Well I know it was a dumb thing to do, and he knows it was a dumb thing to do, poor choice, even if it was innocent or not.
I just view the tragic misuse of a firearm as something that might result in harm to a living thing, not an inanimate object. I'm a little confused about what is so dangerous or irresponsible about shooting up the glass case on an electric meter. I'm not sure what you guys want me to say. That he has been banned from use of guns? Or that he will never have access to another one? I think he is guilty of poor judgement but I don't think I have a ticking time bomb walking around. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
You guys are going to have to help me out here, I don't know what you want me to say. He learned to check first before he takes target practice, and he learned that he has to pay for his mistakes. Where did I go wrong? What is it in this situation that raises the little short hairs on the back of your necks?
I could understand if he pointed it at a person or an animal or injured someone. But to use an item for target practice that turned out to be a useful item, I just don't see this as a major red flag. If I found a bunch of BB holes in my windshield or the windows of the house, you can bet I wouldn't be above tearing his butt up, but it is not that big a stretch for me to believe that he honestly didn't know that it was an important object as I have been hanging around kids for twenty years and if they're nothing else, they're thoughtless most of the time.
Maybe you had to be there. I saw the look on his face when he was informed that not only was this a useful item but he was going to have to work to pay to pay for it. Priceless. Having fourteen years seniority with this kid I can usually tell when he's sincere, and end result ......he had to make it right.
