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Man Tries To Trim Tree With a Shotgun

Posted by samzenpus on from the right-tool-for-the-job dept.

When faced with a problem, the only thing in Antonio Chiaia's toolbox appears to be his double-barrel 12-gauge. The 74-year-old was arrested for using his shotgun to try to get rid of a tree limb in his backyard. He told police that he couldn't reach it with his saw so he thought he might be able to shoot it off. Police charged Chiaia with unlawful discharge of a firearm and second-degree reckless endangerment.

16 of 19 comments (clear)

  1. This is done more than people might think! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I've seen it done successfully on several occasions. There really is very little risk to anyone nearby. Using a gun other than a shotgun could end up being a problem (or someone dumb enough to use large sized shot).

    1. Re:This is done more than people might think! by Stargoat · · Score: 2, Funny

      That was the first question I asked myself, "How big was the branch and what sized shot?" Then I wondered, "What kind of stupid bastard uses a side-by-side for trimming a tree? A pump or semi-auto is much more practical, as reloading in a pain in the neck. A Remington 870 is nice and durable, and as long as you aren't using the Wingmaster version, that would probably be best." Then I thought, "I wonder if the old man was entirely in his faculties." After that, I read this post and wondered "If I was entirely in my faculties."

      --
      Hoist Number One and Number Six.
    2. Re:This is done more than people might think! by SpuriousLogic · · Score: 1

      I would go with the Remington 11-87. No need to pump and tire out the arm with the 870, and it shoots soft so you can get away with using deer slugs. That should bring down any branch given enough time.

    3. Re:This is done more than people might think! by Stargoat · · Score: 1

      I never much cared for the idea of cleaning gas operated semi-autos. But I can definitely see the advantages of the 11-87, particularly if you were using the extended magazine model. How does is durability when compared to the Remington 1100?

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      Hoist Number One and Number Six.
  2. In the city limits? by Dr_Ken · · Score: 1

    Jeez dude, call a tree and lawn service.

    --
    "If you want to know what happens to you when you die, go look at some dead stuff."
    1. Re:In the city limits? by clone53421 · · Score: 1

      It was the 4th of July, and birdshot coming down somewhere isn't going to hurt anything. If he used a slug, then yeah, he's a moron.

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      Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
    2. Re:In the city limits? by Dr_Ken · · Score: 1

      Oh yeah? Ask Dick Cheney's hunting partner about that, Mr. clone.

      --
      "If you want to know what happens to you when you die, go look at some dead stuff."
    3. Re:In the city limits? by clone53421 · · Score: 1

      I really hope you're not serious.

      Getting hit by falling shot is not anything remotely similar to being shot, and trying to equate the two is just plain stupid. I'm sorry, but it is.

      --
      Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
    4. Re:In the city limits? by Dr_Ken · · Score: 1

      At the risk of being thought stupid clone, what ah.. is the difference ? The velocity of the lead pellets striking you is about it. What is the terminal velocity of falling pellets as opposed to the muzzle energy of the same pellets being shot at you? (Just asking, I don't know.) But whatever the difference is, I think we can agree that this goof mentioned in the news story is a poster boy for the Sarah Brady-types without a doubt.

      --
      "If you want to know what happens to you when you die, go look at some dead stuff."
    5. Re:In the city limits? by clone53421 · · Score: 1

      I don't know, but I'm bored and I'll take a go at finding some stuff.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminal_velocity

      Higher speeds can be attained if the skydiver pulls in his limbs (see also freeflying). In this case, the terminal velocity increases to about 320 km/h (200 mph or 90 m/s), which is also the terminal velocity of the peregrine falcon diving down on its prey. And the same terminal velocity is reached for a typical 150 grain bullet travelling in the downward vertical direction — when it is returning to earth having been fired upwards, or perhaps just dropped from a tower — according to a 1920 U.S. Army Ordinance study.

      Okay, not exactly a shotgun bb, but let's assume the speed is not going to be too terribly different. 200 mph is about 290 feet per second. A typical airgun will fire pellets/bbs at 1000-1200 fps, and muzzle velocity for a shotgun is upwards of 1200 fps. I don't know how it would feel to be struck by a piece of shot that's moving at a mere 290 fps, but I did find this comment on a Snopes messageboard:

      I've been near falling bb's from a shotgun before, and they did not hit the ground with anything close to the force they had on the way up.

      --
      Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
    6. Re:In the city limits? by Stargoat · · Score: 1

      I've been hit by falling shot. It's not a big deal. It falls with about the force of rain. Remember how light it is.

      I have also taken a close ranged 7.5 shot ricochet to the face, maybe 10 meters there and another 12 back. It stung like the devil, but did not break the skin.

      --
      Hoist Number One and Number Six.
  3. caddy shack by ocularDeathRay · · Score: 1

    my dad used to shoot moles in the yard with a shotgun all the time. come home from school and he would be sitting there in a lawn chair, sipping coffee, shotgun in hand. a little dirt would roll off that mole hill and BLAM... no more mole. It was probably illegal technically in that area, but population was sparse enough to do it safely, plus he was just shooting at the ground anyway.

    --
    Obama is a twitter sock puppet
  4. Give a man a hammer, by dregs · · Score: 1

    and every screw looks like a nail

  5. Re:not that big a deal by clone53421 · · Score: 1

    No fucking kidding. Anyone who thinks this guy was nuts, or that his behavior was in any way dangerous, is an idiot. There's absolutely nothing dangerous about what he did, as long as he exercised the same amount of caution you'd normally take when discharging a shotgun (shot coming down isn't a problem, but if you're doing something stupid like shooting at a branch that's hanging down in front of your neighbour's house then you're an idiot).

    I can understand people being mad about the noise, but IT WAS THE FOURTH OF JULY FOR FUCK'S SAKE. Yeah, TFA is dated "July 7th" and says that the event took place "last Saturday"... i.e. the 4th of July. Handing this guy the book is really a dick move.

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    Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
  6. Re:not that big a deal by BluBrick · · Score: 1

    Hang on a minute! TFA also gives the guy's address (street name). I looked it up on Google Maps and it's a populated suburban area. The guy intentionally discharged a firearm - in a suburban area, for reasons other than self defense - Now THAT is a dick move. Hell, he probably did it on the 4th just because he thought there would be so many other explosions happening they'd mask his dodgy pruning activities.

    --
    Ahh - My eye!
    The doctor said I'm not supposed to get Slashdot in it!
  7. Re:not that big a deal by clone53421 · · Score: 1

    If you read the commentary here/on TFA, that seems to be a fairly non-extraordinary practice. Again, the shot coming back down isn't really dangerous.

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    Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.