Reenactor shoots himself in foot.

[flattop32355]

The news article from today said:

The witness said the troops then “put a sheet over his head and body,” left his feet uncovered and “pronounced him dead. The (actual) shooter came walking up and asked if he was dead and we said he was.”

“Then he just decided to blow a load (fire a round of black powder) next his (the victim’s) foot. He (apparently) didn’t realize his foot might have moved or something and he shot him in the middle of his foot (instead of next to it),” the witness stated.

A possible scenario is that the "shooter" wanted to see if the sheet-covered "dead" man would react to surprise gunfire going off near him or just lie there quietly. I'm guessing he used a rifle musket or musket with the muzzle near the boy's foot (at least the idiot didn't do it at his head), and as he got ready to pull the trigger, the boy moved his foot in front of the muzzle.

Worse than dumb; stupid. Inexcusable. Possibly criminal, if the boy and/or his mother want to press the issue.

[wmkane]

Re: Reenactor shoots himself in foot.

To those who have seen or experienced a cookoff, and are wondering how this instance is different, there are several things that might contribute:

1. A cookoff is not necessarily all of the powder going off.
2. If you're loading correctly, and a cookoff does occur, your hand is not directly over the barrel, thus you do not receive the full impact of the discharge.
3. (and this is highly speculative), We don't know the size of the charge, or true nature of the weapon being used. The original article mentioned the victim was using a .69, but the followup did not mention the make or caliber of the weapon used to injur the poor fellow.

[Charles Heath]

Re: Reenactor shoots himself in foot.

It is probably worth mentioning the folks who do the paid living histories at the Wax Museum are generally the dregs of the hobby, but the fact the hobby as a whole had had two shootings (that we know of) within slightly over a two month period is enough to make it a point to add in a safety message in the next unit listserver or newsletter blurb. No one is immune. Matter of fact, I mentioned both accidents in a safety note this very afternoon.

[EVOC]

Re: Reenactor shoots himself in foot.

I recall at Perryville 2006, watching a very young Rebel (probably mainstream) walk up and shoot a "dead" Federal with a musket at point blank range. An officer jumped all over his case, as well he should. That is a concern for all of us. We are (inter)re-enacting with strangers, some of whom are quite dangerous.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Reenactor shoots himself in foot.

Hallo!

Moderator hat on...

While such happenings are a very real safety concern for those who "go to those kinds of events," etc., etc., I believe we have exhausted what non-existent and factual information of value there is to be gleaned from the chaff.

And what is left is supposition, even if it is likely to be warranted or earned, and can drift into another "us versus them" screed five pages and growing.

If factual information comes out, we can post it then.

Curt
Moderator