Five People Injured on Same Day at Gun Shows

Five people were injured in accidental shootings at U.S. gun shows last weekend.

According to the Charlotte Observer, a 12-gauge shotgun discharged when its owner presented his weapon for inspection Saturday at the entrance to the Dixie Gun and Knife Show in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Birdshot pellets hit a woman on her torso and a man in the left hand. A third victim, a retired sheriff's deputy, was also struck in the hand.

Police are questioning 36 year old Gary Wilson but they have not said yet whether charges will be laid.

On the same day in Indianapolis, 54 year old Emory Cozee shot himself in the hand when he was apparently loading his .45-calibre semi-automatic weapon.  WISH TV reported the accident happened while Mr. Cozee was walking back to his car at the Indy 1500 Gun and Knife Show. He was treated at a local hospital.

And a gun dealer at the Medina Gun Show in Ohio was reportedly taking a semi-automatic handgun out of its box when it went off and the bullet ricocheted off the floor and wounded his 62 year old business partner in the arm and thigh.

Police Chief Pat Berarducci told the Cleveland Plain Dealer the man was lucky to sustain only minor injuries after the gun was "mishandled."

Somewhat ironically, this all happened the same day that thousands of gun advocates gathered at state capitals around the U.S. to rally against stricter firearm limits.