9 year old costumed girl outside a halloween party mistaken for skunk, shot

[Liberal_in_LA]

Police say a costumed 9-year-old girl was accidentally shot outside a western Pennsylvania home during a Halloween party by a relative who thought she was a skunk.

New Sewickley Township police say the girl was over a hillside and wearing a black costume and a black hat with a white tassel. Chief Ronald Leindecker says a male relative mistook her for a skunk and fired a shotgun, hitting her in the shoulder Saturday night.

Leindecker tells the Beaver County Times (http://bit.ly/QzCkxj ) that the girl was alert and talking when she was flown to a hospital in Pittsburgh, about 30 miles away. Her condition was unavailable.

Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/news/crime/article/Police-Costumed-Pa-girl-mistaken-for-skunk-shot-3969212.php#ixzz29xeKftHF

[hedgehog]

1. Low information voter?

Also, how big are the skunks in Pennsylvania?

[struggle4progress]

19. Ya might could remember em as bein bigger when ya been drinkin a lot

[slackmaster]

2. What kind of heartless assclown would shoot an innocent skunk?

[lalalu]

8. I was thinking the same.

[slackmaster]

15. I can't imagine that the result of shooting a skunk would be any better than that of running one...

...over with a car.

Not good.

[Liberal_in_LA]

13. my thought also

[Skittles]

54. oh there are TONS of cowards with guns

they think shooting animals is ENTERTAINMENT

[marions ghost]

55. True

people don't believe it when I tell em I had to chase off a guy attempting to shoot an owl where I live.

I call em "shooters," not hunters. Woodland Terrorists.

[joshcryer]

57. Skunks account for around 30% of all reported wild animal rabies cases.

So they're a really big carrier of rabies.

Obviously this was still a stupid action, but I can understand wanting to eradicate a known rabies carrier from ones property.

Note: in the case of the guy in the article I think he was more doing target practice than trying to eradicate a known rabies carrier! Just playing devils advocate!

[Logical]

68. How about #1, this idiot makes sure it is a skunk before shooting. What a dumbass he was. n-t

[joshcryer]

74. Sure. Goes without saying.

Just trying to give a reason for this possibility. I already said the guy was an idiot.

[NickB79]

76. It's an old rural practice, due to fear of rabies.

You shoot skunks out during the day because that's supposed to indicate they're rabid.

[amborin]

80. +100

[lalalu]

3. Skunks in their neighborhood must be HUGE.

[Liberal_in_LA]

28. girl was over hillside wearing black & white hat, guy must have shot at hat

[lalalu]

41. That makes it even worse.

So he was bored and shot at a skunk that was over a hillside? People are weird.

[barnabas63]

4. What is wrong with this country???

I don't care what gun nuts say - including any on DU. The violence is out of control and senseless, and whoever did this needs to be held accountable.

[eqfan592]

64. The violence has been almost exclusively on a downward track for a good while now.

While gun ownership has increased. So clearly, no matter what you may feel about the "gun nuts" the problem isn't the firearms, and we'd be much better served attacking the root causes of crime and not the implements that are sometimes used in the commission of some crimes. Especially when such an ass backwards attack costs so much in terms of political capital.

[4th law of robotics]

83. One idiot doesn't make for "the violence is out of control and senseless"

The overall trend is that violence is down.

[warrior1]

5. how small was this child?

This is one fucked up story.

How could anyone mistake a child in a costume at a FUCKING Halloween party for a skunk. And why shoot a skunk. I hate people sometimes, I really really do.

[TwilightGardener]

14. That's what I can't figure out--why shoot at a critter just for the

hell of it? Cruelty, I guess.

[slackmaster]

16. I've seen people post on the Web that they would go out of their way to run over a cat

I don't understand that mentality, but it wouldn't surprise me to hear that such a person would shoot at a skunk.

[TwilightGardener]

23. I've been in the car with a coworker lunatic who tried to run down

squirrels. I demanded that she stop, and she told me she hates them and tries to run over them every chance she gets. I am always stunned by such casual, pointless cruelty.

[Shankapotomus]

36. If someone ever admitted that to me I would freak out

The kind of psychology required for that kind of cruelty is more sickening than the act. It would be like driving in a car with a monster and I would not hesitate one second to report them to PETA or whoever deals with animal cruelty.

[warrior1]

39. I'm sure this is illegal

I would report her.

[TwilightGardener]

81. It happened a while back--I think I actually called her either a

psycho or a lunatic, can't remember which. We were driving to a flour mill to pick up some business-related stuff--got back to our workplace, and never spoke to each other again. Told coworkers about it, though. It didn't occur to me to question whether it was legal or not--although she was definitely driving erratically, which can't be legal. I felt sick about it, don't know if she actually hit any--almost hit some parked cars, though.

[MindPilot]

51. "Lost your cat? Look under my tires."

A former co-worker had that bumper-sticker on his car. And, yes, he was that much of an asshole; the kind of prick who just enjoyed being prick and was proud of it.

[L0oniX]

21. Shooting a laptop makes more sense. n/t

[Sugarcoated]

52. One word:

Alcohol

[reformist2]

6. Clearly, the answer is more guns.

[Iris]

40. yep.

[etherealtruth]

43. Yep ... had the child been armed ...!!!!

[eqfan592]

65. And the idiotic hyperbole brigade is here to the rescue.

[etherealtruth]

66. Wow ... a zinger ... ouch that stings

[The Magistrate]

7. Damn Good Thing the Fella Had a Gun, Sir

Just imagine what might have happened if he thought he saw a skunk and did not have one...it could have been awful!

[L0oniX]

17. Instead it became a smelly situation.

I know ...I know ...my bad. Not funny when a child gets shot.

[TwilightGardener]

9. Jesus, the stoopid.

[L0oniX]

10. Beaver County??? uhmm ok. n/t

[WinkyDink]

62. Are you new to the world of animals?

Or do you also titter at Letterman's having gone to Ball State?

[L0oniX]

67. I encounter animals on DU quite regularly.

[reflection]

11. Stupid bastard.

What kind of asshole shoots at a distant skunk anyway?

[redStateBlueHeart]

12. A skunk the size of a 9-year old child? Really?

Why are we shooting animals again? Seriously, wtf. And I was just talking to a couple of wingnuts yesterday who insisted we need more guns to be safer. The problem is, we already have way too many armed stupid people. And to think, there are kids that are joking about dressing up as Trayvon Martin for Halloween...good luck!

[slackmaster]

20. I think there was a "short-faced skunk" in the Pleistocene that got pretty big

Or maybe that was a raccoon.

[Ohio Joe]

18. WTF? Why would someone pull out a gun at a party for 9yr olds?

Just... Stupid beyond belief.

[edgineered]

35. This is exactly the point - use of gun at parties or near children,

and in this case, BOTH.

Wake up folks. At the very least the shooter needs to be evaluated, along with any others there allowing these actions!

[ncav53]

22. Why in the world would you randomly want to shoot a skunk?

[slackmaster]

25. I think it requires a degree of stupidity, and perhaps a certain blood alcohol level

It is not something that an intelligent, sober person would do under any circumstances.

[dixiegrrrrl]

42. Article says no drinking was involved.

Apparently just the stupidity of the whoever allowed the asshat to be in possession of a gun.

[NickB79]

82. Lots of people in rural areas shoot skunks

Not trying to defend this idiot, because he shot at a target he clearly didn't identify, but pretty much every farmer I know shoots skunks on sight. Besides the fear of rabies, there's the damage they can do to vegetable gardens and chicken coops.

I had to shoot a skunk two years ago that was getting into our chicken coop and eating the eggs; it was only a matter of time before the eggs ran out and it started eating the chickens. It wasn't something I enjoyed doing.

[SmileyRose]

24. No more guns for him and

a gazillion hours community service cleaning up the ERs after they treat gunshot victims.

[Fumesucker]

26. This kind of thing is just not common enough in most other countries

We need to spread the Second Amendment to the rest of the world, then their citizens too can take care of obnoxious nine year olds.



































For the differently clued.

[jdadd]

27. Damn!!....

I don't know about Pa. Laws, but in Ohio, Skunks are a protected species....

[hedgehog]

31. No way! Here in Upstate New York we have so many that one of the

signs of Spring is the smell from the ones that get hit by a car crossing the road. (and trust me, no one goes out of their way to run over a skunk!)

[whistler162]

72. This year it wasn't until early Ocotber that

a skunk walked by my window and let lose, 3 A.M. in the morning of course. May be all the dogs in the neighborhood that kept them away.

Skunks in this area, Syracuse, have their own city!

[MindPilot]

47. What the hell for?! Does Ohio just smell too damn good?

I live in the middle of the city, yet twice in the past 10 years, a skunk has literally just walked into my house. (Homeowner's insurance doesn't pay for damage caused by other life forms like skunks, termites, and mold.)

My next door neighbor had to pay a trapper to get the skunks out from under his house. So if Ohio needs any skunks--I can't imagine what for--I got plenty.

[jdadd]

77. I haven't Hunted in years...Ohio has a skunk "season" now...LOL

I don't know why, maybe the professional trappers like it that way....We have no shortage for sure....Should be open season year round!

"Fox, Raccoon, Skunk, Opossum, Weasel
November 10, 2012
January 31, 2013
No Limit"

2012-2013 Ohio Hunting Season Dates and Bag Limits

http://www.ohiodnr.com/wildlife/dow/regulations/seasons.aspx

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

89. Does the Ohio DNR have a cookbook for skunk?

Maybe with enough garlic and pepper ...

[CreekDog]

29. We are all at the mercy of stupid people with guns

and little to stop them from getting them.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

30. Guns don't mistake 9 year old girls for skunks

or something like that.

[nadinbrzezinski]

32. I know, I know, we need more guns!!!!!

For the record, this gentleman needs to lose his toys.

[thelordofhell]

33. Stupid idiot was aiming for the hat and shot her in shoulder

Thank god he was a poor shot.........

[Mnemosyne]

34. An idiot shot my dad once, thought he was a squirrel! Yep, in Pa. nt

[hedgehog]

37. Bear hunters frequently shoot at other bear hunters in tree stands -

and I can't fathom someone dressing in camouflage, crouching down in the underbrush using a turkey call!

[Iggo]

61. That makes me happier than it should.

[Mnemosyne]

86. I learned young to stay out of the woods during any hunting season. Not even in a bright yellow

Big Bird suit could anyone get me in there.

[freetrucker53]

38. Not fatal

Well, the good news is the shot was not fatal.

[F. Kafka]

44. I can't help but feel this tragedy could've been avoided

if only the 9-year-old had been armed.

/sarcasm

[DollarBillHines]

45. More beer!!!

Betcha ten bucks there was alcohol involved.

[life long demo]

46. I wonder if Beaver Cty is in the Pennsyltucky area

of Pennsylvania?

[WinkyDink]

63. As far west in the state as one can go.

[Care Acutely]

48. What the FUCK is wrong w/people who think they need to shoot EVERYTHING

Deeerrrrrrr, I thinks I sees a cridder a movin' 'bout. GIT MAH GUN.

ASSCLOWN. Ignorant assclown.

[ejbr]

53. +1 ...no +2....no, no...+10000 n/t

[stuntcat]

71. right??!

exactly, WTF!!!!!? Unless it's rabid a SKUNK is not going to hurt ANYONE. This is a 100% SHAME on our species that any of us are this stupid, and this guy's vote counts just the same as mine.

This kind of thing is why I'm so glad my life is half over, gladder every single day as I'm reminded countless times why I have no hope at all for humanity.

[Whovian]

49. Proof that IQ points go down with every gun purchased.

Thank god he was a bad shot.

[whistler162]

73. So you have a arsenal!

[Quixote1818]

50. If he wanted to shoot something stinky he should have shot himself.nt

[Aerows]

56. A) I don't shun raccoons, even though they are a menace

because they reduce the necessity of a rat population.

b) They irritate the shit out of me, because the are completely able to dismantle a grill.

c) They dirty the water bowl of my cat, who sleeps inside.

But skunks and raccoons also provide a balance, and I am always glad to see both of them. When I see skunks and raccoons, it means I won't see coyotes. It's like when I'm pleased to see ants, because I won't see too many cochroaches.

[joshcryer]

59. When I was a kid we'd go raccoon hunting for pelts.

$7 a pop. The county encouraged it because raccoons are a serious rabies carrier (worse than skunks at a staggering 37% of all wild animal cases). You take a big bright light into the woods and shine it up into the trees. Raccoons eyes are quite reflective and they're easily spotted.

Tourists in South Western Virginia loved them some Coonskin caps as a tourist item!

I do agree that too much culling can be detrimental but as a species we're compelled to do it. Quotas are necessary and good science keeps you from overdoing it.

[Aerows]

91. It's good to keep their population down

for damn sure. I assume you and I both live in the sticks in one way or the other and know how an overpopulation of raccoons can be BIG trouble. They carry disease, and are fond of getting into garbage, thus spreading less than hygienic practices everywhere. They are cute, but they also fiddle with carnage, carcasses and generally lurk in garbage.

[Raine]

58. WHY the hell would anyone shoot a skunk anyway??? WTF! nt

[Blue Owl]

60. Something stinks... and it ain't that kid...

n/t

[PD Turk]

69. Dammit

Dont ever, ever, ever squeeze the trigger on anything unless you know damn well what it is and are 200% sure of it. And, shooting a skunk is rarely a smart thing to do, especially if it's within 500 yards of the house.

[PM Martin]

70. A skunk the size of a 9 year old, really?

The 2nd amendment has to be one of the worst written laws ever in existence.
This bastard should NEVER be allowed to own ANY firearms after this case.

[slampoet]

75. What kind of IDIOT shoots a SKUNK?

[68 Rex]

78. He probably clings to his religion, too

[msanthrope]

79. Pennsyltucky. I know. I live in this state. nt

[Crunchy Frog]

84. Good thing that guns are so safe and gun owners are so responsible.

Imagine what things would be like if that weren't the case.

[jmowreader]

85. How fucking big ARE the skunks in PA?

[SoCalDem]

87. WTF? The biggest skunk I ever saw was only the size of a cocker spaniel

How could anyone "mistake" a 9 yr old for a small animal?..

[onethatcares]

88. well he did shoot at something

that was black with a white thing on it.

Nothing like making sure of your target. Is the shooter a member of the NRA?

[Whovian]

90. Most hilarious lock of the week when this story was locked in LBN

"Things like this happen all over the US every day."

Right.....