@redneck roy: I agree with blueyes on this one. In my view there's no reason for a 9 year old to have any type of firearm. But that's just me.

^^^you're right - everyone's opinion on this will differ. kids can safely be taught how to handle firearms - no real reason not to introduce them and start training them young - if the intent is to have them participate in shooting sports. A trained child who has the opportunity to shoot under controlled conditions will be far less likely to have an in-home accident. IMO. (I started shooting by the time I was 7 - maybe younger for bb gun)

First of all, my position on firearm ownership is that I believe law-abiding citizens have the right to own any firearm. I also believe that firearms are dangerous objects, like many other objects that are found in any household, therefore learning to handle them safely is imperative.The question to ask here is not "what is the reason for a 9 year old to fire an Uzi?"... the question here is really "why did the instructor allowed this lesson to continue?"Part of what the instructor should have done (which I don't know if it took place or not, and also assuming that she is very skilled with other types of firearms) is having a briefing with the weapon unloaded, doing some dry-firing, then move to single-shots, then to semi-auto mode, then to full-auto, assuming the girl was handling the firearm with the proper skill. If at any point the instructor thought that she couldn't, then he should have stopped the lesson and inform the parents: hey, your girl can't handle this... this is not going to work now, I'm stopping this.Also, the instructor shouldn't have been in that position (location); he should never be in front of the firing line... nobody should ever be in front of the firing line on a hot range... the only thing that can be across the firing line on a hot range is the firearm itself (not even a finger should cross the firing line).So, two big mistakes made by the instructor that he was able to prevent: 1. letting the lesson proceed and 2. been in an unsafe position, with the range hot and with the weapon loaded.If the girl had limited experience with firearms, then an Uzi was not the right one to start with... pick a single shot .22LR... if she's done that already, then move to a semi-auto .22LR. Frankly, I think it was pretty obvious that she couldn't handle a firearm of that caliber and firing full-auto.

The entire blame falls with the instructor ...100%Foolish and unnecessary ....My son has been shooting guns and taught safety first since he was 5......He is now 15 and has never fired a fully autatic weapon ..... Semi yes....It's stupid decisions like this that give the anti gun lefties an arguement which it has done here

In my opinion, the fault is in the parents. No 9 yr old girl says "Daddy, I want to shoot an Uzi". She probably has some macho Dad who wants to put on FB that his daughter can shoot an Uzi. Now he can tell it to her therapist!

@Humbletexan1: Yes, but the instructor could have said "No, I am not instructing your daughter. She can't handle this gun." The instructor could have prevented his own death.

@sandman: I couldn't have said it better myself. You nailed it. You could clearly see in the video that she had NO idea what she was doing (had to be reminded of her leg position, etc.). I'm not categorically against training kids how to handle firearms in very specific circumstances/reasons...but there's just no good reason to put an Uzi in a 9-year old's hands. The instructor was reckless and irresponsible and that CLEARLY shows in this unfortunate video. RIP, though...and prayers that this poor little girl isn't wrecked for life because of the dumb decisions of those she naturally trusted at 9 years old.

The teenager who worked at a gun show where 8-year-old Christopher Bizilj accidentally killed himself while shooting an Uzi testified today he twice suggested the boy's father pick a less powerful weapon for the boy to shoot.But Christopher's father, Dr. Charles Bizilj, insisted that his son be allowed to fire the automatic weapon, Michael Spano told the court. Spano was 15 at the time of the 2008 Massachusetts gun expo and was put in charge of allowing people to fire the 9 mm Micro Uzi, a submachine gun that fires 20 rounds a second.Former Pelham, Mass., police chief Edward Fleury is on trial for the boy's death because he organized the gun expo. He is charged with involuntary manslaughter. He has pleaded not guilty.The most dramatic moment of the trial came Thursday when the court watched video recorded by Charles Bizilj of the boy handling the gun. The father, who was on the stand at the time, closed his eyes as the video showed the boy struggling to handle the gun's recoil. The barrel reared up and shot the boy in the head. The court room gasped and the boy's mother left the courtroom in tears.The family may have to relive that moment again in painstaking detail. The prosecution has asked that the video be played again, this time frame by frame. The judge has not yet ruled on that request.The judge did dismiss a juror today, although the reason for removal was not disclosed. The woman was seen crying during a private discussion with the judge and lawyers. There are 15 remaining jurors, including three alternates.Click here to follow the MassLive.com blog from the courtroomSpano told the court today that the Micro Uzi was a very popular model at the gun expo and had been requested by Fleury.The teenager said police were at the expo and were aware that children were shooting the weapons.During Spano's testimony today he said that he warned Christopher's father about the gun prior to giving it to Christopher. Initially Spano had offered Christopher a gun that shot only one round at a time, but Dr. Bizilj asked him to give his son a fully automatic weapon that would shoot continuously, Spano said.The teenager said he suggested for a second time that a non-automatic weapon would be better for the boy, but the father dismissed his concern."You trusted Mr. Bizilj to make the best decisions for his children?" defense attorney Rosemary Curran Scapicchio asked. Spano said he did."And no one stopped an 8-year-old from shooting, is that fair to say?" Scapicchio asked. Spano agreed.Teen Says Christopher Bizilj's Dad Insisted the Boy Could Fire an UziSpano said he put the gun in Christopher's hands. "He began to shoot. As I remember he was shooting fine. Something happened. It came back and shot him in the face," Spano said.Scapicchio maintains that Fleury should not be held responsible for Christopher's death. "[The father] had the opportunity to ask questions and he chose not to," she told ABCNews.com.She said the father "had the authority at all times to stop the shooting, and he chose not to."Spano is the son of Domenico Spano who is also charged with involuntary manslaughter for his role in providing the guns at the expo. A third man, Carl Guiffre, faces identical charges. Both men have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.State police Sgt. John Crane told the court that the gun wasn't being properly held by the boy to control the kick of such a powerful gun, and that Christopher looked inexperienced and unsure of where to place his hands."The recoil on this gun is considerable," Crane said. "This weapon fires very quickly. The rate of fire is tremendous."Crane said he did not arrest anyone the day of the shooting."The weapon was not safe for the child to fire," he told Scapicchio during the final comments of the day. The trial will resume on Monday.Buffy Spencer of The Republican newspaper and MassLive.com contributed to this report

My take no child should be shooting a fully auto weapon-muzzle climb can have deadly results.Very tragic for all involved-so sad.

@Posterguy: I wouldn't make a blanket statement like that... some children (17 and under) can handle a full-auto better than some old folks I've seen. Don't give gun control proponents any ideas... some may propose banning firearms use by anybody 17 and under.

I often find that other instructors feel they are God's gift to guns! This maybe attributed to his arrogance...Stupid, stupid, stupid. I've trained kids with handgun safety with inert firearms and I have never saw an inert Uzi. There's no way I would've done that.

I have friends that hunt and teach their children, both boys & girls, about gun safety & take them hunting with them when they are ready. I don't see anything wrong with kids & guns as long as proper teaching is involved. Where were the parents of this girl? She will have to live with the consequences of their decision to allow this.

Fully auto is a way different animal.I would never allow any child to shot a full auto weapon just for the chance that this might happen.That is just my position.I would not want to have to live with it if something went wrong.Some consider guns tools, I consider them weapons. They are tools made to kill. You also can use them for target practice which can be very enjoyable,but the primary function is to kill be it animal or human.Guns deserve the utmost respect and discipline.I was disturbed to see the police in Ferguson pointing assault rifles at civilians.I was trained to never ever do that unless you are fully prepared to pull the trigger.With a weapon(gun) you carry the power of life and death and you must remember that and also be sure anyone you let fire one knows that and is physically and mentally able and responsible.I am not advocating restricting gun use to 17 or older,I do however feel very strongly about gun safety and the responsibility of gun owners.

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