# 17 yo shot in the face with a frog **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 18, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-yo-shot-in-the-face-with-a-frog/169552 "2003-04-18T14:55:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrot)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-yo-shot-in-the-face-with-a-frog/169552/21 "2003-04-18T16:30:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > \*\*I would have thought we’d have some French jokes by now. \*\* Why? The kid lives in Texas. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-yo-shot-in-the-face-with-a-frog/169552/22 "2003-04-18T16:32:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Happy Lendervedder \* > So, uh, how’s the frog? He’s now a handsome prince. ---
**Author:** ![yme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/35a633/32.png) [@yme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yme)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-yo-shot-in-the-face-with-a-frog/169552/23 "2003-04-18T16:42:09Z")
I myself prefer to use D Cell batteries wrapped in duct tape. And just like the ad says, “It keeps going and going”. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-yo-shot-in-the-face-with-a-frog/169552/24 "2003-04-18T16:52:07Z")
> [@](#): > > BTW, since when are potato guns illegal? Good question. [Legal:](http://www.nbc5i.com/news/2115267/detail.html) > [@](#): > > Investigators said the teenager who owns the gun purchased it off the Internet. Potato guns are not illegal in Texas, so prosecutors will not file charges in the incident. [Illegal:](http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/local/5645241.htm) > [@](#): > > The Texas Penal Code classifies potato guns as “zip guns,” and they are considered illegal weapons, a spokeswoman for the Department of Public Safety said. ---
**Author:** ![Fingolfin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eada6e/32.png) [@Fingolfin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fingolfin)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-yo-shot-in-the-face-with-a-frog/169552/25 "2003-04-18T17:10:33Z")
Hey thanks for the explanation guys. I now know what a “Potato Gun” is. The only deviant projectile device I used when I was a kid was the 'ol Sling Shot (firing lit firecrackers). 😉 ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-yo-shot-in-the-face-with-a-frog/169552/26 "2003-04-18T17:20:17Z")
They’re actually great fun to use if handled with respect. You’ve got to brace the base against your thigh and it makes a loud “twhuuuunk” noise when it goes off. We get the max distance away and try and catch them with our hat. Shoot one into the broad side of a barn and only a wet spot will remain of the potato. The fact you’re spraying an aerosol into a chamber with a juryrigged Bic lighter in it and then screwing the lid tight before firing does cause frequent misfires. One of the kids obviously was still twirling the ignitor when the boy looked in. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-yo-shot-in-the-face-with-a-frog/169552/27 "2003-04-18T17:28:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by UncleBeer \* > \*\*Good question. > > [Legal:](http://www.nbc5i.com/news/2115267/detail.html) > [Illegal:](http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/local/5645241.htm) \*\* Now, I’m even more confused. ---
**Author:** ![carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrot)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-yo-shot-in-the-face-with-a-frog/169552/28 "2003-04-18T17:34:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > \*\*Now, I’m even more confused. \*\* Hit him with the frog **now**! ---
**Author:** ![NutMagnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea5d25/32.png) [@NutMagnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NutMagnet)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-yo-shot-in-the-face-with-a-frog/169552/29 "2003-04-18T17:40:20Z")
Does anyone remember the “Spud Gun”? It was a white metal hand gun. You poked the tip of the barrel into a potato and it plugged the end with a small cylinder of potato (smalller than a pencil eraser). Pulling the trigger was actually plunging one part of the barrel into the other. You could never use a frog as ammo’ though. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-yo-shot-in-the-face-with-a-frog/169552/30 "2003-04-18T17:50:51Z")
This is interesting. The potato gun I had would’ve killed him at that range–this gun must not’ve been quite as powered. Mine definitely could’ve put a potato through the side of a barn. I never shot myself with the gun. However, I did singe my hair pretty badly with the combustion chamber once. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-yo-shot-in-the-face-with-a-frog/169552/31 "2003-04-18T18:05:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Anaximenes \* > \*\*For the record, you can buy them online: [http://www.spudtech.com/](http://www.spudtech.com/) > > The full article is also there, about 2/3 down the page. \*\* I think the scariest thing about that website is that it calls itself the: > [@](#): > > Home of the world’s most advanced hand-held laser-guided bolt-action aluminum SP9004 potato rifle. That’s a pretty high-tech fucking weapon for shooting a tuber! **ultrafilter** , the article linked to by **neuroman** says that the kid _would_ have been killed if the gun had fired a potato. It seems that he was saved by softness of the projectile amphibian. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-yo-shot-in-the-face-with-a-frog/169552/32 "2003-04-18T18:08:59Z")
Spud guns, go wild. [http://www.mcphee.com/bigindex/current/10762.html](http://www.mcphee.com/bigindex/current/10762.html) I still use mine occasionally at concerts, forestry meets, and black tie affairs. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-yo-shot-in-the-face-with-a-frog/169552/33 "2003-04-18T18:11:29Z")
> [@](#): > > They say he was lucky he didn’t croak. Quite a good rib; it was funny. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-yo-shot-in-the-face-with-a-frog/169552/34 "2003-04-18T18:11:47Z")
I think I’ll move to Idaho and plant from the porch. ---
**Author:** ![Morrigoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/858c86/32.png) [@Morrigoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morrigoon)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-yo-shot-in-the-face-with-a-frog/169552/35 "2003-04-18T18:16:36Z")
Jeez, that poor frog! Someone needs to file animal cruelty charges against the Einstien with the gun! ---
**Author:** ![NutWrench](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nutwrench/32/20193_2.png) [@NutWrench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NutWrench)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-yo-shot-in-the-face-with-a-frog/169552/36 "2003-04-18T18:16:56Z")
Another senseless frog-related injury. When will they learn? I did some pretty stupid things as a teenager, but I don’t ever recall blasting a frog into my face or looking down the barrel of a CANNON. ---
**Author:** ![Searching\_For\_Truth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@Searching\_For\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Searching_For_Truth)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-yo-shot-in-the-face-with-a-frog/169552/37 "2003-04-18T18:58:30Z")
Can you _imagine_ how horrifying and digusting it would be to witness a FROG being fired into some kid’s face? Too bad it wasn’t on camera. Oh my God! Do you think **Jackass** would do it and tape it? People would pay to see that. ---
**Author:** ![NutMagnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea5d25/32.png) [@NutMagnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NutMagnet)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-yo-shot-in-the-face-with-a-frog/169552/38 "2003-04-18T19:13:14Z")
Thanks, **Telemark** They look a little different, but they’re what I was thinking. And only $6 a pair! > [@](#): > > Black tie affairs cool! **lieu** 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-yo-shot-in-the-face-with-a-frog/169552/39 "2003-04-18T19:35:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ultrafilter \* > \*\*This is interesting. The potato gun I had would’ve killed him at that range–this gun must not’ve been quite as powered. Mine definitely could’ve put a potato through the side of a barn. \*\* Mine, too. It scared me knowing it could launch a russet that far–must’ve been some hellacious stress in the combustion chamber. I had recurrent thoughts of my son finding it and trying it out, and it grenading. I dismantled it. ---
**Author:** ![D.E.S.K.Top668](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-yo-shot-in-the-face-with-a-frog/169552/40 "2003-04-18T19:51:17Z")
I don’t know what’s worse-the kids injuries, you sick people making jokes about, or myself for laughing at the mental image.🙂 Actually, I heard the kid was playing army. He just didn’t realize that the army uses **towed** artillery. Sad, injured because of his Texas accent. Peace-DESK [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-yo-shot-in-the-face-with-a-frog/169552.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-yo-shot-in-the-face-with-a-frog/169552.md?page=3)