Justice Served

Do you think it's a good idea to let an 8-year-old shoot an Uzi submachine gun? And if so, should he be supervised by a 15-year-old?

No. In fact, it's not a good idea to let either one touch the weapon. Sure enough, an 8-year-old boy in Springfield, Massachusetts accidentally fatally shot himself in the head at a "Machine Gun Shoot and Firearms Expo" sponsored by a local sportsman's club.

The boy's father was standing 10 feet behind him, getting ready to take a photo, while the 15-year-old handed the weapon to the younger boy. When the younger boy fired--he was trying to hit a pumpkin--the weapon recoiled (duh) and he shot himself in the head.

We can only say that it's too bad he didn't accidentally shoot the organizers of the event.

The organizers, however, will have to answer for their criminal negligence. Three men have been indicted on involuntary manslaughter charges: the Pelham, Mass. chief of police, whose company, COP Firearms and Training, sponsored the gun fair, and the two men who brought the Uzi to the show. They face up to 20 years in prison.

We imagine the NRA will soon have a campaign going to free them from such a gross injustice.

One wonders about the father, but he's lost his son, which will haunt him for the rest of his life.