9-year-old Girl Accidentally Kills Shooting Range Instructor and NO ONE is Asking Some Essential Questions

As someone who believes in the value of having gun safety as a lifelong skill AND stricter gun safety laws, I felt the need to weigh in on this recent incident.

I first shot a gun when I was 10 years old. My father felt it was important, so he went with me as my guardian. It was a rifle, with a sight scope on it (I couldn't tell you what gauge). The way you shoot is by propping it up on the wooden gate in front of you, based on height. Because I was leaning forward, into the gun and onto the gate, there was no way I would loose control of the gun. Also, it was NOT an automatic (such as the one in the aforementioned incident).

I have since trained with police officers, active military, DEA instructors, and NRA members (I wanted to be in law enforcement in high school). Every time I've fired a weapon, there has never been a question as to whether or not I'd loose control of the weapon because every decision was based on "safety first".

Here are the questions I would pose before further judgement could be assessed:

1) Was there any instruction with the weapon BEFORE it was loaded? It seems to me that kind of reaction happens when the person holding the weapon hasn't become familiar with the weapon before loading it with ammunition and firing.

2) Is there a policy of where the instructor should stand while a CHILD is shooting (as opposed to normal adult clients)? Standing next to the child seems idiotic at best. Even when you are shooting at an indoor range, it's policy to stand BEHIND the person with a loaded gun.

3) Is there a policy for helping a child hold the gun? It should have been expected that a child couldn't handle an automatic uzi, and thus, at the very least, the first shots should have been secured with the instructors hands on the gun as well. Once they get used to the recoil, there may be a chance the child could handle it on their own.

4) Is there a policy that requires the child to learn on a rifle first (as the 5 year old is allowed to, according to the above article)? If a 9-year-old can't handle a .22 rifle, then they shouldn't be allowed to hold an automatic uzi.

As it stands, I'm not sure I'd want anyone under the age of 16 trying out an automatic uzi, much less someone not in double digits. Furthermore, that seems like an advanced weapon, which would require more than a parents signature on a waiver and parental supervision. Parents don't have superhuman powers. Unless they are taking the place of the professional (hands on the gun and everything), "parental supervision" means bubkus when that gun goes off.

I'm thinking this was a combination of professional incompetence, legal neglect, and parental disregard for their child's abilities. Children trust the adults around them to know better, and in this case, it seems like none of them did. 

Also, any injury on a range is ultimately the instructor's responsibility. I'm more than a little upset that they have not mentioned ONCE how the child is doing after KILLING a man. Unless they are somehow implying that the child did it purposefully, they need to stop pitying the instructor and worry for the sanity of that child. Shooting a gun is traumatic enough. Seeing the aftermath of shooting one at a human is beyond most people's ability to cope.

I would love more information about this company's policies and the laws of Nevada regarding this situation. If you have any links, please leave them in the comments below for all to peruse!