# Stupid Gun news of the day (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 29, 2013, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729 "2013-01-29T19:01:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 454
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2019, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/9064 "2019-10-14T14:03:25Z")
> [@HeweyLogan](#): > > **A Kansas 13-year-old was charged with a felony for pointing a finger gun at her classmates** An interesting tidbit in the story — which may serve as a metaphor for the absurdity of American gun culture — is that under-age students at a neighboring school had been charged with _misdemeanors_ for bringing guns to schools. I’ll guess there’s more legal nuance, but according to the reporter, **those kids could _not_ be charged with felonies because the guns were not misused.** The kid who used her fingers instead of a real gun _was_ charged with a felony. (Should this be in the Positive Guns thread? Possession of guns, even though illegal, led to reduced charges compared with the wielder of a finger gun.) ---
**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:** [October 23, 2019, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/9065 "2019-10-23T18:40:15Z")
Uber driver in Florida (of course) [accidentally shoots his passenger in the leg](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/teenage-uber-passenger-accidentally-shot-driver-florida-police-say-n1070371) while moving his gun. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2019, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/9066 "2019-10-23T19:57:22Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Uber driver in Florida (of course) [accidentally shoots his passenger in the leg](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/teenage-uber-passenger-accidentally-shot-driver-florida-police-say-n1070371) while moving his gun. and, there goes the tip. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2019, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/9067 "2019-10-23T20:19:48Z")
Actually shoot somebody in the leg - misdemeanor Point your finger at someone - felony Seems legit. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2019, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/9068 "2019-10-23T20:59:50Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Actually shoot somebody in the leg - misdemeanor > > Point your finger at someone - felony > > Seems legit. She knew what she signed up for. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2019, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/9069 "2019-10-24T01:08:51Z")
Perhaps they should add “Request driver that doesn’t carry a gun” option to the Uber app? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2019, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/9070 "2019-10-24T08:19:15Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Perhaps they should add “Request driver that doesn’t carry a gun” option to the Uber app? While I get that this is a joke - and while this may be antithetical to this thread’s ethos - actively advertising that a driver is unarmed would be a bad idea. Not that I think Uber drivers should be armed as a matter of course, but there’s a difference between being unarmed and going out of one’s way to announce it. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2019, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/9071 "2019-10-24T08:24:44Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Actually shoot somebody in the leg - misdemeanor > . The dog will get off because prior to this he’s been such a good boy. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2019, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/9072 "2019-10-24T08:48:59Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > While I get that this is a joke - and while this may be antithetical to this thread’s ethos - actively advertising that a driver is unarmed would be a bad idea. > > Not that I think Uber drivers should be armed as a matter of course, but there’s a difference between being unarmed and going out of one’s way to announce it. Is America really that dangerous and lawless that the only way to be safe is to let people believe you are carrying a gun? If that’s truely the case, then fuck me, I’d better shelve any idea of ever travelling there. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2019, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/9073 "2019-10-24T09:35:11Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Is America really that dangerous and lawless that the only way to be safe is to let people believe you are carrying a gun? > If that’s truely the case, then fuck me, I’d better shelve any idea of ever travelling there. For certain professions - and taxi driving is one of them - yes, being armed (or making people think you are) is an unfortunate necessity. You’re in a one-on-one situation with potentially no witnesses and no knowledge of the person who just got into your car, if you’re a regular cab driver you’re likely carrying (or can be assumed to be carrying) a reasonable amount of cash, and you’re going to be asking the stranger for cash at the end of the journey. There are a lot of risk factors there. In a country where crazy people don’t have easy access to guns this would not be an issue (or as much of one), but this is America we’re talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2019, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/9074 "2019-10-24T17:25:29Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Perhaps they should add “Request driver that doesn’t carry a gun” option to the Uber app? [Uber Firearms Prohibition Policy](https://www.uber.com/legal/policies/firearms-prohibition-policy/en/) > [@](#): > > Our goal is to ensure that everyone has a safe and reliable ride. That’s why Uber prohibits riders and their guests, as well as driver and delivery partners, from carrying firearms of any kind while using our app\* > > Anyone who violates this policy may lose access to Uber. > > \*To the extent permitted by applicable law. Of course, their only enforcement option is to block the driver or rider from using the service once they are made aware that someone was carrying. They have no real authority to regulate anything but their bowel movements. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2019, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/9075 "2019-10-24T17:29:31Z")
Thanks! I’ve never used Uber, so I didn’t know that policy. Plus, I guess they DO advertise the fact that their drivers don’t carry guns on them. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/9076 "2019-10-25T09:53:17Z")
FTR I was unaware of that policy as well. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2019, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/9077 "2019-10-28T20:48:07Z")
[Dallas police officer shoots his son after mistaking him for an intruder](https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/27/us/dallas-police-officer-shoots-son-trnd/index.html). ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2019, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/9078 "2019-10-28T21:21:32Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > [Dallas police officer shoots his son after mistaking him for an intruder](https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/27/us/dallas-police-officer-shoots-son-trnd/index.html). “…an off-duty Dallas officer who mistook his son for an intruder and accidentally shot him,…” No, this was not an “accident”. Everything went exactly as planned. The off duty officer pointed a gun at someone without identifying him. He then shot a person, without knowing who this person was, or what this person’s intent was. Not an accident. This is a deliberate shooting, with negligence. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2019, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/9079 "2019-10-29T00:38:30Z")
Maybe his son was there to rob him for drug money? If so, this should go in the “Positive Gun News” thread. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2019, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/9080 "2019-10-29T14:16:21Z")
I suspect it was an accident. I think he was doing something stupid and ‘accidentally shooting his son’ did not sound _quite_ as stupid and irresponsible as the truth. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2019, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/9081 "2019-10-29T16:08:39Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Is America really that dangerous and lawless that the only way to be safe is to let people believe you are carrying a gun? > If that’s truely the case, then fuck me, I’d better shelve any idea of ever travelling there. Nah, I’ve spent decades in different parts of the US with no need to carry even at 2am in Baltimore. However, as mentioned, some people may feel their circumstances make it prudent e.g. traditional cabbies (a putative advantage of Uber is the no cash model). Of course it behooves any armed person to keep and use it safely. > [@Projammer](#): > > [Uber Firearms Prohibition Policy](https://www.uber.com/legal/policies/firearms-prohibition-policy/en/) > > Of course, their only enforcement option is to block the driver or rider from using the service once they are made aware that someone was carrying. They have no real authority to regulate anything but their bowel movements. I notice the “applicable law” provision, which is their way to acknowledge that in some jurisdictions the Law says you may/can carry freely and in others not so. As a driver you’re an independent contractor in your own vehicle, so if the law allows it and you carry and handle in such a manner that you DON’T have mishaps (or if as a user you take your ride and move along with no mishaps and do not leave the gun behind) then there would be no way for Uber to know. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2019, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/9082 "2019-10-30T17:29:24Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Lethal shootings are justified in many states if you’re afraid of bodily harm. > And many of these gun nuts are cowards who seem constantly afraid. > It’s surprising they \*ever \*get a murder conviction! Or, even worse, I think at least SOME of them are murderers, and the “I wuz scared” dodge is just a lie to cover it up. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2019, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729/9083 "2019-10-30T17:31:46Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > So many options on where to [post this](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/joseph-schumacher-trump-threatened_n_5d9cc938e4b087efdba3bcdb), but this seems good: > > North Dakota Trump supporter in pickup pulls gun on woman with a Warren bumper sticker. His passenger confirms it. Arrested. Charged with felonies. yup, “The Base”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729.md?page=453) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-gun-news-of-the-day-part-1/648729.md?page=455)