[bearcat6]

Did any you of hear anymore about the tourists that were shot at the old west re-enactment in one of the Dakotas when some one had live rounds in his six shooter instead of blanks? I saw a couple of newspaper stories about it but then there was nothing more. They never said how it came to be that the guy had live ones in his six shooter. My paper said they when they loaded their guns that two of them were involved one to load and one to watch to make sure the right stuff was used. I'm really curious as to the circumstances that caused this,

 

[IrishCop]

Bearcat, I heard about it, but authorities were being real tight lipped when the story broke. I just did a Google search, and the situation hasn't really changed.

One victim(?), an optometrist, was hit in the forearm and the projectile, whatever it was, exited near his elbow.

One report indicated that the organizers of the "Wild West Shootout" were saying they weren't sure if the wounds were caused by live ammo or secondary fragments from blanks. :shock:

Shame. The shootouts are held to benefit the Children's Miracle Network. Organizers say that they won't continue with the practice.

 

[Skeptic49]

I went to one of those shootouts, and the participants did the loading drill in front of the crowd and showed how they didn't point the weapons at each other when they fired.

I am curious, if I was writing a CSI it would have been a sniper with a suppressed rifle wait for the blanks to cover the shot.

Geoff
Who is curious.

 

[phantom4570]

Wild West show gunman who injured three tourists during mock shoot-out was a convicted criminal

A gunman who injured three tourists when he fired live ammunition instead of blanks during a mock Wild West shoot-out show was a convicted criminal, it has emerged.

See the rest of the story at the link.

 

[felix's tattoo]

Shooting

I live here, and no one is saying anything other than the shooter was an ex-con or something. Everybody is tight-lipped about it (don't want to scare away the big-spending tourists, probably.)

 

[IrishCop]

Looks like the "shooter" in this has been charged. He is described as an ex-felon and who used a borrowed gun and didn't know it was loaded.

Is there anybody, and I mean ANYBODY with any experience that...

1.) Would know that as a convicted felon you aren't supposed to even HANDLE a gun?

2.) Wouldn't check your weapon to determine it's status?

3.) Wouldn't be able to tell, from the first shot, that you were firing a 255 grain projectile instead of a blank?

http://www.aol.com/2011/08/12/paul-doering-wild-west-reenactor-pleads-not-guilty_n_925364.html

 

[phantom4570]

This story smells really funky for the reasons raised by Irishcop. I suspect his lawyer is spinning a yarn to create reasonable doubt.
Here's a more local angle.
Rapid City Journal - Hill City re-enactor to remain free on bond

 

[DavidE]

Major failure by the group, multi stage problems. Convicted Criminal hired, no check of guns before show, etc.

If true this will probably result in the whole group being sued. The sad thing was it was so preventable. A lot of people got hurt bad.

 

[phantom4570]

Wild West re-enactor who fired REAL bullets into crowd of tourists and injured three is jailed for seven years

An Old West gun battle re-enactor in South Dakota who wounded three onlookers when he fired live rounds instead of blanks has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison.

Paul Doering was taken into custody immediately upon sentencing at federal court in Rapid City on Monday.

Doering, 49, a six-time convicted felon...

Read the whole thing.

 

[DavidE]

Who was running the hiring department at that show? Moe and his brother Ron? (facepalm.) Just unreal how many steps were taken to get to that disaster. I don't really buy the accident theory either. Was it two guns loaded with live ammo? How does that happen by accident?

 

[bearcat6]

I don't know why he couldn't tell he was fiing live ammo after the first shot. there is a world of difference in recoil, etc.

 

[TommyGunn]

I don't know why he couldn't tell he was fiing live ammo after the first shot. there is a world of difference in recoil, etc.

Having fired both real ammo and blanks through a specific gun, I agree; he should have been able to tell.