Shooting At Bloomington Gun Show

[legion]

Apparently there was a gun show in Bloomington over the weekend. My edition of American Rifleman wrongly stated that the ECA show was in Centralia, so I didn't go.

ATF investigating shooting at gun show

The three victims injured when a rifle accidentally discharged at a weekend gun show were identified Monday by authorities.

Robert Feldkamp, 57, of Bloomington remains hospitalized with injuries he suffered when he was struck in the back Saturday during an incident at the Egyptian Collector's Association Gun and Knife Show, Sheriff Mike Emery told reporters at a news conference.

Michael Vandegraft, 63, of Normal was treated at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, Normal, where he was released that evening for a shoulder wound. His son, Mark Vandegraft, 37, of El Paso declined medical treatment for facial injuries cause by wood splinters.

Emery said Washington resident Joseph Gift, 68, had been holding a Ruger Mini 14, a .223-caliber semiautomatic rifle, when it went off around 11:15 a.m. at Bloomington's Sale Barn. The bullet passed through a 4- to 6-inch wooden pole, causing the splinters that injured Mark Vandegraft, went through his father's shoulder and then through Feldkamp's back and out his chest, police said.

Police recovered a single bullet Sunday from the building, police said.

Emery said the investigation into the incident is ongoing. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is working with the sheriff's office to determine if federal rules against having loaded weapons at a gun show were violated and if so, by whom, said the sheriff.

"The bureau will be conducting ballistic tests and analyzing the weapon to see why it discharged," Emery said. "They are the experts when it comes to these matters."

Emery said Gift was unsure if his finger was near the trigger when he placed the rifle back on the table.

No charges were filed as of Monday, but guns with ammunition are not allowed at gun sales.

"Once the final report is complete, I will review it and make a determination about charges at that time," McLean County State's Attorney Bill Yoder said.

The rifle is owned by Scott Simpson of Hoopeston. Emery said Simpson gave it to Robert Rigdon of Gold and Diamond Exchange Pawn Shop Inc. of Urbana, who was to sell it on consignment.

It was not clear Monday when the round was placed in the gun or who placed it there.

Simpson declined to comment Monday when contacted by The Pantagraph. There was no answer Monday at a telephone number listed in the store's name.

"The investigation is continuing into why this weapon was loaded and on display," Emery said. "We know that the weapon was on consignment through the vendor. What we continue to investigate is if the owner safety-checked the weapon prior to turning it over to the vendor and if the vendor performed a safety check prior to placing it on display."

Such guns are often used on farms, ranches or personal defense, authorities said.

"This particular gun was popular years ago with police departments and many of them are in surplus now or sold on gun websites," said McLean County Chief Deputy Rusty Thomas.

From what I've heard, once the shot rang out, everyone stopped for about 10 seconds waiting for a follow-up shot (and seeing whether or not they needed to start loading), when that didn't happen, people started running TOWARDS the sound of the shot to make sure everyone was okay.

The guy who was handling the Mini-14 originally claimed that the gun "went off" when he set it down on the table. I've noticed that claim no longer appears in the follow-up stories.

My guess? The owner of the gun never checked the gun. The owner of the pawn shop never checked the gun. No one handling the gun ever checked the gun.

I'm going to guess that the pawn shop is no longer invited back to ECA shows, and has a hard time getting a table at other gun shows.

[targa911S]

We have had guys with accidently forgotten rounds in the chamber come in with guns for trade in. I always check them before I handle them. Muzzle loaders too, as they are real easy to forget..

[lane912]

since before i ever handled a firearm, allways check if it is loaded when you are handed a gun.
to this day every time, every time.

[techweenie]

As the owner of a mini 14, I am pleased with the penetrating power displayed. And pleased that it appears everyone will survive. I never store it with a round chambered. I figure the sound of my chambering the round will be an added deterrent...

[on2wheels52]

Every couple of months someone brings a loaded one to my pawn shop. You always check.
My worst nightmare is someone putting a round in a gun on the rack and walking off.
Jim

[ODDJOB UNO]

i'll bet that it was VERY VERY LOUD! and then very very QUIET!


what a bunch of DUM AZZ"Z!



a)now was this an AD?(accidental discharge) or b) was it a totally MORON IDIOT JERK WAD RETARD discharge?


answer.................there IS NO SUCH THING AS AN ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE!

[cstreit]

EVERY gun IS loaded untill I see that it isn't. No exceptions.

[Bill Douglas]

I even check brand new guns in shops before I handle them. Even then I never sweep them past anyone. Always pointed in a safge direction.

As a kid on a farm I had a .22 that I used to shoot rabbits with. When I got bored I used to aim at the dog in his kennel or a sheep in the padock to practice aim and trigger pull. One day I checked the chamber first and it turned out my grandad had loaded it to shoot rabbits and hadn't unloaded it - gulp.

[ODDJOB UNO]

went to washingtons birthday 1000yd iron sight clinic and match a weekend ago-2 days of break the fun barrier fun. getting back into something i really enjoyed back in the 90's before life got in the way.


ANY FREEKING TIME YOU ARE NOT SHOOTING..................there is a GIANT AZZ'D YELLOW BOLT OPEN INDICATOR FLAG IN YER BREECH BLOCKING ACTION AND THE MAG REMOVED!


if NOT......................................ITS YER AZZ BIG TIME! LIKE SO BIG TIME THAT YOU WILL NEVAR EVAR DO IT AGAIN UNDER PENALTY OF BEING BEATEN HALF TO DEATH BY YER PEERS!


all my rifles and gradually all my pistols either have a SAFETY FLAG or about to get one(i have plenty) as soon as i get back in my safes.


there is/are NO ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGES. its called just being plain FEEKED UP STOOO-PID!

[Rick Lee]

I keep some handguns chambered, but I would never even think about storing a rifle that way. There was a cop in VA a few years ago who was killed when a rifle in a car he had stopped got jostled by the tow truck and discharged, killing the cop, who was standing well away from the car. Just no reason to store it chambered unless you're expecting gunplay.

[wdfifteen]

You can't fix stupid.

[ODDJOB UNO]

rickster, get that damn "poodle shooter" geared up ready to go. btwn now and when the offen(oven) starts in june/july their are dragons to be slayed.....................spoons to be built! AND MATCHES TO BE SHOT!

kids M1-A loaded just went off today for UBERIZING by the M1-A guru and spiritual guide. no ding donging around here. accuracy speaks and this "loaded" version already has my old super match op rod guide/op rod spring/super match NM piston from me working on it. gonna have possible used mcmillian stock/action bedded installed/NM flash suppressor w/evil bayonet lug/trigger job(smooth action)/ and rear sights hand fitted. we have blasted it and its a shooter!


YOU need a non molested ar-15. go to az pistol/rifle assoc. join for 2 yrs 35 bucks. take clinic. enter match with us as a foursome(kinky).


go to highpower match rules. you need an "issue"sling as in usgi to sling up. usually clinic(mandatory) is on sat. sight in, is sat afternoon=40rds.


sunday is the match=50rds. format is shooter /spotter and other (2) guys in pits pulling targets. then lunch at noon and roles reversed.



HUGE BRAGGING RIGHTS who takes "X" out. if 1000yd range cannot be used they will have firing line at either 200-300yds and have corresponding targets so it will be exactly like 1000yds iron sighted.

go ben avery and look up highpower matches./service rifle be prepared for any weather. munchies water etc etc. you can get list of crap ya need online under high power match introduction or just come over and write down a list of all the crap i have.


this separates the men from the meez(mice).


and we need (6) certified spoon nutz for "rattle battle" more fun than SEX!


right now i have roughly (2) foursomes that said they were interested give or take enthusiazm level.



learn how to shoot lak the big dawgs and how i can and WILL back up what i say with actions, not just brag-a-docius bull crap like some on here!


accuracy speaks. b.s. walks and trust me.............YOU and I will be VERY HUMBLED by the BIG DAWGS!
rained like hell for 2 days straight at last match. and the shooting continued. musak to my ears.

wait til ya see my ruggedgear.com 4-gun cart(kart) that will be arriving in about 4 days!

[Rick Lee]

I can't get up early enough to make that drive to Rio Salado. Going to Ben Avery tomorrow afternoon.

[ODDJOB UNO]

yes the rio salado ones even going the back way thru saguaro lake , are a hell of a early start for me. 4:30 am launch for us. very long day.


but go to ben avery calender on their web site, pick a match so we all got a heads up, and lets do it. contact az pistol/rifle(and join) when next mandatory highpower clinic is. if you have not shot a match or its 5years since last clinic..........you MUST ATTEND CLINIC no ifs and butts.


go look at what a service rifle ar-15 is and the rules. these guys will bust you if it is not "service legal". and you must have a bolt open indicator yellow flag from brownells if ya dont gots one.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by techweenie

As the owner of a mini 14, I am pleased with the penetrating power displayed. And pleased that it appears everyone will survive. I never store it with a round chambered. I figure the sound of my chambering the round will be an added deterrent...

Yer thinking like a TV Movie

[Jeff Higgins]

The "A number one most inviolable rule" at our WAC gun shows is that all arms have chambers open and zip ties through the opening, wrapping down through the magazine well, or whatever other arm-specific means is available to ensure the action is open and nothing is in it. All arms brought into the building, for any reason whatsoever, are to be so secured. No exceptions. Carry arms are unloaded and checked at the door.

[azasadny]

A couple of the 4 basic rules were broken here. We'll hear about this, over and over by the anti-gunners...