Law abiding responsible gun owners. Yeah, right.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/08/10/forests-grapple-8500-gun-incidents/30903483/
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. — Perched around a secluded campfire in the Rocky Mountains, Glenn Martin jerked forward, said, "Ow," and died. The wayward bullet that struck him in the national forest has campers and other users calling for changes in recreational shooting policy.
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Since 2010, United States Forest Service officers handled 8,500 shooting incidents across the country. Of those, 926 were in the Pike-San Isabel. The reported illegal shooting has intensified precipitously in recent years.
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She (Erin Connelly, supervisor of the Pike National Forest) attributes the shooting issues to the proximity to the major metro areas Denver and Colorado Springs, with droves of gun enthusiasts. Three law enforcement officers patrol the vast forest.
The 60 year old Martin was waiting to toast marshmallows with his grand-kids when he was shot. That's gotta leave a lasting impression on the kids doncha' think?
Yeah, they're all responsible and law abiding until they're not. Then somebody dies.
= new reply since forum marked as read
One (probably drunk "cowboy"
playing with his gun manages to kill someone,
so ALL gun owners are irresponsible.
Got it.
"The Woods" within 100 miles of populated areas are a very dangerous places during hunting or camping seasons.
That is when all the self styled Rambos leave the suburbs to go play in the woods with their guns.\
They dream about it and killing stuff all year long.
Luckily, I live more than 100 miles away from populated areas at the end of a long, dead end road in the Woods.
4WD recommended.
One way in... one way out
We are seldom bothered by the Sururban Rambos. IF we see a strange vehicle, or out of state tag, we will stop them, and tell them they are on private land.
Some of the out-of staters actually visit locals during the daytime asking for permission to hunt.
What used to be a neighborly "Yes" a few year ago has been turned into a "NO" because of multiple, chronic abuses of this permission, and no regard for fences or property lines.
There was also a rise in Gut Shot (Rambo) deer that took agonizing hours to die in the brush.
No fun to find a suffering, mostly dead deer on you property with a bullet through the gut trying to get a drink out of a pond or tank.
Not too long ago, there was a hard and fast rule for hunters.
If you shoot and wound something, you MUST track it down. No exceptions.
Unfortunately, this is no longer true.
That is not a rule among the Rambos.
Tracking a wounded deer through thick brush is no fun.
If a wounded deer hits the brush, they'll simply find another one to shoot.
It used to be the locals assholes who "shined" game at night, but not anymore.
If someone is "shining" at night, local sheriffs, constables, game wardens (if possible, I've never seen one but they are notified), and locals run them off. They seldom come back.
We KNOW these woods.
When I confront these out-of-State Rambos for illegal hunting, the most common response is,
"I didn't know anyone lived back here."
There are 12 people that live within a square mile of me. Most have bullet holes in their houses from the Rambos. I have two, near the roof line.
Yes, there are certainly irresponsible "hunters" out there. There are also crazy "survivalists" who stockpile ammo
and pray for the day they can shoot hungry "zombies" coming from the cities. (I KNOW who they are really talking about.)
These are scary, sick people, and we stay away from them. They believe they can live on K-Rations for a year, peeking out firing slits. That will get old in 2 days, and they WILL come after people & neighbors who grow and preserve real food. (like us)
There are probably over 1000 guns in this area, including our 4.
All in all, we've been in this rural county for 10 years, directly connected with the local Police, County Sheriff, local Fire & Rescue (Both Fire Fighters, and wife is a first responder).
In ten years, I can recall nobody getting shot, no "accidental" discharges, or any other kind of gun "accidents'
Most local 7 years olds have better gun sense than any of the "Rambos" who visit.
"They're all law abiding responsible gun owners until so many of them are not."
8,000 times someone in a national park suddenly became a law breaking irresponsible gun owner. They bought the gun legally, transported it legally, carried it onto park property legally and then did something stupid. Law-abiding and responsible right up till they fired the shot that killed a grandfather camping with his grandkids.
Sorry if I hurt your feelings.
