Man Commits Suicide At Gun Range

[Judi Lynn]

Source: WESH.COM.

Man Commits Suicide At Gun Range
Victim Was Regular At Range
POSTED: 6:45 am EDT July 2, 2009
UPDATED: 11:31 am EDT July 2, 2009

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A man turned a gun on himself at an Orange County gun range on Wednesday.

~snip~
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement does not currently require background checks on gun rentals.

The incident was the fourth shooting in and third suicide at a gun range since April, when Marie Moore killed her 20-year-old son before shooting herself at the Shoot Straight Gun Range in Casselberry.

That's the same location where Jason McCarthy, 26, rented a 9 mm gun and killed himself.

A woman also shot herself in a suicide attempt at an east Orange County gun range in June.



Read more: http://www.wesh.com/cnn-news/19924466/detail.html

[Richardo]

1. Jesus.

That's horrible.

[jgraz]

2. Another law-abiding citizen, just exercising his Second Amendment rights

Edit: :sarcasm:

[atreides1]

4. I just read the Second Amendment

And no where does it say that you have the right to shoot yourself at a gun range.

But, maybe your copy of the Constitutiohn is different then the one I've got?

[jgraz]

7. DU Rule 1: never forget the sarcasm tag

DU Rule 2: If your sarcasm is so glaringly obvious that you don't need a sarcasm tag, see Rule 1.

[fascisthunter]

3. really sad

[WriteDown]

5. Sounds like gun laws are working just fine....

Apparently this guy had trouble obtaining a gun so he had to go to a gun range and rent one. :shrug:

[villager]

11. Evidently, he didn't have too hard a time obtaining one, after all...

n/t

[alcibiades_mystery]

6. This apparently happens all the time

because you can rent guns at a range.

[lindisfarne]

8. I never thought about the fact you can rent guns at a gun range. Now we wait until someone

rents one and goes postal. At least people will die thinking 2nd amendment rights are upheld (they're not, though - 2nd amendment calls for a "well-regulated militia" - it is hardly "well-regulated" given the attitudes of all the gun-owners who must consider themselves a "militia".

[Mojorabbit]

9. I think a gun range would not be

a good place to go postal considering most people there will be armed. As an aside, I have shot at his range many times over the years and I feel for the owners who are wonderful people.

[lindisfarne]

12. It depends on whether you're also suicidal. If the owners have done nothing wrong, they have nothing

to feel bad about.

[Mojorabbit]

26. Of course they have something to feel bad about

they have owned this business for years. They are good people. It is devastating to have this happen at their business on a personal level besides the fact that it is not good for business.
It leaves it up to them to clean up after someone else's mess emotionally, physically, and financially.

[AtheistCrusader]

18. It's happened before.

Generally, it's why the range operators often have sidearms of their own.

[onehandle]

10. Guns are people. Are they going to charge the gun as an adult? nt

[slackmaster]

13. Ranges in my area won't rent to a first-time customer who shows up alone

I think that's a prudent policy.

[Paladin]

14. Tragic, But Not Hard To Understand.

Check out the prices on Glock or Sig Sauer pistols, let alone a Wilson Combat model. Pretty steep costs---particularly if you just intend to use it once.

Sympathies to all involved, here---families, witnesses, gun range owners.

[Blandocyte]

21. Well, one wouldn't be around for the credit card statement

I suppose.

[Paladin]

29. Good Point. (n/t)

[proteus_lives]

15. Why would a person kill themselves in public?

Trying to make a statement?

[lindisfarne]

16. Maybe he loved guns and wanted to surrounded himself in his last moments with like minded people?n/t

[proteus_lives]

17. Yeah,,,,,

That's probably it. :eyes:

[uppityperson]

19. Maybe he figured it would be clear he killed himself (vs murder) and would be realtively easy to cle

clean up there (vs at home)?

[Demit]

20. I think you got it. He was intent on suicide & didn't want family/friends to find him

This way he'd be found right away. By strangers, so less emotional involvement.

[uppityperson]

25. I talked with a guy once who tried to commit suicide by shooting himself

Ended up losing half his face, but didn't die. He said the worst moment was after he shot, blood everywhere and knowing someone would have to come find him and help him.

Had a friend in high school kill self at home. It is hard enough on family/friends to deal with suicide, and being the first to find you, or have to clean up after you, makes it so much worse.

Poor guy, hoping he is at peace. Poor family & friends. Hoping they can find peace in this

[Blandocyte]

22. They should charge clean up fee with each rental

since this is a trend.

[AlexDeLarge]

23. At least he didn't take anyone else

with him.

Questions: Can you leave the range with the rented gun? How do they prevent you from leaving with it (you've got a loaded gun)?

[benEzra]

27. Not from most indoor ranges, and a loaded gun is not a magic talisman...

particularly if you are inexperienced enough with guns as to not own even own one yourself. I suppose you could run away from some outdoor ranges, but the police would be on you pretty quickly.

FWIW, some ranges won't rent you a gun for range use unless you can demonstrate you already own a firearm, to avoid this type of situation where a non-gun-owner comes to the range and shoots himself.

[ManiacJoe]

33. No, you are not allowed to leave with the gun.

Although, you could try stealing it, I guess. Probably not a good idea since all the employees are armed.

After paying the rental fee, you trade your drivers license (or other picture ID) for the gun so they know who has it.

Do to suicides in the past, Seattle area ranges will not rent to anyone who is alone or who did not bring a gun of their own.

[lindisfarne]

24. Thank goodness the "militia" is "well-regulated", as required by the US Constitution. Wouldn't want

to violate the Constitution!

[beevul]

31. I think you may have misunderstood...

"Thank goodness the "militia" is "well-regulated", as required by the US Constitution."


I think you may have misunderstood the bill of rights:

The Bill Of Rights is a list of restrictions on the government, with the intent of preventing government from misconstruing or abusing of its powers:


THE Conventions of a number of the States having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added : And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best insure the beneficent ends of its institution

http://billofrights.org /


Some examples:

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Self explanitory.




Amendment II

A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.

Shall not be infringed by whom?

Government, of course.




Amendment III

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Soldier, being an agent of the government and all...





Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated , and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Shall not be violated by whom?

Government, of course.





Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.


Held to answer for a capital or otherwise infamous crime by whom? Be twice put in jeopardy by whom? Compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself by whom? Be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law by whom? nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation by whom?

Government, of course.


:shrug:

[benEzra]

28. There's certainly a lot of glee in this thread.

"Oh, goody, I get to bash people who disagree with me on guns some more!!"

Could you gun-owner-haters dial back the mutual back-slapping a little bit?

[Paladin]

30. Lots Of Schadenfreude On Both Sides Of The Issue, Ben.... (n/t)

[benEzra]

32. No doubt. But Schadenfreude at lobbyists losing relevance, and schadenfreude at a suicide,

are not equivalent to me, though. Can't speak for others on that. Even in a "good guy successfully defends self/family against bad guy" story, I'd be happy that the good guy lived, but not that the bad guy didn't pull through, I think.

In this case, the man who shot himself was most likely not even a gun owner, if he rented the gun he shot himself with. So that tends to undermine the "Gun Owner Dies Like He Deserved To!!!" glee upthread; this was a guy who was depressed, felt he was at the end of his rope and had nowhere else to turn, and chose to kill himself. I don't see much to celebrate in that, regardless of one's stance on new gun bans.

[jcarterhero]

34. Truly Tragic

And more proof that gun laws in our country are in need of serious reform.