by BrianB » Tue Jan 18, 2011 12:27 pm
relode, I am really glad no one got hurt.
With your question, I don't know anything about the gun you are talking about. Going off of what you are saying, and there is not a whole lot of detail, I want to stress that I am answering in how it sounds to me from the details given. I am not trying to be rude, just point out the facts as it seems things stand at this point. If I am wrong then please explain if you would.
It sounds as if you are not sure exactly what happened which leads me to assume it would be the sister that accidentally discharged the weapon, or at least was handling it when it went off. It also sounds as if you are saying that she is new to guns.
Going off those assumptions, I feel that the biggest problem here was a malfunction of basic firearm safety. The gun may or may not have malfunctioned but regardless it should not have been being handled by someone who does not know how to use it and in an environment where someone could have been killed.
If I am correct, I would tell you that she should have been taken to a gun range or other appropriate safe place to learn how to use the gun. She should also definitely have been supervised while handling the gun by someone, preferably a professional, that knows what they are doing. Even if the gun itself had malfunctioned she should not have had it loaded with live rounds, in a house, without supervision.
At a range you always keep the gun pointed down range, because, yes, accidents and malfunctions do happen. You should look into finding a professional to take over showing her the ropes because leaving her in this situation was not a good idea. Or at the very least, leave the gun locked up until someone, whether you or someone else, can be with her to supervise.
Like I said, that it what it looks like to me and I don't mean to offend, but certainly someone did something wrong in this situation which is the root cause of the problem.