The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-12-04
thing from Headquarters About
children and Firearms

children ana Firearms
,r.re is something / wish you
p ealI to the attention of the
~ said the chief clerk of the
~ Fish and Game Department;
tsct = she continued. 81 have been
.scted by numerous correspond
and visitors, especially of late,
10 something to the press re-
s,ng the game laws governing the
aassion of firearms by children, and
antics and responsibilities of par
and guardians in the premises,
Ill as jurisdiction of the Depart
AZ Inland Fisheries and Game.
~ requests have been made in
.sonence of the large number of
{1Ing accidents among children
n have occurred thus far this
before explaining the existing
upon this subject, l would like
MENTION, briefly, such accidents
,ns children, young boys in parti-
as have come to our attention
far this year, through accounts
SIished in the newspapers, etc.
and thirteen accidents reported,
fatalities. with condition of two
Inns very critical at last report.
|se accidents occurred from the
owing causes:
A fourteen year old Bangor boy
En- a % calibre rife; his brother
Twelve while playing with it,
| of he didn't know it was loaded,
and killed his little eight year
sister.
1 six year old girl found loaded
gun which her father had left in
harm and accidently shot herself
h fatal result while playing with
Young Lewiston girl was shot.
Iugh not fatally, at last report, by
ktray bullet. the shot having been
d apparently. by some careless
as it is reported boys are in the
IN Of hunting in the nearby field
! forest where the girl went to get
er from a spring.
! An eight year old boy at Calais,
Mentally shot his brother of seven
HE playing with a 80 caliber loaded
|olyer which he had found in
keau drawer at his home; condition
heal at last report.
IA thirteen year old Madison boy
Mentally shot himself with %
hire rifle while hunting by stumb-
! and dropping his gun which was
charged with fatal result.
lat Washington Junction a man Of
ty.one was shot and died. as re-
\ of an accident which yas caused
his permitting an eight year old
to play with his % calibre rifle,
|ch the man did not know was
4 Al thirteen year old burlington liIuyt1i boy
an eye as the result Of being ac-
|entally shot by his chum while
biting. -. ,, g8f,f.
"a Rockland boy Of fourteen was
Mentally shot and killed while
biting by the discharge OF shot
in the hands of his fifteen year
companion. -,
"A nine year old Bridgewater boy
accidentally shot and killed by
fifteen year old companion while
hged in target practice with a %
Fbre revolver.
"a fifteen year old Oakland boy
fdentally shot himself while hunt
with fatal result.
"A sixteen year old boy at Robin
shot and killed himself, case
accidental discharge of his own
while getting ready to 60 trap
lg
"A thirteen year old boy in South
bland accidentally shot seven
p year old companion while exam
fg % calibre automatic revolver
Ech they, apparently, did not know
loaded; condition critical at last
lOrt
A sixteen year old boy near Patten,
Township 7, Range s.. accidentally
PLY shot himself with a % calibre
while alone in the woods.
10 addition to the above accidents,
last week report was received
D distant part of the state.to the
ld that in consequence of hunt
license being issued to a sixteen
? old boy. he has figured in three
lCting accidents within three weeks
hs vicinity with the result that
Of his alleged victims are now
lHlescing in a local hospital
Another report which came to hand
yesterday, stated that a lady in
hhern Maine went into her garden
per back yard when a bullet whizz-
Dy her head, evidently shot by some
eless boys who have been COM
med of more or less for promis-
'uS shooting; among the crowd was
small boy, age not given, who has
wed to his teacher that he already
o. three guns.
lnese two latter cases were taken
with the department with view
sScertaining If the commissioner
10 not revoke all youthful hunters
'aSes and thus prevent them from
rylhg guns in the future, as it has
y clearly demonstrated II is not
e. LOT them to be permitted to do so
NOW the laws governing this sub
are as follows p. 3a:
y SELLING OR GIVEN AWAY OF
lR RIFLES TO CHILDREN
UNDER FOURTEEN YEARS
OF AGE PROHIBITED
chapter 302, p. L. 1910
Nllon !. Whoever sells or gives
Y an air rife to any child under
age of fourteen years shall be
y. Y not less than five nor more than
MY dollars.
! 2 Municipal courts and
v Justices shall have ilIrjsdiction of