When you wake up from your slumber on Christmas and hear a noise downstairs midnight, it’s probably best to check if it’s Santa — or, at least, a family member who lives with you. An off-duty Las Vegas, Nevada, cop and her husband, who is in the police academy, say they were asleep and became “startled” when they heard someone come in the door at 11:30 p.m.
Without bothering to verify the identity of the “intruder” or check into the situation — at all — the officer and her husband fired 27 rounds at the woman who had entered their home, with at least one bullet piercing the leg of their victim. The “intruder,” it turns out, was the mother of the female police officer, who lived with them — though she might be wise to move out if she is going to become a target simply for coming home. Fortunately, the woman’s injuries were not life-threatening.
Despite the irresponsible and unjustifiable shooting, North Las Vegas police say that not a single charge will be filed against the couple due to the “accidental” — yes, apparently you can fire 27 rounds at someone “accidentally” now — nature of the shooting.
This is the problem with America’s gun culture. While we regularly hear the NRA and its acolytes claim that they need guns for protection of themselves and others, the reality is that the wrong person often gets hurt. Recently, a mother “accidentally” shot and killed her daughter after mistaking her for an intruder. As with these officers, whose identities are being protected, no charges were filed because it was an “accident.” Unfortunately, “accidental” shootings like these are commonplace in the United States.
Of course, “good guys with guns” don’t fare much better when “protecting” others from the “bad guys,” either — like when one of the NRA’s Defenders of Humanity attempted to save someone from a carjacking. The victim was shot in the head, and the bad guys escapted. So did the “good guy,” who fled before police arrived.
If we truly want to promote responsible gun use, it’s time we begin charging people who shoot innocent victims while “cleaning their guns” or “defending their home from intruders.” The problem is that “shoot first and ask questions later” or “irresponsible discharge” of a weapon are accepted and excused. Lock a few people up and maybe ammosexuals will think twice about being responsible with their deadly weapons.
Watch a report on the shooting below:
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Featured image via Deviant Art
