Bad Aim

What's wrong with this kid? Some might say he lost an eye to an evil toy.

Others might say he lost an eye because his parents were idiots and bought him a paintball gun without knowing a damned thing about guns. You might say this kid lost an eye because he was stupid. He looked down the barrel of a paintball gun and pulled the trigger. This kid was not stupid. He was ignorant. If his parents had paid as much for instruction as they did for the damned paintball gun, this kid would not be called "one eyed Jack" when he goes back to school.

The Four Rules
1. All firearms are loaded
2. Never let the muzzle of a firearm point at anything you are not willing to destroy
3. Keep your finger off the trigger unless your sights are on the target
4. Be sure of your target and what is behind it

The Four Rules apply to all guns, BB guns and paintball guns as well. Hell, they even apply to the pneumatic nail guns carpenters use! Why are they so damned hard to learn?

A quick follow-up of the links in Nate's article reveal that the kid did NOT learn from his mistake. His finger is all over the trigger in the damned news piece that was filmed afterwards. I guess we can no longer call him ignorant. He should have learned from experience. I am not opposed to calling him stupid now. Nor am I opposed to calling his parents stupid.

Samantha Hayes, the reporter of this incident is the only one involved who can maintain the illusion of ignorance. However, a quick check with any responsible gun owner, paint gun user or construction worker would have introduced her to the Four Rules. Her article could have then been constructive, and perhaps been the force to save a few eyes. Instead she chose the lazy road and decided to demonize an inantimate object. It looks like her aim is as bad as One Eyed Jack.

Basic Paintball Safety
Paintball.com

Big F'in' Hattip to Nate!