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JERRY VERLINGER

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Member Since: 2/2008  Last Seen: 5/16/2012

Man Brings Gun to Party, Accidentally Kills 20 Yr. Old Woman

Seeded on Mon Feb 20, 2012 12:23 AM EST
Read ArticleArticle Source: The Seattle Times
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Seeded by Jerry Verlinger
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Cornelius De Jong IV, 21, of Redmond, was charged Monday in King County Superior Court with first-degree manslaughter in connection with the death of Claire Thompson, 20.

According to charging documents, Redmond police responded to a report of a shooting when a dispatcher dispatcher was told, "my best friend shot a girl in the house."

When police arrived at the scene, they found Claire Thompson suffering from a gunshot wound to her neck. She was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where she died later that day, police said.

The man who called for help told officers that De Jong, who has a concealed weapons permit, had brought a .40-caliber handgun to the party. 

Witnesses said De Jong had placed the gun in a safe at the house because he had planned to drink at the party. De Jong later removed the handgun from the safe when someone asked to see it. Read more;

 

 

 

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Jerry Verlinger

In just the past week this is the 3rd story I have seeded about people being shot because the gun owners did not make sure the chamber was empty while the gun was being handled.

The first one was;

Pastor's Daughter Accidentally Shot in Head inside Florida Church

Then I came across another story while in the process of seeding this one, and while not as serious as the others, it is a little disconcerting that the culprit causing the accident is a Certified Weapons Instructor.

Sheriff Deputy Accidentally Shoots Wife of Fellow Deputy in Concealed Weapon Class

Now, I certainly don't think we need to abolish the 2nd amendment, but we do need to do more to insure the safety of people around those that are exercising their 2nd Amendment Rights.

  • 2 votes
Reply#1 - Mon Feb 20, 2012 1:16 AM EST
Baron Brian

I said to my son, many years ago: if you're ever in a room where someone pulls out a gun to show off with it, make a warp-speed beeline for the nearest exit. Anyone who is stupid enough to play with a firearm is likely also too stupid to make sure there's not a round in the chamber AND the safety is on.

Numbskull + party/alcohol + "hot" firearm = recipe for tragedy, as in someone getting shot. It's hard to be that poor soul if you've run out of the room at the first sight of a gun.

The "certified weapons instructor" in the first story, hopefully, will permanently lose his credentials. The Sheriff Deputy in the second story, hopefully, will be off the force soon---take his badge and gun and give him an office job where he can't hurt anyone else.

And obviously, at the very least Mr. De Jong ought to lose his concealed carry permit...

  • 3 votes
Reply#2 - Mon Feb 20, 2012 8:53 AM EST
Jerry Verlinger

if you're ever in a room where someone pulls out a gun to show off with it, make a warp-speed beeline for the nearest exit.

Good advice.

Actually, given that I cannot move as fast as a bullet, and bullets, as noted in this article, can travel through walls, I would rather position myself behind the guy with the gun. It's fairly difficult to accidentally shoot someone that's standing behind you.

  • 1 vote
#2.1 - Sat Feb 25, 2012 4:55 PM EST
Baron Brian

Also an excellent move, Jerry!

  • 2 votes
#2.2 - Tue Feb 28, 2012 9:34 AM EST
Reply
Kavika

A very sad story. Placing the gun in a safe was smart, taking it out and not being sure that it was cleared was very very stupid. Now a young women is dead because of this.

  • 2 votes
Reply#3 - Mon Feb 20, 2012 11:10 AM EST
Jerry Verlinger

Placing the gun in a safe was smart, taking it out and not being sure that it was cleared was very very stupid. Now a young women is dead because of this.

Hi Kavika, thanks for stopping by.

I agree, pointing a gun at a wall and pulling the trigger to see if it was loaded, is about as stupid as it gets. he will have tom live with what he did for the rest of his life.

I hope his guilt is strong enough to move him to spend time advocating and/or teaching gun safety and control.

  • 1 vote
#3.1 - Sat Feb 25, 2012 4:36 PM EST
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