Employee 'serious' after shooting at Mesa gun store
Associated Press
Originally published 12:30 a.m., February 11, 2008
Updated 01:30 p.m., February 11, 2008
GRAND JUNCTION — A sporting goods store employee was in serious condition today, two days after he was shot by a rifle that was undergoing repairs.
Kenny Franklin, 53, of Grand Junction was shot Saturday at Jerry's Outdoor Sports by a .243-caliber rifle. Police said Richard Bacher, 56, was working on the rifle for a customer when it discharged and hit Franklin in the abdomen.
Franklin was at St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction. The hospital said it could release no information other than his condition.
The Mesa County Sheriff's Department said it expects to complete its investigation within two weeks. A decision on whether to file charges would be made by the district attorney's office after that.
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February 11, 2008
7:35 a.m.
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Theoldguy writes:
This goes beyond stupid. The FIRST thing that should have been done was to have the BOLT out of the rifle BEFORE it was brought into the store!!!!!!!! This should prove to all that even "EMPTY" guns are dangerous.
February 11, 2008
7:47 a.m.
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rwmorrisonjr writes:
Once again, its not the fault of the gun as it didn't go load itself before it was taken in for servicing. This was not following good gun safety rules, the first of which is "Treat all guns as if they're loaded". It sounds like both the gun owner and the store personnel need to back to Gun Safety 101 before they're even allowed near a gun again, let alone running a gun sales and servicing shop.
So while I agree with OldGuy, let's make sure that we place blame where it belongs: on the handlers, not the weapon itself.
February 11, 2008
8:10 a.m.
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Theoldguy writes:
rwmorrisonjr
Never blame the gun....it's just a "thing". Blame the human holding it who should have had it pointing away from others. Wow! Shot in the guts with a .243. Ouch!
February 11, 2008
8:42 a.m.
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Retread writes:
My guns never take me out shooting anymore, I am hurt that this one just shoots at random.....
February 11, 2008
9:35 a.m.
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fortyfive writes:
my guns had to have an operation to remove their brains 'cause they had a bad habit of going off with no help from me , now they only goes off if i pull the trigger....this is what is needed for the shop owner and gun owner, they need their brains removed.....dumb sense of security not to check a weapon twice before working/cleaning it, now a person have a serioud gut ache and no amount of pepto bismol will ease the pain....i smell a law suit.
February 11, 2008
9:50 a.m.
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EastVail writes:
Guns don't kill people. I kill people.
February 11, 2008
10:15 a.m.
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Marshdale writes:
EastVail: You scare me.
February 11, 2008
10:37 a.m.
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psu96 writes:
If I owned a gun store and somebody walked in with a gun, outside of a case, I might assume you were a robber and shoot your arse.
February 11, 2008
10:55 a.m.
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Theoldguy writes:
East Vail
C'mon out and visit some time.
February 11, 2008
2:52 p.m.
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PMSXpress writes:
psu96: that's a good point.
Q: How does someone that owns or works in a gun store, work on a rifle with the bolt intact and closed? There has got to be more to this story. Is it possible there was a round stuck in the chamber and it was jammed, hence the reason the rifle was brought in in the first place? Hope the guy is okay though.
Easy EastVail. Easy fella.
February 11, 2008
3:59 p.m.
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bjclark writes:
What makes it worse was the guy that pulled the trigger was a cop for 20+ years and a POLICE CHIEF.
Yeah, I couldn't make that up.
www.gjsentinel.com has the full story.
February 11, 2008
4:24 p.m.
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Retread writes:
Here is another Cop that had his stuff packed tight.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlkF3D...
These kids are scarred for life....