[roundel]

Originally Posted by Mike W

The fact that these type of incidents happen often enough, shows that others in fact do not learn from similar experiences.

I am not comfortable with giving the government the power to legislate against stupidity. Somebody may feel that my affinity for driving a car around a circuit going nowhere and burning precious resources is stupid. They may think that strapping boards to my feet so I can slide down a snowy icy hill is stupid. I suspect more people are killed skiing or racing than are killed by accidentally shooting themselves in the head at a gun show. I liked lawn darts.

[smdubovsky]

I don't think a law would have much effect except waste money. Stupid people are always going to be stupid. I know its harsh and I truly feel sorry for the kid, but I think its evolution at work. The dad is an idiot. Has everyone ever seen 'Idiocracy' by mike judge? Its depressingly true.

Originally Posted by Potomac-Greg

I'm pretty libertarian, and I always kind of liked that Maryland did not have a helmet rule for motorcycles until very recently. But I would never ride without a helmet, and I really do not want to see anyone's head mashed in an accident (or pay for their care afterward).

I answered the door when the cop came to the house in college: A roommate had smashed his brains out on a bike a mere 2 blocks from the house, speeding and not wearing a helmet. He managed to survive but only the left half of his body works and hes just not the same person (mentally). All that said, Im against a helmet law *IF AND ONLY IF* the law would state I that the medics don't even try to save your dumb ass if they don't find a helmet on your head.

[Mike W]

Originally Posted by BlackTalon

I don't know about you, but this is the first time I have heard about this happening.

You've never heard of people accidently shooting themselves or others? I absolutely have. I know you know the difference between similar situations and the same situation.

Originally Posted by Potomac-Greg

Hard to say if (or how much) events like this reduce the incidence of such disasters. Also hard to say if making it illegal would have an effect.

I'm pretty libertarian, and I always kind of liked that Maryland did not have a helmet rule for motorcycles until very recently. But I would never ride without a helmet, and I really do not want to see anyone's head mashed in an accident (or pay for their care afterward).

If you can fashion a law to govern stupid behavior without seriously impinging on freedom, then fine. Pass a law that nobody under 17 can handle an Uzi. Will it help? Well, it won't hurt much.

Never said it wasn't a balancing act... just proposing another viewpoint as it isn't well represented here (or those that would agree don't often speak up... Mark excluded ). As a personal point of reference, I call myself a socialist libertarian. Now there's a balancing act

[Mike W]

Originally Posted by roundel

I am not comfortable with giving the government the power to legislate against stupidity. Somebody may feel that my affinity for driving a car around a circuit going nowhere and burning precious resources is stupid. They may think that strapping boards to my feet so I can slide down a snowy icy hill is stupid. I suspect more people are killed skiing or racing than are killed by accidentally shooting themselves in the head at a gun show. I liked lawn darts.

Sort of Apples and oranges there.. and again.. similar and the same incidents.

Arguing that not many accidents occur at a specific intersection while driving a Porsche while wearing a blue three button suit, brown shoes and a rolex watch doesn't mean that the intersection may, or may not be dangerous.

[BlackTalon]

Originally Posted by Mike W

You've never heard of people accidently shooting themselves or others? I absolutely have. I know you know the difference between similar situations and the same situation.

So help me out here, Tex. How do you propose to prevent accidental shootings? Make them illegal?

I dunno Mike, but I suspect you support 55 mph speed limits, even though you speed yourself

[jerome951]

There already is a law that fits well here. It's called parental negligence.

[VaSteve]

This stuff is so sad. I agree there is little additional punishment that would mean anything. In these situations if you have to ask why its a bad idea, you're probably too stupid to understand the punishment. There's always accidents for stuff we think is a ok idea but there's just truly stupid ideas ad well...this is one.

[jerome951]

Originally Posted by VaSteve

This stuff is so sad. I agree there is little additional punishment that would mean anything. In these situations if you have to ask why its a bad idea, you're probably too stupid to understand the punishment. There's always accidents for stuff we think is a ok idea but there's just truly stupid ideas ad well...this is one.

I'd have to disagree that punishment won't be beneficial. Unfortunately the father doesn't see his actions as being stupid and needs to get that message somehow. He acts as if a lightning bolt came out of the sky and killed his son and he was totally powerless to do anything (unless, of course, his attorney was feeding him that line in an effort to avoid prosecution).

Thankfully nobody else in the crowd was killed or he'd be staring at a long jail term.

[VaSteve]

I don't know...if I lost one of my kids to my own stupidity, I think that would weigh on me the rest of my life.I'm quite certain that would be a miserable existance.

[Redroc]

My sister-in-law lives in eastern Kentucky and told me that a couple of weeks ago a local farmer was baling hay with his 2 year old grandson running around. The grandson either got caught in or run over by the baler and was killed. The farmer shot himself that night. Sad story....