Man Shot In Groundhog Hunt (Whilst Working On His Tractor)

[matcom]

<snip>

NORTH CENTRE TWP. — An Orangeville man had his gun loaded and ready to kill a pesky groundhog, but the gun accidentally fired into his left side Thursday night, police said.

With the bullet lodged inside his left hip area, David Hess rode a motorcycle to get help.

Here's what happened, according to Briar Creek Township Ptlm. Chad Thomas:

Hess, 54, lives at 376 Mount Pleasant Road in Orangeville, but he's planning to move to a new house at 282 Mountain Road in North Centre. He was at his North Centre property Thursday evening, working on a tractor in the driveway.

A groundhog lives and tunnels underneath the North Centre house, so Hess brought a rifle and a .22-caliber handgun with him.

"He said if (the groundhog) came out, he would shoot it," Thomas said.

Hess rested the rifle against the house, and placed the loaded handgun on top of the tractor. Then he went under the tractor to work on it. When Hess pulled himself out from underneath the tractor, he bumped the gun, and it fell to the ground.

http://www.pressenterpriseonline.com/281793161443618.bsp

[GOPisEvil]

1. Damn...almost eliminated from the gene pool...

ALthough at 54, he's probably already bred. x(

[theHandpuppet]

3. I don't understand...

... such hostlity towards Mr Hess. Yep, having his 22 handy without checking the safety was incredibly careless, but not deserving of wishing his death. That's more than crass.

[GOPisEvil]

4. It was an offhand remark...

..I certainly don't wish the man dead. My point is that HE COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEBODY with his oversight.

[theHandpuppet]

9. Ah, okay...

Point well taken. I agree -- he needs a few lessons in gun safety before he shoots someone other than himself!

[theHandpuppet]

2. Groundhogs are aggressive and destructive

Groundhogs are incredibly destructive, aggressive, and not easily deterred. As much as I love animals, colonies of groundhogs can literally destroy fields and properties, cripple horses and cattle with their tunnels, and are surprisingly mean critters that will chew right through siding and telephone lines -- not to mention the damage they can do to crops.

Having lived in rural areas where groundhogs were a real menace, I can sympathize with Mr. Hess. But really, if one is going to have a gun the first rule of thumb is to keep that safety ON until you are truly ready to use it!!

[underpants]

5. At least he wan't on a tractor hunt (whilst working on his groundhog)

Look out it's gonna be one of those days. I'm *cough* sick.

[matcom]

7. sick?

SICK?

stay away from me please. and NO FRENCH KISSING! :P

[underpants]

8. Well ya see I figger it like this

Since I had Monday off I should go ahead and take Friday off.

Actually I have a killer head cold or something-sinuses,headache,bit of a temperature, aches, pains, etc.

I do actually have work to do but I have until Monday to do it and I can do it at home.

[MrBenchley]

6. Another person made safer by guns

Good thing there's no safety standards to prevent accidental firing, eh?