Accidents.co.za | Discussion, Prevention, Investigation and Response

A visitor to the Arrive Alive website sent a few pics that illustrates most effectively what can happen with firearm accidents. It also emphasizes the message to never consume alcohol when handling firearms!

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Firearms, Accidents and Road Safety

ER24 paramedics were called to the Lower Marine Parade beachfront for a man that had been shot. When they arrived, they found the man who is believed to be in his fourties, lying face down in the sand. He had sustained what appeared to be a gun shot wound to his left chest.

After the initial assessment, it was determined that the wound to his chest was fatal, and he was declared deceased on the scene. It seems that there was a witness to the incident, and the Durban Metro police obtained statements to investigate all possibilities.

It is unclear as to whether the man’s family has been informed of this tragedy.

Vanessa Jackson
ER24

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• Firearms, Accidents and Road Safety

A wedding photographer was accidentally shot dead after he asked the happy couple to pose with guns as part of the big day celebrations, Italian police have revealed.

Calogero Scimea, 45, was hit in the head after one of the guns went off.

He died in front of horrified bride Valentina Anitra, 22, and groom Ignazio Licodia, 25, as well as their parents.

Police said the tragedy happened just before the couple, who are teenage sweethearts, set off for their local church at Altofonte near Palermo on the island of Sicily.

Police were on Tuesday questioning them as well as their relatives.

Prosecutors said the groom’s parents rail worker Mario, 56, and his wife Rita, face possible charges of negligence leading to manslaughter, as the tragedy happened at their house.

Officers said the bride’s parents, who live nearby, were also asked if they had any guns and went home to bring one of their own. All the firearms were legally held.

Ballistics experts have also been called in to examine the weapons, which were hunting rifles kept for shooting mainly wild boar in the nearby hills and countryside.

Palermo police spokesman Colonel Teo Luzi said: “From what we have been able to establish the photographer had asked the parents of the bride and groom if they had any guns to use as props in a picture and one went off hitting him in the head killing him.

“He was only there as a favour for the wedding photographer who had been originally been booked but had to pull out as he was ill. The bride and groom were distraught and the wedding was immediately cancelled.

“The prosecutor is looking at bringing charges against the groom’s parents as this is where the death took place but we need to examine the ballistics report first as the bride’s parents also brought a weapon.”

He added: “The firearms were legally held but in the interests of safety they should all be kept safe and not be handled by people who are not used to them and have no experience.

“What we are trying to establish is if the gun went off as it was being handled by the photographer or if it went off as it was handed to him but no-one is being very talkative.”

In southern Italy and especially Sicily it is common for guns to be fired at family events or festivals as part of the celebrations and in the past this has led to numerous deaths and injuries especially around New Year.

Altofonte’s deputy mayor Angela Busellini said: “No-one can believe it. Everybody is in a state of shock. It’s such a tragic accident. The bride and groom are devastated.” – [Story by Nick Pisa,Daily Mail]

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Firearms, Accidents and Road Safety

The department of police on Friday denied claims by a gun owners’ group that it was “barring” blacks from owning guns.

“The ministry dismisses such bias assertions with contempt. The Firearms Control Act promotes responsible firearm ownership, irrespective of whether you are black or white,” spokesperson Zweli Mnisi said in a statement.

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa established a review and monitoring team, located under the secretariat of police, which assessed the firearms registry process nationally in August last year.

He said the secretariat began a consultative process with all firearms associations and urged them to make submissions towards the Firearms Control Act.

The consultation was also extended during the Firearms Amnesty campaign which ended on April 11.

“It is a fact that the Black Gun Owners’ Association has not submitted any proposals or input but instead is taking an ill-informed legal stance to address such an issue.

“Our doors are still widely open and we therefore still urge them, albeit through a public platform, to make the submissions to this office.”

The association on Friday announced it would sue the government for R3.2bn to compensate for jobs lost since the Firearms Control Act came into effect six years ago.

At a media briefing in Johannesburg, association chairperson Abios Khoele told journalists the legislation had resulted in 800 gun shops closing down, 10 000 lost jobs, and 40 000 blacks being refused firearms since 2004.

Mthethwa said in the statement: “Perhaps instead of marginalising themselves along racial barriers, this organisation needs to look at ways on integrating their programmes with government’s.

“As a departure point, we urge them to support this ministry’s ongoing campaign of promoting awareness towards responsible firearms-ownership.”

- SAPA

We would like to urge all firearm/ gun owners to view the following section:

Firearms, Accidents and Road Safety