It was a negligently handled one, certainly. I don't mean to be snide, but anyone familiar with that area may not be surprised.

....."guns don't shoot people, criminals do."? Guns don't shoot people, people do. I think it was a person's gun.

I hope Sen. Atkinson recovers quickly. It's especially sad for him since he's an outdoor/sports enthusiast.

Haha... if it wasn't enough that cyclists are on the rampage, now bicycles are starting to shoot people!

Seriously, I know Senator Atkinson from the Capitol and I hope that this is only a temporary injury. He has my best wishes for a quick recovery.

We should not let Joel H's comment slide. "I don't mean to be snide, but anyone familiar with that area may not be surprised." Regional prejudice?? Are you suggesting people are more negligent in Southern Oregon? That we in the hinterlands possess more weaponry and are prone to using it improperly? Whatever, far more gun violence occurs in your urban mecca. Quit with the Us/them mentality. There is only one Oregon. Most gun accidents are tragic mistakes regardless of region. Here's to fellow Oregonian Jason's return to good health.

Yes we all would wish that the injury will not result in a permanent impairment. The gun discharging when dropped is a concern. Information on how this is possible will be appreciated; was the hammer cocked in the bag? Perhaps some person can fill us all in. Lars?

Ummmmm.....gun control anyone?

As said before: "Who carries a loaded weapon on a bicycle, anyway?"

I am thankful that nobody died, or that a child wasn't injured. I'll wish the Senator a fast recovery (good thing he has health care).

Oh yeah to answer the question Who carries a loaded weapon on a bicycle, anyway? - basically anyone who has a drivers license and isn't a criminal - so that msut narrow it down...

I haven't heard of any sort of gun control (besides an outright ban) that would have had any effect in this unfortunate incident. And I find it a bit unnerving that someone would use this as an opportunity to push for gun control.

It was a terrible, unfortunate accident. Like most accidents, it was preventable and due to carelessness. But I don't see how gun control would have made a difference. It seems more like opportunism by anti-gun advocates.

Hey, that's my friend in the hospital. I hope you all can keep it civil and focus on a speedy and full recovery for the injured.

Best wishes for his recovery. This is just another instance where a gun for 'protection' ends up injuring someone in an accidental manner instead. Guns are just too unsafe objects to be left laying around or 'in a bike bag.'

Senator Atkinson lives in my neighborhood. After seeing all the emergency personnel there last night, all of us neighbors were relieved that this was not even more serious. Although I have only chatted with him a few times and very briefly, its obvious that this is a good man with a nice family and we wish him the best.

And as far as Joel H's comment about our "area", I'm not quite sure what to make of that. Is the implication that we are a bunch of bassackwards careless hillbillies? I hope not. Central Point is growing more diverse by the day. We have some nice rural areas as well as many of your classic suburbs. There are a lot of Republicans and a growing number of Democrats, but for the most part we all seem to get along and keep an eye out for each other, not unlike many small towns across Oregon.

As a former derringer owner, I have to say, Atkinson's friend is very reckless. Pat is right about derringers, but to add to what he said- the trigger on derringers is depressed and unable to fire not only until it is loaded, but it has to be calked back. The trigger is depressed until calked and calking it pushes the trigger out and enables the gun to fire. ie. homoeboy had it not only loaded, but loaded and calked back.

If I were Jason, I would be pissed. I too wish Jason a full recovery and hopefully a quick one

TYPO- that is suppost to be homeboy, not homoeboy. All about gay rights here.

Only prayers and wishes for a speedy , complete recovery are appropriate here. Jason has spent most of his time in the service of others. We owe this to him.

I wish you a speedy recovery.

John

Kari:

I agree that safe, responsible gun owners keep their guns locked up when they are not in use. But I haven't heard of any proposed gun control legislation anywhere that would require people to always keep their guns locked up. It would be silly. Why own a gun if you can't take it out of the safe?

I won't speculate about who owned the gun, whether he had a concealed carry permit, or whether he broke any laws. I do want to be clear, though. Someone -- probably the guy who owned the bike -- was very careless. I just don't see how any sort of sane gun-control could have prevented this particular tragedy.

If there was an existing law broken, clearly it didn't keep this accident from happening. If there wasn't, what sort of law would you propose? A law against carrying a derringer in a bike bag? A law against owning guns? A law against ever taking guns out of a gun safe?

It bothers me that someone upthread saw this as an opportunity to push gun control without spending any time thinking about whether it would have made a difference. I see conservatives do that sort of thing about other issues. I don't expect anything better from them. But it bugs me when I see people on my side of the fence act like knee-jerk reactionaries.

Why not mandatory gun education before a person can legally own a gun? Then only criminals will have unfortunate or tragic accidents?

I wish him a speedy and full recovery (having been injured recently myself -- not with a gun -- it's the "full" part I was focused on.)

Why not mandatory gun education before a person can legally own a gun? Then only criminals will have unfortunate or tragic accidents?

I wish him a speedy and full recovery (having been injured recently myself -- not with a gun -- it's the "full" part I was focused on.)

genop: I did live in Klamath Falls for six years, where we drove 100 miles to Medford every couple of weeks because their theater was slightly nicer. I'm sure I have lots of regional prejudice, but it was well earned...

Why not mandatory gun education before a person can legally own a gun? Then only criminals will have unfortunate or tragic accidents?

Mandatory drivers tests and licenses don't keep law-abiding people from having automobile accidents.

Why not mandatory gun education before a person can legally own a gun? Then only criminals will have unfortunate or tragic accidents?

I wish him a speedy and full recovery (having been injured recently myself -- not with a gun -- it's the "full" part I was focused on.)

How about a law against owning a gun if you're a complete freaking moron who leaves one in your bike bag.

Perfect example of someone who has proven himself completetley unworthy of owning a firearm. Firearnms can kill people.

That would be the first place to start: A lifetime ban against gun owenrshiop for the person who left the loaded gun --ready to fire--in a bicycle bag that's going to a mechanic's.

The obligatory get well soon.

I first met Sen Atkins when we both had made political presentations to the Klamath Grange, our politics are a 'little bit' different. We had a nice conversation and I found him to be personally engaging with a nice sense of humor, good company. I sincerely wish him a speedy and full recovery.

Any firearm lacking a transfer bar can fire a loaded chamber if dropped on the hammer, firearms with a transfer bar cannot. I'm never very surprised at the level of ignorance of design characteristics and laws regarding firearms by the banning crowd. Hey Laura, which Civics test did you pass that allowed you to use a keyboard in a political discussion?

Sorry about the triple post. Answer to question: no training in posting (that's my point.)

Mandatory training cuts down on accidents. There will still be accidents, of course. Did the bike owner know that kind of gun would fire if dropped? If he did, he's an idiot (possibly a criminal?) for having it in his bike bag. If he didn't, gun education would have reduced the chances of this accident happening.

I don't know anything about guns, this is just a thought from an urban liberal.

Will try to post only once.

Insurance companies should rigorously check for presence of firearms before issuing policies. Those households that choose to posses firearms should be subjected to higher rates.

I also wish Mr. Atkinson a speedy and complete recovery.

Kari:

A law that requires that a gun be kept in a gun safe when it's not in use. And "in use" would be defined as being held in your hand or carried on your person.

If you think about how that would really look, you'll realize it's silly. Suppose I want to take my 18-guage to a shooting sports range. Do you want me to drive with it slung over my shoulder? Should it be laying across my lap? Jammed down the front of my jeans? (How would I use the pedals?) None of those is as safe as zipped up in a bag in the trunk.

Suppose I want to take 5 guns out to shoot with friends. I'd need holsters on every extremity (and I mean every extremity). If I'm in hunting camp, should I carry my rifle with me all the time? How to you propose I make dinner? Suppose I need to, um, use the facilities. Frankly, that camp sounds like an accident waiting to happen.

Once you start proposing sensible loop-holes that allow people to set down their guns outside of their home, you've defeated your own purpose. You're back to the point where a carelessness plus bad luck equals accident.

It seems like you're trying to find a legislative remedy for carelessness. And that's something that's tremendously difficult to do.

The Feds and the states have been trying for years to find the right combination of laws, PSAs, signs, etc. to minimize automobile accidents. They realize they can't eliminate all accidents, but they try to influence the number and severity. What they do NOT do is look at each accident, make a snap determination about what caused this particular accident -- turning left while listening to Lars Larson and sneezing -- and then outlaw that specific action.

How would I decrease the number and severity of gun accidents? I'd make fire arm safety classes even more available and better advertised. I like the ASK campaign. I'd like to see that go nationwide. I think PSAs suggesting parents talk with their children about basic firearm safety (don't touch!) would be great.

"That was really irresponsible of the friend - when the bike needed to be worked on, he should have removed the gun from the bike bag. I'm just thankful that his lapse in judgment didn't kill Atkinson."

I Agree. Maybe a date in a courtof law on a negligence charge would teach a good lesson to this 'friend'. A substantial loss of money makes for good lessons on common sense. It is not really about the gun, it about the stupidity of this 'friend'.

"Swimming pools, mountain bikes, skateboards, downhill skis, table saws, drill presses, hiking boots, sunglasses, bathtubs, stairs......."

Guns kills more people than all of those things combined.

This whole thing seems fishy to me. A loaded derringer evidently cocked in a bike saddle bag? I'm not buying it.

I too wish Senator Atkinson a speedy and successful recovery.

Although I must say that he does seem to be a different kind of Republican. Usually they shoot themselves in the foot.

Swimming pools, mountain bikes, skateboards, downhill skis, table saws, drill presses, hiking boots, sunglasses, bathtubs, stairs.......

Actually, many of these things DO increase insurance rates. Well, at least swimming pools. As for stairs, my insurance company told me it would drop my policy unless I installed a handrail to the very old stairs leading to my front door.

Many insurance companies won't issue policies to households that possess pit bulls.

The same level of scrutiny should be applied to households that possess firearms.

There's a lot of really good points being made in this thread.

Was it careless for the owner to not at least inform Jason there was gun in the bike bag or at least remove the gun from the bag? Yes. Does it rise to criminal negligence? No. Is there some civil liability involved on the part of the derringer owner? Probably.

It's not so much a question about banning guns or about more laws to control guns. Nor is about the particular make or model of a firearm. It's really about the awesome and ever vigilant personal responsibility one needs to accept when you purchase/keep/carry a firearm.

The fact is that many folks who own a firearm, do not fully realize all the responsibility of firearm ownership.

Oklahoma State Legislator Sally Kern has twice been caught carrying a concealed firearm into the State Capitol Building because she forgot she was carrying the gun. It's that sort of lapse in awareness and personal responsibility that can and does lead to the same thing that happened to Senator Atkinson.

Gun owners need to always be vigilant of the dangers and always considerate of their surroundings.

As a society we have great many dangerous and potentially dangerous things that can cause tragic results, especially when there is a lapse in due care and diligence. There are a great many items that can be misused which can cause deadly results.

In every case the danger and resulting tragedy always seems to have a human as the common denominator. The object is secondary.

You know, I've been thinking a lot about the second amendment lately, especially after the recent ruling. I think they got it wrong.

If the purpose of the right to keep and bear arms was to be able to call up a militia, then it seems to me you would want your militia to be an effective armed force. Now, back then, muzzle loading muskets were state of the art and massed musketry ruled the battlefield. Today, of course, we have jet aircraft, smart bombs, tactical nuclear weapons, tanks, submarines, etc etc.

So if we want to be able to raise an effective militia I think folks should be able to own howitzers, mortars, machine guns, tanks, jet fighters and short range ballistic missiles.

Isn't that what the framers had in mind :)

Militias were to fight the British. Militias were to defend "the people" and not "the government"

Our government today knows that its people are well armed.

You guys on the left hate what Bush has done with wiretapping, patriot act, just wait and imagine if you yourself take peoples guns away too. Then it'll be real easy for anyone to control the masses.

Our Government will always fear the people.

No tyrannies allowed when the people are armed.

During the primary race for governor, and a debate held at Wilamette University in Salem, Atkinson proudly proclaimed he'd had a hand in reducing PERS to PERS Lite. Another candidate on the stage, Jim Hill called PERS the best retirement system in the world.

Who owned the gun that shot Atkinson?

"Does it rise to criminal negligence? No. Is there some civil liability involved on the part of the derringer owner?"

The gun fired when he dropped the bike bag it was stored in.

I'm thinking that gun could have also fired if it was in the bike bag and the cyclist crashed. It could have killed him or a bystander.

At the very very least, the owner of this gun has=s proven himself or herself unworthy of the responsibility and should be banned from owning firearms indefinitely.

Lee

You said "But I fondly dream that this incident will alter their attitude in some constructive way towards the proliferation of guns in our society."

That is the kind of talk that scares people on the right or on the pro gun side of this issue.

You were the one that are talking about getting rid of guns.

That talk sounds a lot like what D.C. did -- They had a great drop in crime - HAH !

C'n I ask a stupid question? News reports indicate it was in a bike bag, I believe. Could someone execute a line drawing that helps me understand why an unsaftyed firearm was riding around in a bike bag? And not secured during repairs? One would expect patches, wrenches, maybe a little stray cash or a condom. But an unsecured and loaded gun in the bike bag during repair time... it's a picture.

"I'm thinking that gun could have also fired if it was in the bike bag and the cyclist crashed. It could have killed him or a bystander."

Exactly. Or he could have had the bike parked on the street and a kid could have opened the bag (I'm assuming it wasn't locked), pulled out the gun and shot himself or somebody else. Carrying a loaded firearm around in a bike bag is simply idiotic.

A gun in a bike bag is not instant access? REALLY? I guess a gun on the passenger seat of a car isn't instant, either, since a person wuld have to put down his cell phone to grab the gun.

i agree with you

"Carrying a loaded firearm around in a bike bag is simply idiotic."

Let me correct that for you:

"LEAVING a loaded firearm in a bike bag is criminally negligent."

you can carry a firearm in anything you want: Old wool socks, 400$ holsters, backpacks, fannypacks, built into a beltbuckle or inside the brim of your oh-so-fashionable beret. It doesn't matter.

Leaving it for someone else to find is the criminally negligent part. Even if it doesn't meet that stardard of criminality, it was stooooopid, and the person who owned the firearm should be exposed and mocked. Openly.

Jason: We all hope you get well soon, and can hop back on that bike.

Moron who owned the gun: You are an IDIOT. Shame on you.

Oh, and I AM a gun owner and I DO carry firearms, so I have every right to call the Idiot an idiot.

Something keeps sticking in my craw:

"Now, when it comes to the right to keep and bear rapid fire assault rifles, there simply is no such thing."

My rifle isn't a "rapidfire" anything. Its slow, and heavy and was manufactured in 1967 using crude technology. Oh, sure, it functions off a 10 round magazine, but so does a 1022 that fires a .22 rounds.

I suppose it might count as "rapidfire," if by rapidfire you mean that it goes bang when I pull the trigger. Each time I pull the trigger--provided it's loaded, of course. But by that definition, my revolver is a "rapid-fire" weapon, so that doesn't make any sense.

I suppose that a rifle that is fully automatic is what you mean, but that isn't very common. Legal owners of such rifles have to get a special tax stamp from the feds, and typically have to notify and get the buyoff of the sheriff in their county to be able to own a fancy "Rapidfire" contraption. Not very many folks are interested in jumping through all the hoops.

Banning all <semiauto> rifles based upon the operating characteristics of an automatic rifle would be as correct as banning all cars because the Bugatti Veyron can go 210mph.

I really wish you would take some time, get acquainted with rifles and THEN start pontificating. Ask a rifle owner, actually. Unless you are completely reckless, and might be prone to storing your handgun in a bikeback and then LEAVING IT for someone else to find (i.e. an idiot) they would normally be happy to take you to a range and go shooting.

The problem with putting out that statement like yours is that to those who actually have taken some time to think about these things, you just come across as ignorant and dumb, and I am relatively certain that you are neither.

Now, those evil PINK rifles...those ought to be banned. Pink is the wrong color for rifles, and by god, some homo mafia is going to pick it up and start firing.

<h2>(oh, and yes, I am a member of the PinkPistols.)</h2>