Father of boy who shot friend gets 3 yrs
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| Sun, 07-18-2004 - 1:21pm |
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apus_story.asp?category=1110&slug=Child%20Shot%20Sentence
Saturday, July 17, 2004 · Last updated 8:28 p.m. PT
Father of boy who shot friend gets 3 years
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The father of a boy who shot and killed a playmate with a loaded gun he found stashed under a sofa was sentenced to nearly three years in prison, followed by probation during which he must speak monthly on gun safety.
Louis Mevec Sr. was sentenced Friday for felony culpable negligence in the 2003 death of Sean Caroline II. Mevec, who owned the .357-caliber Magnum used to kill the 12-year-old friend of his son Louis, was convicted last month.
During his father's trial, 14-year-old Louis testified that a small group of Largo Middle School students had skipped school and were playing video games at Mevec's apartment when he pointed the gun at Sean and shot him between the eyes.
"I blame you and only you for my son's death," Sean Caroline, Sean's father, told Louis Mevec Sr. in court Friday. "My wife and I are also serving a sentence ... but we got no trial. Ours is a life sentence."
Circuit Judge Brandt Downey sentenced Mevec, 53, to the maximum six-year prison term, but suspended more than half of it and replaced it with probation. His remaining sentence is 34 months, but with good behavior he could be released by late 2006.
The Caroline family had asked that Mevec be required to speak on gun safety after his release.
The younger Louis Mevec was sent to a juvenile facility and is now living in New York with his mother and younger brother.
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Simple reason really. Criminals exist, and many people choose not to be victims if they can help it. And since it isn't the job of police to protect us as individuals (but rather our own personal responsibility) many individuals choose to own a firearm as an effective means of defense.
Why do you find that relatively simple rationale difficult to understand? Do you not believe people are victimized by those with criminal intent (something I find hard to believe where you're concerned) or is it a case that you don't feel self-defense is our responsibility and isn't really necessary by individuals? I'm truly curious.
~mark~
Like I said, just curious. I'm finding it hard to imagine that you truly can't understand this at all as opposed to it merely being something you personally dislike or have a certain distaste for.
~mark~
"Is it that you really don't objectively understand having a firearm for defensive purposes, or that you just don't personally feel comfortable with the idea?"
I'm very uncomfortable with the thought of having a gun near me. If my life depended on it I wouldn't handle one. I feel safer not being around fire arms.
(This is a serious question, no underlying meaning so please don't take this the wrong way.)
Is the above quote accurately typed? Meaning if your life was in danger and a gun might help you wouldn't use it?
Maybe this is too personal and if so I respect that and feel free to tell me it is none of my business. But is there a specific reason for this uneasiness or fear?
Secondly, and this is a broadly asked question nothing personally directed at our cl...
If someone has these feelings do you think they are capable of making a logical decision/vote on gun control legislation?
Thanks for the answer, though I have to admit that I'm unable to understand the motivations and perspective of someone who wouldn't use a means of defending themselves if their lives depended on it. Speaking for myself, while my life may not mean much to many others it's the only one I have and I'll defend it if need be.
Thanks for the response though.
~mark~
Capable? Yes, but only if they're willing to vote with their brain instead of with their feelings. I've encountered such people, those who recognize that their feelings on the issue are just that, personal feelings, and who are able to see and respect the firebreak between using emotion and intellect to make decisions.
Now, how *many* can or will be able to do so is another question entirely.
~mark~
You know, I felt that way once upon a time, too. :] I had swallowed all the gun control rhetoric hook, line and sinker. Then a friend offered to show us his hand guns, touch them, shoot them at the range. I found that the rhetoric wasn't based in reality at all. Learning how to handle, shoot, clean & maintain my hand gun, how to store it safely, having gone through my state's required safety course, demystified guns and taught me how to be responsible. I would hope to never have to use it for home defense, but I am prepared to do so if my family's lives are threatened, as is my husband. Personal experience and knowledge and training is what is needed to overcome unnecessary and unfounded fear. My interest in marksmanship, maybe beginning level competiton in the sport eventually, overshadows the self-defense needs at this time, but it is a practical skill for self-defense as well. I'm certainly not going to turn into a mercenary because I enjoy shooting my gun, LOL!
I've also since taken some time to read pro-gun literature as well, with more of an open mind than I had before, which gives me a more reasonable and balanced view. Eliminating gun ownership for law abiding citizens makes no sense. Law abiding and reputable dealers and gun manufacturers are not to blame for criminals' gun use They already obey the federal and state laws to be in business today. I don't think the general person really knows in any detail the safety measures already in place. Knee-jerk reactions and unreasoning fear should not be used to deny constitutional rights. There needs to be a closer, more rational outlook than the likes of Feinstein and her ilk.
Edited 7/27/2004 9:18 pm ET ET by merlins_own
Merlins_Own
AS ABOVE, SO BELOW!
Edited 7/27/2004 10:14 pm ET ET by merlins_own
Merlins_Own
AS ABOVE, SO BELOW!
It's funny...because as I have stated before, I know how to handle, clean & shoot a gun (both rifles & handguns) - I even owned a rifle for a while...a bolt-action, single shot Remington .22.
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