Confederate re-enactor enters plea in shooting

[allingeneral]

Seems to me this guy got off lucky. I'm sure the guy who got shot will get his day in court though.

http://www.dailypress.com/news/virginia ... 3449.story

[OakRidgeStars]

I'm curious what kind of gun safety course he's going to take. I doubt that will help him in the inevitable civil trial.

Gun safety should occur before the squeezing the trigger, not after.

[zephyp]

I'm curious what kind of gun safety course he's going to take. I doubt that will help him in the inevitable civil trial.

Gun safety should occur before the squeezing the trigger, not after.

I agree. At least they are giving him a chance to avoid a harsh sentence. Glad to see the victim recovered. My question is if they were doing a re-enactment why did he have a loaded weapon to begin with

[Moccasin]

I believe he was a "walk on", not part of a regular group. Seems to me that they didn't have appropriate safety controls. Considering what was being done, basically shooting at someone, everything should have been double checked and very clear instructions issued to everyone on where to aim.

[zephyp]

I believe he was a "walk on", not part of a regular group. Seems to me that they didn't have appropriate safety controls. Considering what was being done, basically shooting at someone, everything should have been double checked and very clear instructions issued to everyone on where to aim.

Sounds like it may have been an intentional act then.

[Moccasin]

Not sure it was intentional, I think it was more along the lines of he didn't know the procedure to follow when re-enacting. I'm not absolutely certain what the procedure is but IIRC from the story at the time there should have been a reduced load of powder with paper/cardboard over it when the rifles were loaded and aiming should have been either over the heads or under the feet.

Those guys are using reproduction arms that are capable of firing projectiles, so basically they are breaking safety rules when they fire them towards each other during a re-enactment. They point guns at things they do not intend to shoot, and even if they do not point directly at someone they are firing a rifle towards someone.

[wylde007]

At least they are giving him a chance to avoid a harsh sentence.

He is VERY LUCKY. However, unless they can PROVE he intentionally shot the guy, this was an accident and, as there was no loss of life, the sentence is sufficient. Hopefully all parties have learned a valuable lesson. Punitive punishments are NEVER the answer for unintentional transgressions.

They point guns at things they do not intend to shoot, and even if they do not point directly at someone they are firing a rifle towards someone.

As this was a reenactment, the rules are a little different, but I have always been of the belief that you don't unholster your weapon unless you intend to fire it and you don't fire your weapon unless you are prepared to kill.

Just like "'i' before 'e', except after 'c'" there are exceptions to the rule, but I think you get the idea.

[Moccasin]

Wylde007, I understand that the rules are different for re-enactments. Just making a point that since they are in essence breaking firearms safety rules there should have been something in place to compensate. Either the safety procedures they had in place were insufficient or there were none in place. And since what they do goes against standard firearms safety practices they needed to be doubly sure.

[Fordmechanic]

Oh God,could I tell you stories from doing Civil War re-enacting when I was in my late teens and early 20's. I'll tell you exactly what this person was doing from experience. This fella found out there was a re-enactment, put on a pieced together uniform that wasn't correct, had purchased some leather gear from some online store that sells what they call "Civil War leathergoods", but is in reality some cheap knock off stuff, and a pair of cowboy boots. He forms up with anybody he can before the battle, but everyone knows he dosen't belong there, and nobody does anything to get rid of him.
by the time the battle begins it's too late to do anything. This guys intent is to shoot some yankee just like his great great great grandpappy did. You think I'm joking? I saw people like this all the time, we called them "FARBS". During the Centeninial there were several people who were shot from either flying ramrods or actual bullets intentionally rammed home.

Here's a youtube link to show you what I mean by "FARBS"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egC0iSUT ... re=related

[Fordmechanic]

Here are some pics of me when I used to re-enact. I was in the 21st Va, F Co, and we had 5 members in the unit that worked for the Museum of the Confederacy, as curators or staff. Our uniforms were based EXACTLY from originals in the collection.

[goodoleboy]

very cool, I always wanted to get into those....maybe as part of a cannon crew....BOOM

[Paliden]

I use to shoot competition with civil war weapons (pistol, carbine, musket and a 6 lb. field cannon) We had VERY strict safety procedures we followed. They were there to save our life and others. Not only could you maybe shoot someone but more likely have a problem and injure yourself or other around you. I did go to se a couple of reenactments and by our standard they scared me to death. Talking to some there it was not unlikely for someone to be shot with a musket ball ring left in a barrel. Now this was only two times I went to one, I'm NOT saying they were all like this. I'm just saying they did not meet our safety standards which were strict and maybe not work for them.