Gun shop suicide

[imjin138]

Tuesday afternoon in Racine at the Shooter's Sport center a man walked in rented a handgun, bought ammo and went out to the lanes. Once there he shot himself in the head killing himself.

My friend Ken was the clerk onduty at the time, I am not sure why anyone would do it in this fashion but I expect he had his reasons.

 

[imjin138]

Tuesday afternoon in Racine at the Shooter's Sport center a man walked in rented a handgun, bought ammo and went out to the lanes. Once there he shot himself in the head killing himself.

My friend Ken was the clerk onduty at the time, I am not sure why anyone would do it in this fashion but I expect he had his reasons.

 

[Andy Taylor]

A couple of years ago I had the misfortune of being in the lane next to a man who did the same thing. Very sad.

 

[JoeR]

On our local indoor pistol range, you cannot go in as a single shooter. You must have a buddy along to use their facilities. I guess they had the same thing happen to them a few years back.

 

[redlevel]

From the Columbus, GA Ledger-Enquirer:
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/story/659792.html
Posted on Tue, Mar. 24, 2009
Man commits suicide at Shooters
BY ALAN RIQUELMY
Manuel Garcia, 46, committed suicide at Shooters firing range in Columbus around 11:30 a.m. Monday.
Police said Garcia stepped inside the business at 4445 Milgen Road and checked out a .45-caliber pistol.
He then walked to the range and fired a few shots before turning the gun on himself.
"This individual tried to kill himself a few weeks back," said Columbus Police Lt. Charles Kennedy. "He stabbed himself in the chest."
Kennedy, a veteran of more than 20 years, said he's never heard of anyone committing suicide at a range in Columbus.
Garcia was taken to The Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 12:08 p.m.
"I'm shocked," Shooters customer Jim Walls said. "It's set up very safe in there."
The firing range was closed for a few hours.

 

[Amici]

This is an increasingly common phenomenon and a number of ranges have adopted the "no lone shooter rule" to try and deal with it. I am not sure how much of a deterrent it is, but I understand the ranges' position.

Each such incident makes it that much harder for the ranges in particular and lawful gun owners in general. If these people drove their cars into bridge abutments or sucked the exhaust pipe while parked in their garages, they would be just as dead. Nobody screams for cars to be outlawed when THAT happens, however.

 

[jag312]

That happened at least once at an indoor range here. Also, a man walked into a gun store in San Jose and asked to look at a shotgun. When the store owner was distracted by another customer, the man loaded the shotgun, placed it underneath his chin, and pulled the trigger. Unfortunately, there are people who are mentally ill who chose to end their lives in this manner.

I am concerned that there are enough of these suicides, the anti-gunners will try to pass more laws to restrict firearms.

 

[izzwins]

The scary part in my opinion, is the only difference between suicidal and homicidal is the direction of the weapon. Neither feel they have anything to lose.

 

[NCTexan]

I am concerned that there are enough of these suicides, the anti-gunners will try to pass more laws to restrict firearms.

It's strange that most of the folks who would try to ban guns due to these suicides...

are the same people who support legalizing assisted suicide.

So I guess that it would be OK if you remembered to take Dr. Kevorkian to the range with you to help.

 

[JayCeeNC]

We've had a couple here in North Carolina in the last few years, including one on a range owned by a close friend of mine. To say he was shook up would be an understatement.

 

[godlessgael]

your ranges don't allow lone shooters or they don't let lone shooters rent guns?

I understand limiting the rentals, but not allowing lone shooters, man that could be rough.

 

[cptdco]

My local pistol range has also adopted such a policy: if you have never shot there before, and you need to rent a gun, and you're alone, you're out of luck.

 

[BrianE]

That happened here at the S&W range in Springfield. I dont think too long ago actually... If I remember he was a very young guy. Ive heard it wasnt the only time and that it might be haunted in there!

 

[Spotteddog]

Shhhh N/C?
Your never supposed to notice or mention that!
An investment manager did the same thing out here a few years back. His clients were assembling with torches and pitch forks at the time. And he decided his retirement portfolio consisted swallowing the muzzle of a rented Glock 19. I expect to see a lot more of it. At least for a while.

 

[s&wchad]

Over the last maybe ten years, I remember three people renting handguns at Target Sports and committing suicide. I feel bad for the employees who have to clean up the range.

The last time we discussed gun range suicide here, someone made the comment, "Too cheap to buy a gun for a special occasion".

 

[smith revolver cop]

Originally posted by imjin138:
Tuesday afternoon in Racine at the Shooter's Sport center a man walked in rented a handgun, bought ammo and went out to the lanes. Once there he shot himself in the head killing himself.

My friend Ken was the clerk onduty at the time, I am not sure why anyone would do it in this fashion but I expect he had his reasons.

Not really all that uncommon. One of the oldest ranges in the Cincinnati area has had it happen several times. If you don't already have a gun, it's cheaper and easier to rent one than to buy one... and, at the range, your family doesn't have to clean up the mess. Not sure if someone suicidal is that rational, but (in a perverted way) it makes a lot of sense.

 

[pcrbenchrest1]

My dad was a NY Subway Motorman. During the Depression in the 1930s he had 13 people commit suicide by jumping in front of the train. His last (#14) in 1950 jumped in front of the train but he was able to stop. They turned off the power-got her out and sent her to the hospital. Two days later she jumped out the hospital window. Trains planes or guns when they want to they go!

 

[Steave]

Almost any range, other than those that have just opened, have had this happen.

 

[rundownfid]

"Too cheap to buy a gun for a special occasion".

Now that is cold, funny but stone cold.

 

[bubbiesdad]

We have a range where that happened with a woman a few years back. One of the lanes has a square cut out of the carpet with a larger piece covering the hole.