Georgia high school senior fatally shot by friend during target practice

[Sancho]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by JudyM (a host of the General Discussion forum).

https://abcnews.go.com/US/georgia-high-school-senior-fatally-shot-friend-target/story?id=76827845

A small community in rural Georgia is mourning the death of a high school senior after she was killed in an apparently accidental shooting on Tuesday.

Candace Chrzan, 17, was shot and killed Tuesday at about 8 p.m. while hanging out with friends in the backyard of one of their homes, according to the Carroll County Sheriff's Office.

Chrzan was a senior at Mount Zion High School in Jonesboro, Georgia.

"It was just a couple of friends out in the backyard, from what we were told, possibly doing target practice with a pistol," Ashley Husley, a spokesperson for the Carroll County Sheriff's Office, told Atlanta ABC affiliate WSB. "The kids obviously haven't been taught maybe the gun safety that they should have been. And ultimately it resulted in Candace's death."

People Control, Not Gun Control

This is my generic response to gun threads where people are shot and killed by the dumb or criminal possession of guns. For the record, I grew up in the South and on military bases. I was taught about firearms as a child, and I grew up hunting, was a member of the NRA, and I still own guns. In the 70’s, I dropped out of the NRA because they become more radical and less interested in safety and training. Some personal experiences where people I know were involved in shootings caused me to realize that anyone could obtain and posses a gun no matter how illogical it was for them to have a gun. Also, easy access to more powerful guns, guns in the hands of children, and guns that weren’t secured are out of control in our society. As such, here’s what I now think ought to be the requirements to possess a gun. I’m not debating the legal language, I just think it’s the reasonable way to stop the shootings. Notice, none of this restricts the type of guns sold. This is aimed at the people who shoot others, because it’s clear that they should never have had a gun.

1.) Anyone in possession of a gun (whether they own it or not) should have a regularly renewed license. If you want to call it a permit, certificate, or something else that's fine.
2.) To get a license, you should have a background check, and be examined by a professional for emotional and mental stability appropriate for gun possession. It might be appropriate to require that examination to be accompanied by references from family, friends, employers, etc. This check is not to subject you to a mental health diagnosis, just check on your superficial and apparent gun-worthyness.
3.) To get the license, you should be required to take a safety course and pass a test appropriate to the type of gun you want to use.
4.) To get a license, you should be over 21. Under 21, you could only use a gun under direct supervision of a licensed person and after obtaining a learner’s license. Your license might be restricted if you have children or criminals or other unsafe people living in your home. (If you want to argue 18 or 25 or some other age, fine. 21 makes sense to me.)
5.) If you possess a gun, you would have to carry a liability insurance policy specifically for gun ownership - and likely you would have to provide proof of appropriate storage, security, and whatever statistical reasons that emerge that would drive the costs and ability to get insurance.
6.) You could not purchase a gun or ammunition without a license, and purchases would have a waiting period.
7.) If you possess a gun without a license, you go to jail, the gun is impounded, and a judge will have to let you go (just like a DUI).
8.) No one should carry an unsecured gun (except in a locked case, unloaded) when outside of home. Guns should be secure when transporting to a shooting event without demonstrating a special need. Their license should indicate training and special carry circumstances beyond recreational shooting (security guard, etc.). If you are carrying your gun while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you lose your gun and license.
9.) If you buy, sell, give away, or inherit a gun, your license information should be recorded.
10.) If you accidentally discharge your gun, commit a crime, get referred by a mental health professional, are served a restraining order, etc., you should lose your license and guns until reinstated by a serious relicensing process.

Most of you know that a license is no big deal. Besides a driver’s license you need a license to fish, operate a boat, or many other activities. I realize these differ by state, but that is not a reason to let anyone without a bit of sense pack a semiautomatic weapon in public, on the roads, and in schools. I think we need to make it much harder for some people to have guns.

For those who want to argue legality, please reference: The Second Amendment: A Biography by Michael Waldman

[hlthe2b]

1. Making guns "fun," and "recreational," and an instrument of death, a "prized gift..."

We are an insane society:

Link to tweet

[Sancho]

2. Just like they used to do with cigarettes...guns are marketed to young people now.

There is little or no supervision or training. Shooting for "fun" becomes a "hobby".

Unsupervised and untrained teenagers with guns. What could go wrong??

This is VERY difference from the culture that I remember from the 50s and 60s.

[JudyM]

3. Locking

Alerted on for being posted in the wrong forum. Please take a look at the SOP for more info on the limited circumstances when gun issues can be posted in this forum. Please feel free to repost it in either the True Crimw or Georgia groups, though.