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Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz
Okay a few things:
1. Just because it's an AK-47 doesn't mean that it's a fully automatic rifle. In fact up untill the ban was lifted about a year ago it was ilegal to own a fully automatic rifle, so there's a pretty good chance that this one was only a semi-auto.
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What is the point of owning a semi-automatic AK-47? Seriously. What advantages does that version of the weapon offer a sportsman over conventional hunting rifles that are acutally designed for, well, hunting? It's a crude gun.
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2. Americans hunt with a lot stranger things than assault rifles (it really isn't that far off from any number of short barrel .30 cal bush guns), hell some states have pistol seasons
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Yes, yes they do. It's actually advantageous to hunt certain game with pistols. Mountain lions, raccoons, ....anything that is hunted by dog and tree method. Again, there is no reason I can think of that an AK-47 would be someone's weapon of choice in the field.
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3. Why should the grandfather be charged? It seems to me that it was an accident. Yes he should have had the safety on, but it's also the grandson's responsibility to not be walking in front of someone with a loaded gun.
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The kid was 14. Should he be well versed in hunter safety? Absolutely...whether he was acutally carrying a weapon or not. The grandfather is an adult. He HAS to be responsible for his firearm...and he wasn't. It's easily negligent homicide or involuntary manslaughter IMO. If they weren't related he probably would've been charged.
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There are several basic rules to firearm safety when your hunting and they aren't all the responsibility of the person with the gun. Yes most of them are, and in this case the grandfather clearly missed a few specifically to keep the safety on, to make sure that you've got control of the barrel and to make sure that it doesn't point at anyone. Likewise it's up to the people around him to make sure that they don't put themselves into a dangerous position, which the grandson clearly did. Is it really his fault? Not enought that I don't feel bad for him, but it surely isn't a case that warrants charges against the grandfather
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I'm well aware what is involved with firearm safety, thanks.
I'll raise another question here. It's June, I don't live in Texas, but I can't imagine that any game of any kind is in season right now.