminate this problem by not having a gun in my home.
If you want one, rock on. I just figure not having one is better than all the safety courses the NRA can offer. No fear of an accidental shooting when there isn't a gun to shoot.
I think the reason so many kids get shot by guns is because their parents thought they shouldn't be handling them and so didn't teach them proper gun safety. My son is getting his first bb gun for his 6th birthday this year. My husband will be teaching him the proper way to handle it, how to clean it, how to make sure there are no bullets in it, etc etc etc. When he is 7 we plan to get him his first hunting rifle, and he will learn how to shoot so that he can hunt with dad at 8. That was basically the same track my husband was raised on, and so we're sort of following along.
I do, however, think that it's important that kids are only allowed to handle guns they are big enough to handle. For instance, while Luke would be capable of shooting a bb gun by himself, we would never dream of handing him the 30-aught 6. That thing is so powerful it would probably land him on his back 50 feet from where he shot.
The first child who was killed is a result of a horrible accident that could've been prevented. The second child, who was vacationing in Vegas at a shooting range, was under constant supervision by seasoned professionals. I don't see a problem with it.
The kids are only allowed around guns when they are with me or my grandfather. I was always wary of my step-dad, who is a gun fanatic, and does know gun safety, but who I think lacks common sense. He was never allowed to have guns out around my kids. And guess what? He just got out of the hospital after shooting himself in the leg.
Agreed.
Make guns as boring as possible. Make them learn to clean the gun, maintain it, learn the parts by name...even a little bit of the gun's history. And once old enough, they can shoot it at a range, as long as the kick or recoil isn't too hard to handle. They need to pull a trigger in a safe, controlled area, to understand the power behind what they are holding.
The kids who accidentally shoot or are shot, are often the ones who aren't taught gun safetey, or their parents didn't teach them, breeding curiosity. And the parents are often at fault for not keeping the guns in a safe out of the way place...because even with all the teaching, a kid will still get curious, or want to show it off.
Quoting mandaday:If they are going to be around guns in any capacity, they should learn gun safety as soon as possible. First thing to learn- it is a weapon. It can be used to kill. It is NEVER a toy.
Who would you save?
- antigunner
on Apr. 12, 2012 at 2:45 PM