Man kills his own daughter, and his own six grandchildren, then himself

[Dick Whitman]

He did not use a knife.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/18/us/florida-deadly-shooting/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

 

[MisterCreosote]

Re: Man kills daughter, six grandchildren, himself

The Tree of Liberty had a rough summer - you know, droughts and all.

 

[YankeeFan]

Re: Man kills daughter, six grandchildren, himself

Whose daughter and grandchildren did he kill?

 

[MisterCreosote]

Sounds like a heckuva guy and a totally responsible gun owner:

Spirit already had a lengthy criminal record stretching back 22 years, according to Florida corrections records. Reports from 2003 show that one charge, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, came after he pleaded guilty to accidentally shooting and killing his 8-year-old son while they were out hunting. He was sentenced to three years in prison. Spirit was also convicted of depriving a child of food and shelter, battery, and possession of drug paraphernalia between 1992 and 1995.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/don-spirit-kills-daughter-six-grandchildren-bell-florida-n206861

 

[Dick Whitman]

Sounds like a heckuva guy and a totally responsible gun owner:

Spirit already had a lengthy criminal record stretching back 22 years, according to Florida corrections records. Reports from 2003 show that one charge, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, came after he pleaded guilty to accidentally shooting and killing his 8-year-old son while they were out hunting. He was sentenced to three years in prison. Spirit was also convicted of depriving a child of food and shelter, battery, and possession of drug paraphernalia between 1992 and 1995.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/don-spirit-kills-daughter-six-grandchildren-bell-florida-n206861

Disciplinarian.

 

[Songbird]

Ms. Jackson thinks he did a fine job.

 

[deskslave]

Sentencing story from the hunting accident that involved shooting his son with a high-powered rifle he wasn't legally allowed to have.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-24/news/0301230612_1_son-kyle-spirit-christine

 

[YankeeFan]

Sentencing story from the hunting accident that involved shooting his son with a high-powered rifle he wasn't legally allowed to have.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-24/news/0301230612_1_son-kyle-spirit-christine

Sounds like he should have been punished for that.

 

[Dick Whitman]

What's the Santa Barbara quote that MC always brings up when something like this happens? Something about how someone's life is not worth giving up his Second Amendment rights?

 

[poindexter]

Sentencing story from the hunting accident that involved shooting his son with a high-powered rifle he wasn't legally allowed to have.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-24/news/0301230612_1_son-kyle-spirit-christine

From the article:

Don Charles Spirit pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon just as his trial was set to begin, in exchange for the minimum sentence.

On a separate note, this is an example of why I never believe those statistics that "X % of people are in prison because of drug possession.."

Everything gets bartered, negotiated and pled. This guy killed his son and got a possession of firearm charge.

Prison stats are the worst stats.

 

[MisterCreosote]

What's the Santa Barbara quote that MC always brings up when something like this happens? Something about how someone's life is not worth giving up his Second Amendment rights?

"Your dead kids don't trump my Constitutional rights." -- "Joe the Plumber."

 

[deskslave]

Sentencing story from the hunting accident that involved shooting his son with a high-powered rifle he wasn't legally allowed to have.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-24/news/0301230612_1_son-kyle-spirit-christine

Sounds like he should have been punished for that.

And if he'd gotten the maximum sentence, he'd still be in prison. But then plenty would argue that a trifling felony conviction shouldn't bar him from exercising his God-given Second Amendment rights.

 

[heyabbott]

Another Heterosexual distraction

 

[User 4332]

Sentencing story from the hunting accident that involved shooting his son with a high-powered rifle he wasn't legally allowed to have.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-01-24/news/0301230612_1_son-kyle-spirit-christine

Sounds like he should have been punished for that.

And if he'd gotten the maximum sentence, he'd still be in prison. But then plenty would argue that a trifling felony conviction shouldn't bar him from exercising his God-given Second Amendment rights.

I don't know many gun rights activists who go that far. I have no doubt there are some absolutists out there, but most gun rights folks I know/have interacted with are fine with felons losing that right.

 

[User 4332]

Sounds like a heckuva guy and a totally responsible gun owner:

Spirit already had a lengthy criminal record stretching back 22 years, according to Florida corrections records. Reports from 2003 show that one charge, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, came after he pleaded guilty to accidentally shooting and killing his 8-year-old son while they were out hunting. He was sentenced to three years in prison. Spirit was also convicted of depriving a child of food and shelter, battery, and possession of drug paraphernalia between 1992 and 1995.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/don-spirit-kills-daughter-six-grandchildren-bell-florida-n206861

Sounds like he should've been prosecuted on federal firearms charges in the death of his son and still be in prison instead of having his case go to the state.

 

[nmmetsfan]

Maybe if there was a law against this guy owning a gun his family would still be alive.

 

[playthrough]

Sounds like a heckuva guy and a totally responsible gun owner:

Spirit already had a lengthy criminal record stretching back 22 years, according to Florida corrections records. Reports from 2003 show that one charge, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, came after he pleaded guilty to accidentally shooting and killing his 8-year-old son while they were out hunting. He was sentenced to three years in prison. Spirit was also convicted of depriving a child of food and shelter, battery, and possession of drug paraphernalia between 1992 and 1995.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/don-spirit-kills-daughter-six-grandchildren-bell-florida-n206861

Not to go all copy editor-nerd for a moment, but why is this guy's name in the headline? Were we supposed to know him?

 

[doctorx]

Maybe if there was a law against this guy owning a gun his family would still be alive.

Murder ought to be against the law, too. He'd have thought twice.

 

[Alma]

What's the Santa Barbara quote that MC always brings up when something like this happens? Something about how someone's life is not worth giving up his Second Amendment rights?

"Your dead kids don't trump my Constitutional rights." -- "Joe the Plumber."

Remember when that guy actually started appearing at campaign stops? Remember when he opined on Israel?

I'm pretty sure 2008-2010 was the nadir of GOP politics. Our government will spend years recovering from Palin and the Tea Party.

 

[Dick Whitman]

What's the Santa Barbara quote that MC always brings up when something like this happens? Something about how someone's life is not worth giving up his Second Amendment rights?

"Your dead kids don't trump my Constitutional rights." -- "Joe the Plumber."

Remember when that guy actually started appearing at campaign stops? Remember when he opined on Israel?

I'm pretty sure 2008-2010 was the nadir of GOP politics. Our government will spend years recovering from Palin and the Tea Party.

The NYT - I know, consider the source on this topic, but still - had a piece the other day about Democrats are now the ones bringing the boom on social wedge issues, while Republicans are trying desperately to avoid them. Quite a remarkable change in a short period of time.