Sailor says he didn’t know gun was loaded

[unhappycamper]

Sailor says he didn’t know gun was loaded
The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Feb 18, 2009 20:22:54 EST

MILWAUKEE — A Wisconsin sailor told police in Virginia he didn’t realize his gun was loaded when he pointed it at his girlfriend’s head and pulled the trigger, killing the woman.

Darren Mackie is charged with second-degree murder in the death of fellow Navy sailor, 20-year-old Caitlin Trask.

A report in the Newport News Daily Press says the 22-year-old Mackie, from Chippewa Falls, told investigators he was playing with his gun at his Navy apartment in Newport News, Va. Thursday, walked up behind Trask, pointed the weapon at her head and pulled the trigger. A criminal complaint says Mackie then called 911.

Mackie is stationed aboard the amphibious assault ship Kearsarge. Trask, of North Andover, Mass., was stationed on the Norfolk-based aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower.


Article at: http://navytimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_sailor_shooting_021809/%2e

[bluedeminredstate]

1. Unbelievable.

As kids my dad taught us that every gun was loaded, whether you had checked it a hundred times or not and that you never, ever pointed a gun at someone - not even a toy gun. This is the stupidest, most tragic thing I've heard in a while.

[TexasProgresive]

2. ALL GUNS ARE LOADED and

NEVER AIM AT WHAT YOU DON'T WANT TO SHOOT.
Second degree murder charge sounds about right. I feel for her family and friends.

[benEzra]

3. Bullshit.

Even if you KNOW it's not loaded, pointing a firearm at another human being and pulling the trigger is aggravated assault at minimum, unless the person is violently attacking you or committing a forcible felony.