‘Accidental’ Killing of Amish Girl Should Be Grounds for Punishment

on December 21, 2011 at 2:02 PM

amish The case of the 15-year-old Amish girl who was shot in the head and killed Thursday night has been cracked. Turns out that while Rachel Yoder was heading home in her buggy from a Christmas party, a man was cleaning his muzzle-loading rifle a little over a mile away. For some inexplicable reason, he fired the gun off into the air -- and the bullet made its way to Yoder and killed her. The horse continued to cart her after she was shot.

Save for the complete ridiculousness that a man would fire a rifle blindly into the sky, the craziest part is that no charges have been filed.

I understand that the Amish are a forgiving folk, and that's admirable and all, but come on. Someone killed an innocent 15-year-old girl. She had her whole life ahead of her. Isn't that grounds for punishment? What did this man (who came forward, by the way) think was going to happen when he shot off a gun into the sky? Did he think the bullet was just going to disappear? Even if there was no one in sight, he could have killed an animal, at the very least.

If I accidentally hit someone while driving in my car, and killed them, there would be consequences to pay. I don't really see why this is any different. In fact, this seems more irresponsible than hitting someone with your car. It's firing a device that's meant for killing people into thin air! It's dumb, it's dangerous, and it's not something that he should be able to walk free of.

Do you think the person who fired the gun should face charges?

Image via david_jones/Flickr

About the author Nicole Fabian-Weber

has the world's most gorgeous dog. It's a fact.

Kritika

on Dec 21, 2011 at 2:04 PM

The girl was a little over a mile whereas a pedestrian is right in front of or next to your car. It was an accident and no he shouldn't face charges.

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micheledo

on Dec 21, 2011 at 2:07 PM

It upsets me SO much when people do this. How stupid are you??? People go out all the time on New Years and the 4th of July and just shoot up in the air. DUMMIES. Something that goes up IS going to come down. You don't shoot a gun in the air, unless you are aiming at something.

Maybe if people were fined or arrested for this type of behavior, some would start to get the message.

Nonmember comment from Caitlin

That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard! I mean seriously, he should at LEAST have served a few years for manslaughter! how on earth is this justice? Many other people have 'accidentally' killed others and they've been arrested. Did they think that 'because he didn't think anyone was around' that this was ok???!!

CPN322

on Dec 21, 2011 at 2:10 PM

I do think he should be fined and maybe sent to gun safety classes.

ashjo85

on Dec 21, 2011 at 2:11 PM

People shoot in the air all the time here!! One Monday after a New Year's, we came into our office building, and found a freaking bullet hole in our $14,000 copy machine!! You could see the bullet beneath the glass. Folks, the bullet penetrating an aluminum roof, god knows how many layers of insulation and ceiling and still had enough force to bury itself into our copy machine. Don't fire weapons into the air! The bullets don't magically disappear.

Zamaria

on Dec 21, 2011 at 2:13 PM

Maybe gun safety classes or something like that, but it was an accident, and the guilt that man is living with is punishment enough. So sad!

Nonmember comment from Christie Pleger

Krittika....It was NOT an accident....he FIRED the gun it didn't go off by accident, and even if it was an accident there is something calld GUN SAFETY and people like him make responsible gun owners look bad

ashja

on Dec 21, 2011 at 2:15 PM

ABSOLUTELY charges should be filed!!!! The comparison of a gun to a car is asinine. Shooting into the air is NOT the same as driving a car...unless maybe you drive while blindfolded. This kind of selfish, wanton disregard for other human beings should be punished with time, not a fine.

Nonmember comment from Stephanie.r.e

I agree with the writer.

Doolygirl44

on Dec 21, 2011 at 2:28 PM

As sad as this story may be, yes it was irresponsible for the man to fire a gun, not knowing where the bullet was going to end up. At least the man had the guts to come forth and admitto his action. I'm sure he feels bad enough without having to face any charges, However, I do agree with the other writer, stating the difference between hitting someone with a car versus shooting them with a gun. Accidents do happen, unfortunately this one took the life of a child. By the way, it seems odd that she was alone coming from a party.