CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A Harrison County woman will serve a year on probation after pleading guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter. However, Tina Owens, 57, of Jarvisville will serve a lifetime of guilt and regret knowing she fired the errant shot which killed her 11 year old grandson.
The tragic case from Clarksburg ended this week, but Harrison County Prosecutor Joe Shaffer was right on the money in his assessment.
“Knowing when to fire, when not to fire, and knowing your surroundings,” said Shaffer. “This young man’s life will not have been in vain if we can get a good discussion going around the state with regard to that.”
You’ll find nobody who’s a more staunch defender of the Second Amendment than me. Everybody in this country, regardless of where they live, has a right to be armed and the right to use that gun up to and including deadly force in defense of themselves and their property. You can debate the point all you want, but you’ll never change my mind because I know I’m correct. It’s a Constitutional guarantee which sets us apart from most in the world.
However, many in their zeal to exercise their Second Amendment rights tend to overlook the obligatory responsibility which comes with those rights. You absolutely need to know when to shoot and when not to shoot. In the Owens case a frightened woman was “basically firing willy nilly into the dark” according to Shaffer’s description on MetroNews Talkline Friday.
I have never lived in a house where firearms weren’t present. There were guns in almost every room of my house growing up and there still are today, properly stored. My children are aware of guns amid the home. They know those guns are to never be touched unless an adult is present. Most of us learned from an adult how to properly use a gun. The first lesson was to never point a gun at anything you don’t intend to shoot. Lesson two, always be aware of what is beyond your target before you pull the trigger.
Shaffer hoped the tragedy in his county would lead to a healthy discussion about firearms training. I agree. If you’re unfamiliar with a gun you should learn how to use it properly and safely. There are plenty of certified firearms instructors who will give you in dept details on gun handling safety, proper shooting, accuracy, and help you develop a general comfort level with your gun.
When a new computer arrives here at the radio station we are trained on how to use it. Why wouldn’t you want to be trained on how to use a firearm if you never owned one?
Everybody has the right to own a gun, but the right carries an unwritten stipulation to be responsible for how it’s used.