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elleng

(130,126 posts)
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 02:49 PM Jun 2014

Cops: Vendor Shoots Woman at Pennsylvania Gun Show.

Source: nyt/ap

BLOOMSBURG, Pa. — A vendor accidentally shot a woman in the leg while demonstrating a gun and holster at a central Pennsylvania gun show, police said.

The Columbia County district attorney's office will determine whether the vendor, Geoffrey Hawk, will face criminal charges stemming from the shooting Saturday at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds, Officer Brad Sharrow said.

Hawk, 44, of Warminster, didn't immediately return calls Sunday to his cellphone and business, In Case of Emergency Enterprises. He was manning a booth for his business at the Eagle Arms Gun show at the time of the shooting.

Hawk told police he thought the gun was unloaded when he demonstrated a concealed-carry wallet holster to the woman, Krista Gearhart, 25, of Orangeville. Gearhart was treated and released for a thigh wound at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2014/06/29/us/ap-us-gun-show-shooting.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&version=WireFeed&module=pocket-region&region=pocket-region&WT.nav=pocket-region&_r=0

74 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Cops: Vendor Shoots Woman at Pennsylvania Gun Show. (Original Post) elleng Jun 2014 OP
In Case of Emergency? shenmue Jun 2014 #1
Presence of guns = People getting shot nt onehandle Jun 2014 #2
What an absurd statement! Helen Borg Jun 2014 #10
LOL! onehandle Jun 2014 #20
My laugh cannot be described in words!-nt Anansi1171 Jun 2014 #56
It is the one constant in all these episodes. Ed Suspicious Jun 2014 #14
Do you mean to imply that people don't get shot when no guns are present? DFW Jun 2014 #29
you are right samsingh Jun 2014 #49
rule #1 Duckhunter935 Jun 2014 #3
Awesome dude ProudToBeBlueInRhody Jun 2014 #8
Shouldn't a "professional" gun sell already know this? CanonRay Jun 2014 #18
yes they should Duckhunter935 Jun 2014 #27
Unfortunately, you gun fanciers don't always follow the rules. Hoyt Jun 2014 #30
actually most do Duckhunter935 Jun 2014 #36
Low to those protecting their access to gunz, not so low to me. Hoyt Jun 2014 #37
I am more worried about riding my Duckhunter935 Jun 2014 #41
i'm more worried about people with guns killing innocent people samsingh Jun 2014 #50
OK Duckhunter935 Jun 2014 #53
You should worry about both. Hoyt Jun 2014 #57
Nope Duckhunter935 Jun 2014 #59
Yet gun fanciers tote when the odds of needing one are small. You are not consistent. Hoyt Jun 2014 #61
I do not tote Duckhunter935 Jun 2014 #62
Since guns are designed to shot and kill no wonder people get shot and some get killed. The Wielding Truth Jun 2014 #55
That is Rule # 2. Rule # 1 is to make sure all guns are unloaded when yellowcanine Jun 2014 #43
actually it is Duckhunter935 Jun 2014 #48
I hope that no guns were harmed during this incident. Orrex Jun 2014 #4
won't someone think of the guns!!! Soylent Brice Jun 2014 #33
He needs to change the business name to "In Case I Create An Emergency." Vinca Jun 2014 #5
He should absolutely lose his license for this "accident" SwankyXomb Jun 2014 #7
About right, yes BrotherIvan Jun 2014 #12
Hey! There aren't supposed to be any loaded guns at gun shows! Paladin Jun 2014 #6
Good point. Gun shows, gun stores, NRA headquarters, military bases, etc., don't allow loaded gunz Hoyt Jun 2014 #31
I firmly believe that a lot of our Gun Enthusiast acquaintances...... Paladin Jun 2014 #34
... Scuba Jun 2014 #69
That explains it ... Nihil Jun 2014 #71
You may be right about the over-reaction thing. Paladin Jun 2014 #72
Guns don't go off. Gun-fuckers do. Iggo Jun 2014 #9
Irresponsible gun ownership runs the gamut rocktivity Jun 2014 #22
"he thought the gun was unloaded"- No Vested Interest Jun 2014 #11
Maybe he was just demonstrating LibDemAlways Jun 2014 #13
She probably asked the guy to show her how the gun works and Hubert Flottz Jun 2014 #15
Wow. What a shock. Alex P Notkeaton Jun 2014 #16
If only she had a gun. TheCowsCameHome Jun 2014 #17
The very first thing he should have "demonstrated" rocktivity Jun 2014 #19
All gunowners are responsible gunowners until they are not Tom Ripley Jun 2014 #21
Another satisfied customer. DeSwiss Jun 2014 #23
After her lawyer gets done with him she can afford the bullet. yellowcanine Jun 2014 #45
There is not enough money in the world tosh Jun 2014 #24
He stood his ground, against his customer. nt TeamPooka Jun 2014 #25
It doesn't matter if you're good or bad if you're a dumb guy with a gun. nt TeamPooka Jun 2014 #26
Guns are now a consumer fad. Lot of foolish people buying and selling them. freshwest Jun 2014 #28
This is DU, very gun friendly place, I hate guns myself randys1 Jun 2014 #52
That's it in a few words. Hoyt Jun 2014 #58
I don't hate guns; I grew up in a different generation with LOTS of regulations and except for the freshwest Jun 2014 #65
gruff enid602 Jun 2014 #32
I have heard of high pressure tactics but that is absurd! yellowcanine Jun 2014 #44
he THOUGHT the gun was unloaded???? heaven05 Jun 2014 #35
Surely gun vendors are licensed and can have that license suspended, right? MH1 Jun 2014 #38
surely heaven05 Jun 2014 #39
true Duckhunter935 Jun 2014 #42
Guns aren't dangerous! As long as they don't have fuckin' bullets!!!! nt valerief Jun 2014 #40
Accidents and incidents... billh58 Jun 2014 #46
'Law-Abiding Gun-Owners' triumph again! Aristus Jun 2014 #47
Too bad the woman didn't have a ..... never mind. Lint Head Jun 2014 #51
Several levels of dumbass, public gun ownership, fail. Loudly Jun 2014 #54
so are you calling all firearms owners Duckhunter935 Jun 2014 #60
I'm a gun owner and didn't take it that way at all. Scuba Jun 2014 #68
he said public gun ownership Duckhunter935 Jun 2014 #70
I am Geoffrey Hawk of Warminster. sofa king Jun 2014 #63
Unreliable kevman2112 Mar 2015 #74
Idiot. Every gun should be checked by two people. truthisfreedom Jun 2014 #64
So the guy Cheney'ed her ECHOFIELDS Jun 2014 #66
He'd damn well be facing charges if he'd shot me in the leg! NBachers Jun 2014 #67
Doesn't it make you feel safe workinclasszero Jun 2014 #73

DFW

(54,050 posts)
29. Do you mean to imply that people don't get shot when no guns are present?
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 04:52 PM
Jun 2014

Oh, wait.

Never mind.

ProudToBeBlueInRhody

(16,399 posts)
8. Awesome dude
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 03:17 PM
Jun 2014

You should go pass this info to the people who are obsessed with guns and need them by their side 24/7.

CanonRay

(14,036 posts)
18. Shouldn't a "professional" gun sell already know this?
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 04:10 PM
Jun 2014

Somebody selling vacuums better know how to work the damn thing.

 

Duckhunter935

(16,974 posts)
36. actually most do
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 06:14 PM
Jun 2014

100 million plus or minus gun owners and actually for the numbers very low incidents like this.

 

Duckhunter935

(16,974 posts)
59. Nope
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 09:18 PM
Jun 2014

I know the odds and I do not fear things that are not likely to happen. Much more worried about crazy ass car drivers.

Thank you for your concern

 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
61. Yet gun fanciers tote when the odds of needing one are small. You are not consistent.
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 09:22 PM
Jun 2014

Man, that is a classic.

 

Duckhunter935

(16,974 posts)
62. I do not tote
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 09:29 PM
Jun 2014

as you know nothing about me, it might be better for you not to comment about me.

So I am very consistent, thank you.

Hope you are having a great day

The Wielding Truth

(11,411 posts)
55. Since guns are designed to shot and kill no wonder people get shot and some get killed.
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 08:51 PM
Jun 2014

The surprise is that we allow guns to be available as if they are not people killers.

yellowcanine

(35,692 posts)
43. That is Rule # 2. Rule # 1 is to make sure all guns are unloaded when
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 08:14 PM
Jun 2014

they are supposed to be unloaded. Just sayin.

 

Duckhunter935

(16,974 posts)
48. actually it is
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 08:28 PM
Jun 2014

a combination of two rules

1. All guns are always loaded.
2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.
4. Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.

Vinca

(50,168 posts)
5. He needs to change the business name to "In Case I Create An Emergency."
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 03:00 PM
Jun 2014

He should have his license to sell guns taken away for only "thinking" the gun was unloaded and not checking.

SwankyXomb

(2,030 posts)
7. He should absolutely lose his license for this "accident"
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 03:06 PM
Jun 2014

In the future, he should also make sure the gun is unloaded by looking directly down the barrel and pulling the trigger a few times.

Paladin

(28,202 posts)
6. Hey! There aren't supposed to be any loaded guns at gun shows!
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 03:06 PM
Jun 2014

Restaurants, yes. Shopping malls, yes. Playgrounds, yes. But gun shows? Absolutely not!

 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
31. Good point. Gun shows, gun stores, NRA headquarters, military bases, etc., don't allow loaded gunz
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 04:56 PM
Jun 2014

in most situations. Yet gun fanciers expect us to smile when some yahoo straps on a gun to go to Chuck E Cheese or something.

Paladin

(28,202 posts)
34. I firmly believe that a lot of our Gun Enthusiast acquaintances......
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 05:17 PM
Jun 2014

....when they contemplate the No Loaded Guns At Gun Shows vs. Loaded Guns Allowed At Restaurants And Bars situation, have got to think: "Jesus, we are way out on the edge here. This stuff is full-tilt, bat-shit CRAZY!"

 

Nihil

(13,508 posts)
71. That explains it ...
Mon Jun 30, 2014, 09:03 AM
Jun 2014

I was wondering how he managed to get away without half a dozen
"good guys with guns" shooting him to death in response ... I hadn't
realised that the laws were quite so ridiculous as they are!



It's a shame really that the gun show law is as it is: one accidental discharge
could result in a spreading (over) reaction that would take an awful lot of
gun-nuts off the street ...


Paladin

(28,202 posts)
72. You may be right about the over-reaction thing.
Mon Jun 30, 2014, 09:14 AM
Jun 2014

Lots and lots of border-line cases wander the aisles at big gun shows. They've cut back on the Nazi memorabilia displays for PR purposes, but the strange ones still turn up, en masse......

Iggo

(47,487 posts)
9. Guns don't go off. Gun-fuckers do.
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 03:27 PM
Jun 2014

("Gun-fuckers" does not refer to any DUer or their loved-ones.)

rocktivity

(44,555 posts)
22. Irresponsible gun ownership runs the gamut
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 04:24 PM
Jun 2014

Last edited Sun Jun 29, 2014, 08:23 PM - Edit history (2)

from the lazy to the crazy.


rocktivity

No Vested Interest

(5,156 posts)
11. "he thought the gun was unloaded"-
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 03:35 PM
Jun 2014

How often do we read that line following the twice-a-week "accidental" shooting?

Get a clue, guys.

Hubert Flottz

(37,726 posts)
15. She probably asked the guy to show her how the gun works and
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 04:00 PM
Jun 2014

BAM. I'm thinking, we may need to look into some of these gun seller's mental health issues also.

rocktivity

(44,555 posts)
19. The very first thing he should have "demonstrated"
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 04:12 PM
Jun 2014

was how to check to make sure the gun wasn't loaded...


rocktivity

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
28. Guns are now a consumer fad. Lot of foolish people buying and selling them.
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 04:41 PM
Jun 2014

Last edited Sun Jun 29, 2014, 05:57 PM - Edit history (1)

Gun Deaths Since Newtown now exceeds U.S. Military deaths in 20 war-years

The tally of Americans killed by guns since the Newtown Sandy Hook shootings on December 14, 2012 now stands at 6734, as reported on the Slate site How Many People Have Been Killed by Guns Since Newtown?

August 1, 2013, 7:28 PDT

Matched Deaths: 6,734 or more since Newtown

Slate
characterizes their number as follows:

How Many People Have Been Killed by Guns Since Newtown?


http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/crime/2012/12/gun_death_tally_every_american_gun_death_since_newtown_sandy_hook_shooting.html

As time goes on, our count gets further and further away from the likely actual number of gun deaths in America—because roughly 60 percent of deaths by gun are due to suicides, which are very rarely reported. When discussing this issue, please note that our number is by design not accurate and represents only the number of gun deaths that the media can find out about contemporaneously. Part of the purpose of this interactive is to point out how difficult it is to get accurate real-time numbers on this issue.

Using the most recent CDC estimates for yearly deaths by guns in the United States, it is likely that as of today, 8/1/2013, roughly 19,884 people have died from guns in the United States since the Newtown shootings. Compare that number to the number of deaths reported in the news in our interactive below, and you can see how undertold the story of gun violence in America actually is.

The number of days that have elapsed from the Newtown shootings, December 14, 2012 to today, August 1, 2013 is 230. Counting only the 6734 gun deaths reported by Slate, the death rate over that period is 29.28 deaths per day. Taking the extrapolated number of 19,884 gun deaths based on CDC estimates, the death rate is 86.45 per day.

For comparison the number reported by Slate now exceeds, by 8, the number of U.S. military deaths in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars (Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, and Operation Enduring Freedom) as reported by the U.S. Department of Defense as of Aug. 1, 2013, 10 a.m. ED.

The U.S. military war death counts are:
• Operation Iraqi Freedom – 4409
• Operation New Dawn – 66
• Operation Enduring Freedom – 2251 (2123 in Afghanistan, 127 other locations)

The total count of military deaths is 6726. If DOD civilians deaths were to be included the total would increase by 16.

Operation Iraqi Freedom began 20 March 2003, became Operation New Dawn on September 1, 2010, which ended 15 December 2011, so lasted 8 years, 8 months, 3 weeks and 4 days, or approximately 3182 days. The death rate in OIF/OND was 1.406 deaths per day.

Operation Enduring Freedom began 7 October 2001 and is ongoing, so spans 11 years, 9 months, 3 weeks and 2 days as of August 1, 2013. This is approximately 4317 days, so the death rate in OEF is 0.52 deaths per day.

The current combined total time for the three operations is 20 years, 6 months and 17 days or approximately 7499 war-days, so the average death rate over the period is ~.897 per war-day.

Of course, these statistics take a very insular view of the wars and represent a small fraction of the overall carnage, destruction, and upheaval that have occurred and are still occurring due to our military operations.


to DreamGypsy:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023390343

That piece was less than a year ago. Now weekend warriors patrol public roads, setting up armed checkpoints and their followers mowing down police and anyone who tries to be a responsible CCW in Nevada, with CT hate radio applauding the whole thing.

I have nothing against those who NEED to use guns to hunt ANIMALS for FOOD, not sport, but am firmly opposed to those who WANT to hunt HUMANS as sport with their new version of political speech, conflating the First and Second Amendments.

I'm suspicious of the gun show crowd from stories on DU and gun owners with their 'Second Amendment Solution' bumper stickers and lists of HUMANS they plan to hunt like animals:



In case anyone doesn't get where they are coming from, check out more lists of people they want to shoot (ignoring the 'liberal' ones):

http://www.zazzle.com/2nd+amendment+bumperstickers

I dare say that I and many people I care about fall on one of those lists and it is NOT okay. Because the record of wing nut terrorism is not really in dispute at DU.

randys1

(16,286 posts)
52. This is DU, very gun friendly place, I hate guns myself
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 08:40 PM
Jun 2014

I have been known to say things I shouldnt, so I wont say anything other than

guns are not necessary to a civilized society, at all

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
65. I don't hate guns; I grew up in a different generation with LOTS of regulations and except for the
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 10:33 PM
Jun 2014
terrorists such as the KKK using them, there was not a crowd worshiping the 2nd Amendment as we have now and none of the insane rhetoric on the media about killing liberals, Obama and practicing bringing down the government. My dad was in WW2 and I wrote about this insane clown posse here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023843005#post19

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023843601#post7

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101676074#post2

My dad had a gun which was permitted but only because he carried large sums of cash from his business home after the banks closed, but never had to use them. The only time he came close to using one was when a man broke into our house and made for the girls' bedroom. He didn't 'stand his ground' and kill the man, he knew he didn't have to do that.

He did pistol whip him and call the police who arrested the man, a felon with a record. He never brandished his weapon, never indulged himself in hate (for that is what it is, an indulgence that tastes sweet to fools), never bragged how he hated the government, nv=ever acted like no one could tell him what to do, ran his mouth or anything. He was a big man, and quite gregarious and wanted peace, and he didn't need the security of constant carry.

The ownership and use of a gun should be in all cases handled with all the solemnity of putting down a pet, turning off life support to a braindead relative or burying the dead. IT IS A TRAGEDY in all phases, from beginning to end.

It is to be used in an absolute necessity, not because one is offended or paranoid that 'those people' might hurt one There should be NO JOY or PRIDE in using a gun or killing ANYTHING, loving how a weapon works, glamorizing its lethality, or preparing to kill anything or anyone. That is pure psychopathy and hatred for life. Yet they call themselves 'pro-life' but fantasize about killing - Jesus said it's what in your heart that you will be judged for - they need to take a look at that bottomless pit in their chest and soul.

These clowns are devolving our society into something worse than the old west or the fascist regimes we once spoke out about, with death squads. The CTers call America a 'police state' with all the zeal of Jared Miller, but have worn blinders about just how much of the world is ruled that way, where people can't vote and change anything.

We still can, but they seem to want it to all burn, for the hell of it, out of malice for some thing that offended them, so they refuse to do anything constructive. Will they be there to protect the vulnerable, the unpopular and poor then?

Don't count on it as there isn't an altruistic bone in their pathologically selfish, miserable bodies.



 

heaven05

(18,124 posts)
35. he THOUGHT the gun was unloaded????
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 05:41 PM
Jun 2014

man!!!!! that has been said hundreds of thousands of times in fatal and non-fatal accidental shooting. No excuse for an alleged gun vendor........

MH1

(17,537 posts)
38. Surely gun vendors are licensed and can have that license suspended, right?
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 07:08 PM
Jun 2014

Or maybe not, sigh.

I'm in PA and probably should know this, but don't. However, I doubt it is anything like that in this messed-up state.

Seems to me if one could have their livelihood suspended for 6 months or so for a royal eff-up like not realizing the gun was loaded. there might be less possibility of such eff-up. As it is I guess there will be a lawsuit or so but that will take years and probably insurance will cover it. Sigh.

Aristus

(66,082 posts)
47. 'Law-Abiding Gun-Owners' triumph again!
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 08:23 PM
Jun 2014

Jesus! What a cavalcade of idiocy, stupidity, ineptness, incompetence, short-sightedness, selfishness, self-importance, delusion, blockheadedness, clumsiness, and denial the gun-owning community is.

"I thought it was unloaded" is a redneck epigram far worse than "Here, hold m'beer 'n' watch 'iss!" Because with the latter, it's usually only the speaker who gets injured or killed due to some combination of the factors listed above.

"I thought it was unloaded" is the law-abiding gun-owner's convenient cover for their own absurdity, after someone else has been injured or killed...

 

Loudly

(2,436 posts)
54. Several levels of dumbass, public gun ownership, fail.
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 08:42 PM
Jun 2014

You're getting people hurt dumbshit.

Come over to the light. Shithead caveman assholes.

 

Duckhunter935

(16,974 posts)
70. he said public gun ownership
Mon Jun 30, 2014, 07:13 AM
Jun 2014

that would be all private gun owners, I did not see any other qualifier.

after public gun ownership he went on

You're getting people hurt dumbshit.

Come over to the light. Shithead caveman assholes.

sofa king

(10,857 posts)
63. I am Geoffrey Hawk of Warminster.
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 09:33 PM
Jun 2014

I am the gun dealer with the best name, from the best town. I should be the star of an effing comic book, my arms-dealing credentials are so solid. People buy guns from me just so they can say they bought a gun from a dude named Hawk from Warminster. Hell, I don't even need that fake eye patch, anymore. People just assume I am bad ass.

My future is perfectly secure, exactly as secure as the weapons I sell and demonstrate...

... aw, sheeit.

kevman2112

(1 post)
74. Unreliable
Tue Mar 17, 2015, 04:24 PM
Mar 2015

Went back and forth with this guy for 3 weeks trying to arrange firearms safety training and a pistol purchase. I knew him a lifetime ago and thought I'd throw some business his way after he got some REAL BAD publicity from accidentally shooting someone last summer. I even convinced a friend to give this guy business and then he dropped off the face of the Earth. Can't do business with an unreliable vendor.

 

ECHOFIELDS

(25 posts)
66. So the guy Cheney'ed her
Sun Jun 29, 2014, 11:16 PM
Jun 2014

Great sales technique!
Mr. Hawk, 44, of Warminster was clearly using the
powerful sales technique invented by a Mr. Dickie Cheney, 72, of Wyoming to point out where on a lady's anatomy the concealed-carry wallet holster is designed to be concealed. Proper Dickster etiquette Dicktates that she, not only apologize to him for rudely getting her shapely thigh in the way of his brassy slug, but also thank him for plugging her below the waistline which is usually a non-fatal target area and thus harmless. If she rudely refuses to use proper high classed Dickster etiquette and instead attempts to sue him for bodily harm then he has every right to claim his Stand-Yer-Ground self-defense and be acquitted by a jury of his NRA pears.

 

workinclasszero

(28,270 posts)
73. Doesn't it make you feel safe
Mon Jun 30, 2014, 09:54 AM
Jun 2014

Knowing mouth breathing gun humpers like this idiot at the gun show are walking around on the street 24/7 with their loaded lethal firearms?

Just remember at your kids funeral that the price of freedom is high and...the tree of democracy needed watering...and..uh..the Gadsden flag...yeah.

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