This is really sad

That is sad, but what kind of idiot let's their 8 y.o. fire a freaking UZI?!?!?!  Regardless of the certified instructor crap (was he not close enough to see the kid losing control and take necessary action?) it's INSANE that a parent would allow this and that there's no age restriction for this type of thing!  I'm all for the 2nd Amendment, but PUHLEASE!  An 8 y.o.???  Good grief!!! 

 That is terrible and sadly, totally avoidable. The poor family.

I can't imagine letting a child fire a weapon with that kind of kick back...

I don't know anything about guns and yet I know about recoil...and everything I know about Uzi's is from the movies (laugh I know), but they seem like a serious sort of weapon one would need some strength to keep under control...

I dunno. I do feel there was some negligence here....someplace. Obviously if the safety measures were adequate a child would not have been killed. I'd say the same if the child were say...killed by an animal in a petting zoo (tho is that even comparable...animals are unpredictable and weapons are predictable...aren't they?)...safety measures are only adequate if they work...that's my opinion.

Gina ............ 

weapons ..... in this case .... an automatic firearm ........ are to me ......... unpredictable ........

the are man-made mechanical items that are suceptible to malfunctioning ......

as with the majority of circumstances and situations ...... the bottom line is human error    

with the ultimate result being the loss of life ................. 

a very sad daily reality

The only human error I can see is the brain dead parent that let their child hold it, much less fire it.  I am sure they will sue the gun manufacturer and everyone else for their own stupidity however.  It is just too too sad.

This is so sad. It's been on every single local news station and from what I've heard it's just a terrible accident and nobody will be found at fault.

It's not an accident when a parent and a certified firearms instructor allow an 8 year old to fire an UZI.  Many grown men have trouble with a weapon like this!  And yes it is ridiculous to sue the manufacturer.  The parents will suffer a lifetime of regrets but the so called instructor needs to face a court of law, IMO.

At the risk of asking a really stupid question here ... if there's a gun show where people are going to be picking up the guns and handling them, why in hell-o would they be loaded, especially automatics???

Joyce

I see it as one big accident.  Maybe very poor judgment on the part of the parents and the gun instructor, but an accident nonetheless.  This is what I never understand about some people who are so into guns.  They want the right to use them as they please but when an accident happens (as is bound to happen at some point with such dangerous equipment), someone just HAS to be blamed.  If you want to be shooting Uzis on your free time than you need to except that it's a very risky activity.

fuzzy_dogs_mom

At the risk of asking a really stupid question here ... if there's a gun show where people are going to be picking up the guns and handling them, why in hell-o would they be loaded, especially automatics???

Joyce

It wasn't a gun "show". People were allowed to fire.

"The Westfield Sportsman's Club was hosting its annual "Great New England Pumpkin Shoot" during the weekend, police said. Officials from the club could not be reached.

Information on the club's website explained participants did not need a permit or license and would be accompanied on the range by a certified instructor." -http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/10/27/boy_8_dies_after_accidental_shooting_at_gun_club/

BlackLabbie

Information on the club's website explained participants did not need a permit or license and would be accompanied on the range by a certified

Certified idiot!

Good lord, I would kill my husband if he ever let something like that happen.  I'm so sorry for that family, but there is no way in hello ... or remotely good judgement... that someone should let even an experienced 8yr old handle a machine gun LOADED.  You know, if you want to be cute and let your kid try it, you do it when the gun is not loaded!  Or does not have lethal capacity.  You don't "try" it loaded!!  I'm appalled and disgusted and terribly sad for all those grieving that child.

 That is exactly what I was thinking. My 250 lb. husband talks about how hard a 45 is to hold onto...

   This really is a huge tragedy, the reason it is national news is because it happens so infrequently.  If the kid drown in the family pool while the adults present had a momentary lapse in attention it would only be heard about in the local news.

  Big mistake by the adults present.  All autos climb, they are very lucky others weren't hurt or killed.  Any half way knowledgeable adult would have let the kid try it or another gun semi-auto.  A single cartridge, not a full magazine.