Cat Shoots Owner

[Candy]

Cat Shoots Owner (http://dailynews.att.net/cgi-bin/news?e=pri&dt=050310&cat=news&st=newsd88o47cg0&src =ap)
A man cooking in his kitchen was shot after one of his cats knocked his 9mm handgun onto the floor, discharging the weapon, Michigan State Police said.
It was almost the purrfect crime. 8-[

[cyswxman]

I wonder how the cat is feline? 8-[

[Grey]

Cat Shoots Owner (http://dailynews.att.net/cgi-bin/news?e=pri&dt=050310&cat=news&st=newsd88o47cg0&src =ap)
Perhaps this should serve as a reminder to all of us who live with cats to make sure to feed them on time!

[Candy]

It must have had a hair trigger?

[Moose]

That's quite the tail.

[Candy]

That cat has a lot of guts! 8-[

[Nergal]

Cat Shoots Owner (http://dailynews.att.net/cgi-bin/news?e=pri&dt=050310&cat=news&st=newsd88o47cg0&src =ap)
Perhaps this should serve as a reminder to all of us who live with cats to make sure to feed them on time!
No kidding...I bet the police still believe it was an . Someone go check the food bowl. If it's empty, we know the crime was pre-meditated.

[gethen]

Only a cat. A dog would just bite you, but a cat is much sneakier--who would believe your cat shot you?

[Candy]

"Hey Joe, what happened to you?"

"I was shot by a cat burglar."

[Swift]

Reminds me of a cartoon I saw years ago, entitled "If cats had hands". It showed this kitchen being absolutely dismantled by cats. One had a chain saw and was cutting up the table, another was roasting a mouse on a skewer over the stove, and a third was flinging things out of the cabinets. :lol:

Only a cat. A dog would just bite you, but a cat is much sneakier--who would believe your cat shot you?
Not only that, but the cat would frame the dog. Reference (http://www.comics.com/comics/getfuzzy/)

[Chuck]

The worst a cat ever did to me was lie down on my TV remote control which turned the volume way up when it was well past midnight. I could have been arrested.

[Candy]

My cat gave me poison ivy on my hands, lap, and face cheeks. It was the worse case of poison ivy the doctor had ever seen, and the doc was old.

I couldn't figure out what I had that caused such sever inching and scratching. It was horrible. After the doc told me it was poison ivy, I came home and told my grandmother.

I was trying to figure out how in the world I could have gotten poison ivy. Grandma said the indoor kitty got out, and she was to afraid to tell me. My cat is my baby.

I just had to laugh at grandma, though. :D

[pghnative]

Cat Shoots Owner (http://dailynews.att.net/cgi-bin/news?e=pri&dt=050310&cat=news&st=newsd88o47cg0&src =ap)
Perhaps this should serve as a reminder to all of us who live with cats to make sure to feed them on time!
Maybe it wasn't about food --- was the cat neutered? (I know that would make me mad... :o :o )

[mid]

Was the cat busted for this feliny?

Personally, I think the poor thing is innocent. A more correct title would be "dumb person leaves loaded handgun lying around, and pays the consequence"

[SciFi Chick]

Was the cat busted for this feliny?

Personally, I think the poor thing is innocent. A more correct title would be "dumb person leaves loaded handgun lying around, and pays the consequence"

I know. I'm just relieved that it wasn't the cat who was shot.

[Doodler]

So is this a misdemeanor or a feliny?

[Wolverine]

:-k I'm skeptical of this story.

[SciFi Chick]

:-k I'm skeptical of this story.

Why? You don't think a loaded gun can go off if it's knocked down?

[Musashi]

Depnds on the gun. In most cases, no. However, maybe he had some cheap Makarov or something. :)

Usually the hammer is down. If that is the case, dropping the gun shouldn't make it go off. On most pistols, even with the hammer up, the trigger has to be pulled to relases the firing pin, so dropping it and causing the hammer to close will not fire the gun. On several models, there are additional safety features.

[Wolverine]

:-k I'm skeptical of this story.

Why? You don't think a loaded gun can go off if it's knocked down?

That would depend on the design/type of pistol. My handguns incorporate mechanisms specifically designed to prohibit accidental discharges from impact. There are, of course, cheap guns available which do not possess such safeguards. If the story specifically described the make & model, we'd know whether or not it's possible.

I just find it odd that someone would have a chamber-loaded firearm at such close proximity in a kitchen while cooking, and that, unless it were in a truly precarious position, could be so easily knocked off a counter by a cat.

I could be wrong, of course, but reading a few additional articles just makes me wonder if we're getting the full story here. Example (http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw112731_20050309.htm):

Michelle Sand, a spokeswoman at the Iron River hospital, said Stanton was treated there before being transferred to Marquette General Hospital for further treatment. But Marcie Miller, a representative of the Marquette facility, said there was no record of the hospital receiving a patient by that name.

The Michigan State Police are a marvelous agency though, and I have no doubts about their competence. :) Regardless, I'd like to know more details before reaching a conclusion.

[W.F. Tomba]

I just find it odd that someone would have a chamber-loaded firearm at such close proximity in a kitchen while cooking, and that, unless it were in a truly precarious position, could be so easily knocked off a counter by a cat.
Do you have a cat?

And as for the likelihood of someone leaving a loaded gun on the kitchen counter, perhaps as a responsible gun owner you find that hard to comprehend, but . . .

[TriangleMan]

The Michigan State Police are a marvelous agency though, and I have no doubts about their competence. :) Regardless, I'd like to know more details before reaching a conclusion.
This news article from Michigan (http://www.wluctv6.com/Global/story.asp?S=3057149&nav=81AXXJc0) notes that there was a 911 call and that the police are still investigating.

[Wolverine]

Do you have a cat?

And as for the likelihood of someone leaving a loaded gun on the kitchen counter, perhaps as a responsible gun owner you find that hard to comprehend, but . . .

Yes, I'm down to one (had to put my tomcat of 16 years down last spring :( and he was quite hefty). Point taken concerning responsibility; unfortunately some gun owners display woefully poor judgment.

Even more compact 9mm pistols still have weight to contend with, let alone loaded. I'm just trying to grasp the likelihood of even a decent-sized cat forcibly displacing a loaded 9mm pistol (without aforementioned safeguards) from a kitchen counter, that just so happened to land properly to discharge and wound the owner in the torso. Possible, yes... likely? We'll see. :)

[Makgraf]

The cat's are striking back! (http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0307huntingcats-ON.html)

[Van Rijn]

Not sure about a gun, but my cat has turned on the ceiling fan, stopped the VCR while I was recording the show, turned out the lights, turned the TV on, ran the volume up to ear splitting level, and a few other things along these lines at various times. Not intentionally, of course (well, I don't THINK so), but while tromping over remote controls.

[Swift]

I'm reminded of the old joke newspaper headline (used to point out some weaknesses of the English language):
Man helps dog bite victim
:lol:

[gethen]

Do not discount the fact that Iron River, where this incident took place, is in Michigan's upper peninsula--a place not unlike the wilds of Northern Canada. A loaded gun on the counter top sounds quite possible. But I've been wondering if the victim's wife or girlfriend was also in the vicinity. :wink:

[Colt]

I'm with Musashi and Wolverine on this. I find it highly unlikely that even if the cat did knock it off, the pistol would discharge. In most modern pistol designs it would take several tons of force to make the hammer fall and bypass the safeties. This IS hardened steel were talking about, it doesn't just bend out of the way. It would have to drop at just the right angle and hit for the trigger to move at all from momentum and then the safety would have to be off.

Only a very cheap 9mm pistol with no safeties is going to possibly just fall to the floor and go off. It is possible for a good pistol to do it but only under very unusual circumstances. - Colt

[Candy]

The cat's are striking back! (http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0307huntingcats-ON.html)
Hunter Mark Smith welcomes wild birds on to his property, but if he sees a cat, he thinks the "invasive" animal should be considered fair game.

The 48-year-old firefighter from La Crosse has proposed that hunters in Wisconsin make free-roaming domestic cats an "unprotected species" that could be shot at will by anyone with a small-game license. :o

[Wolverine]

A few more thoughts... Michigan law (http://www.michigan.gov/msp/0,1607,7-123-1591_3503_4654-16241--,00.html) not only mandates handgun registration, but also:

The applicant must answer gun related questions on a Basic Pistol Safety Questionnaire, with at least 70% correct, and swear before a notary that they meet the statutory requirements to own a pistol.

...and...

A License to Purchase a Pistol is valid for 10 days to purchase a pistol. The seller must sign the license and keep one copy for his/her records. An individual must return to the local police department within 10 days of purchasing the pistol, return the two remaining copies of the license, and present the pistol for a Safety Inspection Certificate.

... which, when I lived there, necessitated a trip either to the County Sheriff's office or State Police post for them to evaluate the condition of the firearm and issue your certificate.

As gethen noted, the UP can get a little... erm... "rustic." :) But unless the owner was in violation of the law, he'd still have to comply with the above. I just wish more thorough detail had been presented; most of the articles on the web appear to be the same story repeated off the AP wire.

My curiosity has grown. I'm not attempting to imply a conspawricy (tee-hee), but just wonder if pertinent details were omitted due to the novelty factor of the story. ;)

[Swift]

The cat's are striking back! (http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0307huntingcats-ON.html)
Hunter Mark Smith welcomes wild birds on to his property, but if he sees a cat, he thinks the "invasive" animal should be considered fair game.

The 48-year-old firefighter from La Crosse has proposed that hunters in Wisconsin make free-roaming domestic cats an "unprotected species" that could be shot at will by anyone with a small-game license. :o
You know, I love cats, and I'm not big on this method of controlling them, but I also see this guy's point. Domestic cats are the invasive species here. Even well feed, completely domestic (as opposed to feral) cats if let outdoors, will hunt and kill huge numbers of birds and small animals. There was a study in England that estimated several million kills a year! And I don't agree that it's "natural" because they are predators; natural predators would not be in such huge numbers (millions in the US alone).

We have a couple of neighborhood cats, owned by people, who regularly hunt birds that I'm trying to attrack to my bird feeder. [-X

I'm big on cats, but keep them in the house and get them neutered!

[Enzp]

Gethen, to say our UP is like Northern Canada is unfair. it is more like southern Canada. And interesting you mention the girlfriend/wife possibilities. Are you suggesting a sematic problem with the headlines? so instead of cat shoots man, maybe they meant to say pu... oh never mind.

Michigan has an above average percentage of right wing militia type nuts and I have no doubt that some guys think about making dinner thusly. Get out steak, light broiler, set out plate, knife and fork, gun, napkin... You never know when the steak might not be done moving. And in case there is a nukyuler exchange in the middle of dinner, you need to be able to defend that steak from the mob at the door trying to steal it.

Just because the law mandates safe usage of firearms and the knowledge thereof and the inspection of said firearms is no guarantee of results. After all, it is required that we maintain our motor wehicles and operate them within the law and not in an intoxicated state. yet every day....

Face cheeks, thanks for the distinction.

[Amadeus]

I for one welcome our new Feline overlords. :D

[gethen]

Gethen, to say our UP is like Northern Canada is unfair. it is more like southern Canada. And interesting you mention the girlfriend/wife possibilities. Are you suggesting a sematic problem with the headlines? so instead of cat shoots man, maybe they meant to say pu... oh never mind.

.
When I say Northern Canada I'm thinking of Northern Ontario, where I spend lots of time. And it is very much like the UP, a place where I have relatives and visit often enough. The comparison meant no disrespect. I love both places.
As for the girlfriend/wife thing, I meant that my first thought on hearing the cat blamed was that maybe there was a bit of a tiff going on, someone got carried away, then repented, and a story was concocted. Of course, I have no evidence for that thought, just my own suspicious brain working overtime.

[Candy]

Just think, if the ‘cat’ had actually killed the man. The police would never suspect a ‘cat’. If someone had motive and no alibi, they would be the number one suspect. An innocent person may have gone to prison. Oh my! :o

Guns don't kill.
Cats do. 8-[

[ChesleyFan]

Kinda OT, but a guy did a lecture a short time ago in UW-La Crosse about how he wants an open hunting season for stray cats... his argument is they kill millions of birds every year.

Obviously, he's received a few dead threats.

I wish I had a link for this, but I heard it on the radio this morning.

[Candy]

Kinda OT, but a guy did a lecture a short time ago in UW-La Crosse about how he wants an open hunting season for stray cats... his argument is they kill millions of birds every year.

Obviously, he's received a few dead threats.

I wish I had a link for this, but I heard it on the radio this morning.
It's here (http://www.badastronomy.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=432156#432156) in Makgraf's link. :wink:

[Archer17]

.. As for the girlfriend/wife thing, I meant that my first thought on hearing the cat blamed was that maybe there was a bit of a tiff going on, someone got carried away, then repented, and a story was concocted. Of course, I have no evidence for that thought, just my own suspicious brain working overtime.Well, the whole thing is a little unusual so I can see why there's skepticism here (including mine) .. but sometimes the dog does eat the homework. Last I heard .. the cat's not talking :wink:

[Grey]

.. but sometimes the dog does eat the homework.
My wife teaches anthropology, and once our dog actually chewed on one of her students' papers a bit. Our dog will eat just about anything,* but that was pretty surprising. I joked with her that after that incident, she'd have to tell the student, "Sorry, my dog ate your homework." :D

* She's a rescued greyhound, and at the track they feed all the dogs from one bowl. So for the dogs, how much food you actually get is determined by just how quickly you can eat; if you find anything even remotely like food to eat when it's not mealtime, you count it a bonus.

[Doodler]

.. As for the girlfriend/wife thing, I meant that my first thought on hearing the cat blamed was that maybe there was a bit of a tiff going on, someone got carried away, then repented, and a story was concocted. Of course, I have no evidence for that thought, just my own suspicious brain working overtime.Well, the whole thing is a little unusual so I can see why there's skepticism here (including mine) .. but sometimes the dog does eat the homework. Last I heard .. the cat's not talking :wink:

Its got its own tongue? :-s

[Amadeus]

.. As for the girlfriend/wife thing, I meant that my first thought on hearing the cat blamed was that maybe there was a bit of a tiff going on, someone got carried away, then repented, and a story was concocted. Of course, I have no evidence for that thought, just my own suspicious brain working overtime.Well, the whole thing is a little unusual so I can see why there's skepticism here (including mine) .. but sometimes the dog does eat the homework. Last I heard .. the cat's not talking :wink:

Its got its own tongue? :-s

It's not singing like a canary?

[zebo-the-fat]

I just don't understand why he felt the need to have a loaded pistol on the table in the first place!

[Candy]

I just don't understand why he felt the need to have a loaded pistol on the table in the first place!
Maybe he was happy to see the cat. Oh wait, that's another joke. :oops: