Boy, 11, shot as grandfather tried to fix gun

[jpak]

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/125317368.html

CUSTER, Wash. -- Police say a man trying to clear the chamber of handgun accidentally shot his 11-year-old grandson Sunday afternoon when the weapon misfired.

The boy was hit in the abdomen and was taken to St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham with serious injuries.

Whatcom County Sheriff Bill Elfo said the boy and his grandfather had been practicing shooting with a .22-caliber handgun at a farm in the 7900 block of Ham Road.

The gun jammed, and the boy's grandfather was trying to clear the chamber when the weapon fired, hitting the child.

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[CBGLuthier]

1. idiot not following the rules almost kills another

and they keep calling them accidents.

[brewens]

2. Under no circumstances should that barrel have been pointing

at the kid. Loaded or unloaded. Grandpa's fault but even at 11 I would have told him not to point it at me even as I was moving out of the way.

[jeepnstein]

3. Grandpa is at fault.

The weapon didn't fire itself. Gramps helped it along. Follow Coopers Rules and it goes a long way to preventing this kind of thing.

[ileus]

4. gramps needs some refresher training it would seem...