Police investigate death of Pa. student at school rifle practice

[RamboLiberal]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PA_STUDENT_SHOT_PAOL-?SITE=PAGRE&SECTION=NATIONAL&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2006-12-15-07-32-05

A 17-year-old member of a high school rifle team was found shot in the school stadium's locker room and authorities were investigating whether the boy's death was an accident or a suicide.

The student was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound Thursday after school in the locker room at McGuffey High School's stadium in Washington County(this is SW PA). The student was alone at the time.

"No other students were in danger at the time of the accident," Superintendent Joseph Stefka said.

The student was flown to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, where he died early Friday.

<snip>

Shane Halligan, who had been despondent over his falling grades and his parents' limiting of his extracurricular activities, shot himself Tuesday during school at Springfield Township High School with a rifle he was carrying in a duffel bag. No one else at the school was hurt.

Yes there are schools who still have rifle teams. I remember growing up even my city's high school had a rifle team. I wonder if this will be the death knell in this area for this in high school. One could argue that this sport is safer than high school football, but guns and ammo in a school may no longer be wise and perhaps should be confined to the gun clubs or under parental supervision. Moderators I puzzled over posting here. If you want transfer it to the Guns Forum.

[pop goes the weasel]

1. I hope it doesn't mean the end of the club

My high school had a rifle range. I wonder if it still does. Anyway, that was the best P.E. unit ever, getting my first experience handling a rifle with live ammunition. I never became a firearm owner, but I can still shoot on target, even though I rarely practice, and more importantly, I can safely handle firearms without accidently shooting myself or anyone else.

I really think it is important that children be exposed to the handling of potentially dangerous items. This includes animals of all sorts, guns, knives, stoves, pointy scissors and compasses, and power tools. It's far more dangerous to society to raise children to adulthood without basic adult skills than it is to risk children possibly getting hurt. Babyproofing the world leads to helplessness and fear.

[pfitz59]

2. "Private Pyle what is your major malfunction!"

Guns..locker rooms..depressed teens... hmmmmmmmm.....