Saw this the other day. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
ELKHART -- The gun that accidentally fired last month, resulting in the death of a 7-year-old Goshen girl, had a functional defect that allowed it to fire without pressing the trigger if force was applied to the hammer, regardless of whether the safety was engaged.
Hill also said no charges would be filed against Jay Byler, Karlee Byler’s father. Karlee died Feb. 25 when her father’s gun fell out of his coat pocket and accidentally went off, hitting her in the head.
Hill identified the father’s firearm as a Norinco semi-automatic handgun.
According to Brad Rupert, a gun expert and general manager of Midwest Gun Exchange, a Norinco is a Chinese-made gun. Because guns from China are not allowed to be imported into the United States, many Norinco guns are older relics, he said.
"I would say a lot of the older firearms such as that ... a lot of the older military handguns really weren't designed for everyday carry by civilians," Rupert said.
According to Hill, Byler's gun didn't have a firing pin block, a safety mechanism that would prevent a gun from firing until the trigger was pulled. Most modern guns have this safety feature built in.
"My suggestion would be if you are going to carry a firearm, carry one with modern safety devices, including a firing pin block or a transfer pin for revolvers,” Rupert said. “It would keep it from firing if dropped.”
Hill said that after reviewing all the facts of this case we concur that the incident that took the life of Karlee Byler was a tragic accident. He added that the accident was an ill-fated event that will have an effect on the Byler family for the rest of their lives.
“As American citizens we know we have the right to bear arms; however, we need to do so responsibly,” Hill said. “If you are determined to maintain or purchase a firearm, we encourage you to do proper research on the firearm that best suits your particular need and examine any safety concerns that may be associated with a particular firearm.”
Karlee was a first-grader at West Goshen Elementary School.
Monica Chupp, a spokeswoman for the family, said after the accident that no one loved their kids more than Jay Byler
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