Haunting last words: Christine Clarridge ("Fatal shooting") reports that Troy Almli's last words to his mother were, "Be careful. There'll be a lot of people with guns out there."
Later that morning, Pamela Almli, 54, was shot to death by a fourteen year-old hunter who decided she was a bear.
Almli is said to have stopped along a trail to put something in her backpack when a single shot from 120 yards struck her down. While the boy, who was hunting with his sixteen year-old brother, was apparently convinced he was shooting at a bear, local hunters are distressed by the conditions. According to Clarridge,
And while the group disdains the prospect of new hunting regulations in the state, that is certainly one possible outcome. Jack Broom reports that,
Presently, first-time hunters must be licensed insofar as they can complete a hunting-education course, pass a written test, and demonstrate that they can safely handle a firearm. There is no minimum age for hunters, though, and adult supervision is not required for teenage hunters.
Commentary:
Just yesterday, in a completely unrelated discussion, and having not yet heard of this incident, I had cause to mention to a friend my plank for the gun-control platform. Essentially, own as many guns as you want, but you're accountable for every round fired from those guns. No accidents, no excuses.
By that standard, the fourteen year-old shooter would be held criminally and civilly responsible for Pamela Almli's death. And that is how it should be.
At present, of course, no charges have been filed, and my early prediction is that there will be no justice served in this case. After all, guns may be designed to kill, but you can't hold someone responsible for an accident, right?
Remember that any gun owner is a "responsible gun owner" until they're not. Being anxious to bag a bear is no excuse for killing someone.
_______________________
Notes:
Clarridge, Christine. "Fatal shooting of hiker mystifies her family". Seattle Times. August 5, 2008. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008092032_hikershot05m.html
—————. "'Matter of time' until a hiker got shot". Seattle Times. August 6, 2008. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008094528_hunting06m.html
Broom, Jack. "State eyes new limits on hunters after hiker's fatal shooting". Seattle Times. August 7, 2008. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008097220_hunt07m0.html
Later that morning, Pamela Almli, 54, was shot to death by a fourteen year-old hunter who decided she was a bear.
Almli is said to have stopped along a trail to put something in her backpack when a single shot from 120 yards struck her down. While the boy, who was hunting with his sixteen year-old brother, was apparently convinced he was shooting at a bear, local hunters are distressed by the conditions. According to Clarridge,
On Tuesday, members of the online group Hunting Washington were upset over the accident, which they said gave true sportspeople and legitimate hunters a bad name.
"Those kids should have been supervised," said member Scott Green. "Even a sharp and safe kid should be supervised."
Green said the shooter broke a cardinal rule of hunting: He failed to positively identify his target with binoculars before firing.
"We do not condone or accept the actions taken by this person and feel that we, as a community, must take a stand against such blatant disregard for safety of those we share the woods with," wrote Green in an e-mail statement Tuesday.
(Clarridge, "Matter of time")
And while the group disdains the prospect of new hunting regulations in the state, that is certainly one possible outcome. Jack Broom reports that,
State officials plan to reconsider hunter-education practices and possibly recommend age restrictions for hunters in the wake of last weekend's fatal shooting of a hiker by a 14-year-old boy in Skagit County.
Fish and Wildlife Director Jeff Koenings said the department will also examine ways to separate hunters and hikers, such as increased warning signs, staggered recreation times and temporary closure of certain areas to some recreational users.
"As the state's population grows, and use of outdoor recreational areas increases, we must be sure we're doing everything we can to protect all users," Koenings said.
(Broom)
Presently, first-time hunters must be licensed insofar as they can complete a hunting-education course, pass a written test, and demonstrate that they can safely handle a firearm. There is no minimum age for hunters, though, and adult supervision is not required for teenage hunters.
• • •
Commentary:
Just yesterday, in a completely unrelated discussion, and having not yet heard of this incident, I had cause to mention to a friend my plank for the gun-control platform. Essentially, own as many guns as you want, but you're accountable for every round fired from those guns. No accidents, no excuses.
By that standard, the fourteen year-old shooter would be held criminally and civilly responsible for Pamela Almli's death. And that is how it should be.
At present, of course, no charges have been filed, and my early prediction is that there will be no justice served in this case. After all, guns may be designed to kill, but you can't hold someone responsible for an accident, right?
Remember that any gun owner is a "responsible gun owner" until they're not. Being anxious to bag a bear is no excuse for killing someone.
_______________________
Notes:
Clarridge, Christine. "Fatal shooting of hiker mystifies her family". Seattle Times. August 5, 2008. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008092032_hikershot05m.html
—————. "'Matter of time' until a hiker got shot". Seattle Times. August 6, 2008. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008094528_hunting06m.html
Broom, Jack. "State eyes new limits on hunters after hiker's fatal shooting". Seattle Times. August 7, 2008. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008097220_hunt07m0.html