Slain gun instructor's family wants law to ban children from automatic weapons

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/25/us/children-and-automatic-weapons-petition/index.html

CNN)One year ago today, Charles Vacca's children received the horrific news: Their father, a shooting instructor, was accidentally killed by a 9-year-old girl with an Uzi submachine gun.

Vacca's children have publicly forgiven the girl. But now, they've launched an online petition pushing for legislation to prevent children from shooting fully automatic weapons.

A video on the petition's website features Vacca's four children, starting with his 12-year-old son, Christopher.

"It's legal for kids my age and younger to shoot Uzis," he said. "That hasn't changed."

Vacca's 16-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, offered a startling comparison: "Laws say that children can't drink, can't drive, can't vote. But they can shoot fully automatic assault weapons. That hasn't changed."

[aaron2020 11,651]

The NRA will not stand for this.

Every good guy child needs to be packing to stop bad guys.

Reasonable gun control laws are for socialists.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Why do kids need to learn to shoot guns anyway?

They aren't old enough to drive, smoke or drink, but old enough to carry one of the most lethal weapons in the world. I say the age limit needs to be at least 16.

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

Vacca's children have publicly forgiven the girl. But now, they've launched an online petition pushing for legislation to prevent children from shooting fully automatic weapons.

Forgive the girl? It was a tragic accident but come on, the guy was an instructor and handed an automatic weapon to a nine year old and told her to fire away.. She has zero to be forgiven for and probably has a permanent emotional scar for life after seeing a gun she was holding and had no control of put a bullet into a persons face. She is owed an apology by her parents and some heavy counseling, not "forgiveness"

[decocker 7,198]

i don't think i can picture an america where elementary students can't target practice with an uzi while on the family vacation.

Forgive the girl? It was a tragic accident but come on, the guy was an instructor and handed an automatic weapon to a nine year old and told her to fire away.. She has zero to be forgiven for and probably has a permanent emotional scar for life after seeing a gun she was holding and had no control of put a bullet into a persons face. She is owed an apology by her parents and some heavy counseling, not "forgiveness"

i'm sure the forgiveness coming from the family means a great deal to the girl - or will as she gets older. she has to live with the consequence of her accident till she dies or looses her memory.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Forgive the girl? It was a tragic accident but come on, the guy was an instructor and handed an automatic weapon to a nine year old and told her to fire away.. She has zero to be forgiven for and probably has a permanent emotional scar for life after seeing a gun she was holding and had no control of put a bullet into a persons face. She is owed an apology by her parents and some heavy counseling, not "forgiveness"

I agree, she didn't kill him with malicious intent. She lost control and his death was a result of that.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

i don't think i can picture an america where elementary students can't target practice with an uzi while on the family vacation.

National Lampoons Fully Automatic Vacation.

[Ban Hammer 13,337]

Why do kids need to learn to shoot guns anyway?

learn to shoot for hunting?

They aren't old enough to drive, smoke or drink, but old enough to carry one of the most lethal weapons in the world. I say the age limit needs to be at least 16.

yes, everyone must be at least 16 to carry around nukes

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Forgive the girl? It was a tragic accident but come on, the guy was an instructor and handed an automatic weapon to a nine year old and told her to fire away.. She has zero to be forgiven for and probably has a permanent emotional scar for life after seeing a gun she was holding and had no control of put a bullet into a persons face. She is owed an apology by her parents and some heavy counseling, not "forgiveness"

I thought that was weird too. Whatever the instructors family needs to do to come to terms with what happened - it clearly isn't something the girl should be held accountable for. She's got parents for that and the instructor who all failed her.

I agree, she didn't kill him with malicious intent. She lost control and his death was a result of that.

She lost control because she shouldn't have been put in that position. It wasn't a freak accident, it was a failure of safety.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

learn to shoot for hunting?

yes, everyone must be at least 16 to carry around nukes

Let mommy and daddy hunt. The 18 month old don't need to learn to hunt.

We aren't talking about overseas, we are talking about the U.S., a modernized, hegemonic country. They should have just put the 9 year old behind the wheels of a tank.

Please explain why a 9 year old needed to learn to shoot an uzi.

Edited August 25, 2015 by Janelle2002

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

i don't think i can picture an america where elementary students can't target practice with an uzi while on the family vacation.

i'm sure the forgiveness coming from the family means a great deal to the girl - or will as she gets older. she has to live with the consequence of her accident till she dies or looses her memory.

It was more likely poor choice of words from the writer of the piece.

[Sousuke 1,214]

Why do kids need to learn to shoot guns anyway?

They aren't old enough to drive, smoke or drink, but old enough to carry one of the most lethal weapons in the world. I say the age limit needs to be at least 16.

Purchase laws are already 18 & 21 (18 long gun, 21 handgun) (Note. that for your examples thats about the same. You can drive a car under age on private property, and in many states drinking can occur on private property with supervision)

That being said, I do not think there needs to be an age limit. Its about the environment and the arm. If people want to ban fully automatic firearms for people under 16 I'm okay with that but not a total ban.

Growing up I first used airguns at about 7 or so and then moved to 22lr when I was 11. First shotgun was 15.

Edited August 25, 2015 by Sousuke

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Purchase laws are already 18 & 21 (18 long gun, 21 handgun)

That being said, I do not think there needs to be an age limit. Its about the environment and the arm. If people want to ban fully automatic firearms for people under 16 I'm okay with that but not a total ban.

Growing up I first used airguns at about 7 or so and then moved to 22lr when I was 11. First shotgun was 15.

I didn't say fully ban guns, however, I don't think a child should learn to shoot or touch a gun until they are 16.

Now an air gun or pellet gun is different.

[Sousuke 1,214]

I didn't say fully ban guns, however, I don't think a child should learn to shoot or touch a gun until they are 16.

Now an air gun or pellet gun is different.

You are saying you want a full ban on firearms for under 16s. That is what I am referring to. You need to read my entire sentence to understand the context of 'full ban' as I stated it. I only support a ban on businesses allowing those under 16 to shoot fully automatic firearms.

Edited August 25, 2015 by Sousuke

[lostinblue 1,989]

I didn't say fully ban guns, however, I don't think a child should learn to shoot or touch a gun until they are 16.

Now an air gun or pellet gun is different.

Why 16