Texas Man Engaging in Backyard Target Practice Shoots 9-Year-Old in the Head

[SecularMotion]

A 9 year-old girl in Dallas, Texas was hospitalized and fighting for her life after a bullet from a neighboring home came in through her kitchen window, striking her in the head. A 20 year-old neighbor who was accustomed to taking target practice in his back yard has been charged in the shooting.

Police say that Cristian Manzano who lives behind the little girl’s home was in his yard shooting at targets when one of his shots went astray. Neighbors told them that they had heard four or five shots this time, but that they were so accustomed to hearing gunfire on a regular basis that they had paid little attention to it.

Four men were originally taken into custody, but Manzano is the only one who was charged.

Manzano is well-acquainted with the criminal justice system, he has been arrested previously on drug and weapons charges, and had just two weeks before been sentenced to probation on a charge of unlawfully carrying a weapon.

http://aattp.org/texas-man-engaging-in-backyard-target-practice-shoots-9-year-old-in-the-head/

[Loudly]

1. Today's daily entry in the child-injured-by-firearms journal. n/t

[Cali_Democrat]

2. Just another Responsible Gun Owner™

[alittlelark]

5. ^^^^ This ^^^^

[raven mad]

12. Cali_Democrat? Some of us are.

Really.

[JJChambers]

28. Wrong thread, this is a career criminal with a gun

The ones from whom responsible gun owners are defending themselves.

[cui bono]

42. Yeah, like Zimmerman and Dunn. n/t

[joeybee12]

63. Try again...that outdated false memo from your NRA handbook...

is wearing thin.

[JJChambers]

66. That's silly

Why do so many posters here insist on calling folks with notable criminal histories "responsible gun owners?" It's an insult to real responsible gun owners; it alienates moderates who are for sensible gun control; and further, it paints anti-2As as irrational and uncompromising.

Hint: if you ever want sensible gun control, being sensible is a good place to start. Good luck!

Back to some TAP, RACK, BANG drills.

[Ghost in the Machine]

45. Not by a long shot, Cali_Democrat. This complete and total MORON shouldn't have had a gun to

begin with, since he was already on probation for gun *and* drug violations.

Besides that, a "responsible gun owner" would NEVER fire a high power weapon in a freakin' residential neighborhood, especially with a house right behind his. That is just sheer moronic stupidity! He should be charged with reckless endangerment AND attempted murder.

I shoot in MY back yard, but I have 15 acres and no houses *behind* me for miles. I'm also shooting down hill into a "holler" with a dirt bank behind it. It takes a special kind of moron to think it's ok to shoot a 9mm at a wooden fence, with a house on the other side, and think nothing bad is going to happen! That's just plain crazy AND stupid, wrapped up a whole lot of moron!

I feel bad for the little girl and her family during this tragic, yet completely senseless and avoidable, time in their lives. I hope she survives and makes a full recovery.

As a gun owner, I can't, and won't, even try to make any excuses for the behavior of this moronic piece of shit and I hope he gets put away for a LONGGGG time to think about his actions, and the consequences of those actions.

Peace,

Ghost

[Crunchy Frog]

53. Our current legal system ensures that these "morons"

are able to freely acquire firearms, and get little more than a legal handslap when they're found in possession of such weapons.

Of course you won't make excuses for his behavior, but I'm pretty sure that you will make excuses for the conditions that enabled the behavior to occur so easily.

I doubt he will get put away for that long. It wasn't a deliberate shooting, and the girl is apparently making a decent recovery, and this did happen in Texas. I'd love it if I ended up being wrong about this, though.

[hatrack]

58. But he did, and a 9-year-old has a hole in her head

Oh Susannah, 4,357th verse, same as the first.

[Logical]

3. Shooter needs some jail time! So stupid! nt

[theHandpuppet]

44. Jail time?? But this involves a gun!!

Probation is plenty, especially when you've already been convicted of drug and weapons charges.


I wonder what kind of neighbors he has, considering they thought his habit of taking target practice in the back yard was no big deal.

[alcibiades_mystery]

4. Dear God, I pray to you tonight, in the name of all that is holy, please, Lord, please...do not let

the Tyrannical Government take away Cristian Manzano's Holy Firearms.



Gunner shitheads acting like gunner shitheads. No surprise. Another human child sacrifice to the stupidest culture in America.

[alittlelark]

8. Gonna suggest different spelling...

Snip> Another human child sacrifice to the >stupidest< culture in America.

It should be Stoopidest.

[proudretiredvet]

36. You are right

This child was sacrificed to the culture of criminality. The gun was a tool that he was not in legal possession of. He was not a responsible gun owner as the gun grabbers portray him as.

He is exactly the type of person who is responsible for most of the violence with all kinds of weapons. He is a repeat career criminal. He has a history of not obeying the other gun laws and would not obey any of the rest that the anti 2nd amendment crowd would love to pass. The simple truth is well illuminated in this shooting. Criminals ignore gun laws. No new gun laws will not stop criminals from doing what they do, committing crimes.

When we start controlling criminals this kind of crap will diminish greatly.

[Aristus]

6. Was he afraid this 9 year-old girl was going to attack him?

'Cause, you know, Stand Your Ground and stuff...

[freshwest]

10. Well, she was in the kitchen. Knives there. Really, what an a-hole. The kid, if she survives, will

be disabled and traumatized for life, you can bet on it.

But Mr. Manzano had to be free to exercise his 2A rights!

Even though he was already in trouble for not having enough sense to own one.

As a poster upthread said, another child sacrifice...

[jsr]

7. A more detailed article on the worthless moron:

http://www.khou.com/news/texas-news/Man-accused-of-shooting-child-arrested-twice-on-prior-gun-charges-248358441.html

[Hoyt]

9. Wish Manzano was the only irresponsible gun owner polluting our society.

Hope the little girl makes it.

[Jenoch]

11. Obviously, this Manzano needs to do some serious prison time for his gun crimes.

I do not understand why anyone would describe him as a responsible gun owner. This guy is a criminal on probation. I do not think he should have gotten probation for his gun crimes. I am sure there are people that would agree with me. Then, some of those same people would defend someone who shot a gun at someone and got a severe sentence for shooting that gun.

[Crunchy Frog]

15. Somewhere along the line, a "responsible gun owner"

provided this character with a firearm. No doubt, any attempt to track down this "responsible gun owner" and hold them responsible would be seen as an unacceptable affront to their personal liberty to dispose of their firearms in any way they wish.

[Jenoch]

17. You have no idea exactly how this guy got a gun, I know I do not.

[Crunchy Frog]

19. No, but we have a fairly good idea how most of those transactions occur.

Maybe he stole it from someone's locked gun cabinet, but more likely it was a private purchase or some other type of voluntary transfer from a legal gun owner, engaging in a legal (for them) transfer.

No worries. It's unlikely that anyone will ever try to interfere in such an efficient system, and if they do, the NRA will put them in their place.

[Jenoch]

23. Huh?

If the guy had already been convicted of a gun crime, then anyone selling him a gun would be doing it illegally.

If somebody owns a gun and they are not possessing the gun illegally, then if they sell that gun to someone who is not legally able to have a gun then it is not a legal transfer. You seem to be parsing the law.

[Crunchy Frog]

24. Well I'll be looking foreward to seeing the person get tracked down and convicted.

I've always been under the impression that anyone can walk into a gun show and purchase a firearm with no questions asked, and that other private transactions are under a similar lack of regulation. Are you saying that the sellers are subject to conviction if the buyer can't legally own a gun? I'm certainly looking foreward to the court case.

[Jenoch]

25. You have been misinformed.

Almost all of the gun dealers at gun shows are also holders of FFLs, that means Federal Firearms Licenses. They do background checks on all firearns transactions.

Private sellers are not legally able to access the NICS system in order to conduct a background check. That is one of the failures of the gun laws we have now.

[Bandit]

70. How would anyone know since NRA types are opposed to background checks?

[AtheistCrusader]

26. He was never convicted of anything, so he could have bought it from a store.

"On Feb. 11, Manzano was placed on 18 months of deferred adjudication probation for two counts of unlawfully carrying a weapon, two counts of possession of marijuana and two counts of possession of a controlled substance. Had he successfully completed the probation, he would not have had convictions in the cases."

"In March 2013, officers pulled Manzano over in a 1996 Lincoln Continental. Police smelled marijuana coming from the car. Officers found marijuana and the anti-anxiety drug Xanax in the car and a .357 handgun in his front waistband. About two months later, officers pulled Manzano over in the same car and again found marijuana and Xanax.

In November, officers stopped him again. This time, they confiscated a black 9mm handgun sitting on the floorboard beneath his feet, according to police records."



Justice system FAIL.

[Crunchy Frog]

33. I've been informed by someone who read the entire article

that he was not legally restricted from owning or purchasing firearms. A responsible gun owner, until he wasn't anymore.

As far as the rest of your post, are you referring to the woman who is possibly getting a 60 year sentence for an incident in which no one was injured, in the same state where Zimmy was freed after committing a cold blooded murder of an innocent teenager?

There are some people on DU who believe that a firearm crime in which someone is killed is more serious than one in which there was no injury, and that the more severe sentences should go to the killers. Some people are strange that way.

[Jenoch]

43. You are misinformed.

Someone on probation for handling a gun are not legally able to possess a gun.

Someone illegally discharging a gun should not go free. A 1 to 3 year sentence sounds about right. Too bad that was not the result in this case.

[Crunchy Frog]

48. Don't tell it to me, tell it to him.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4615035

[AtheistCrusader]

65. Judgment was deferred, according to the article.

So, that puts it on hold and seals it. Just like my last speeding ticket, which, since I didn't get another ticket during the probation period, no longer exists on my record at all.

He would not have been in NICS from that probation. So, system failed.

[Art_from_Ark]

13. If I lived in a neighborhood where residents were

"accustomed to hearing gunfire on a regular basis", I would be looking for a new neighborhood.

[3catwoman3]

21. Damn...

...straight. Especially with kids in my home.

[mackerel]

14. The problem is gun laws mean nothing

to a guy like this.

[Crunchy Frog]

16. Or to all of the responsibe and law abiding gun owners

who so freely transfer posession of firearms to guys like this.

Child sacrifice is the American way of freedom. A price our society gladly pays for our 2nd Amendment rights.

[AtheistCrusader]

27. What makes you think he was ineligible to buy a gun from a store?

The more in-depth article indicates he was on deferred judgment, no conviction.

[Crunchy Frog]

30. .

Manzano is well-acquainted with the criminal justice system, he has been arrested previously on drug and weapons charges, and had just two weeks before been sentenced to probation on a charge of unlawfully carrying a weapon.

I was under the impression from that, that he could not legally posess firearms. I admit that I didn't read the more in depth article.

So, it looks like no gun freedoms were injured in this incident, then. Thank God that it was just a child and not something important.

[AtheistCrusader]

34. There are some conditions where that will disqualify.

Such as a Domestic Violence charge.

Problem is, since we don't have registration, the police are pretty hamstrung if they come by to pick up the accused's weapons, because they don't know what or how many to look for.

This is one of the reasons I press for universal registration.

[Crunchy Frog]

31. It appears then that there's no actual contradiction with my post

which you appear to take issue with. It was apparently legal for him to purchase the gun, therefore he most likely obtained it from a responsible and law abiding gun owner. God is in His Heaven, and all is right with the world.

[AtheistCrusader]

35. I blame the justice system.

Any of those charges could have been a disqualifier. Granted, If the police don't know what pre-existing firearms he might have had, being disqualified in and of itself doesn't necessarily remove all guns from the picture.

I'm not trying to be really sarcastic here. He may have acquired all 4 guns he has had issues with, prior to his first arrest.

We don't have a department of pre-crime. Rights are removed via due process.

The courts had an opportunity to do so in this case, and sadly, they did not.
One way or another, he should not have had a firearm.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

41. It's never the gun. It's always something else.

Now, the NRA approved scapegoat is the justice system. If only there were sensible gun laws. . .wait. . .can't have that. Gun humpers will get their panties in a wad.

And as Crunchy Frog said. . .it was only a nine year old child. Nothing important. And if that nine year old child were smart, she would have been a good guy with a gun stopping the bad guy with a gun.

BTW, George Zimmerman doesn't have a conviction either. Should he be allowed to have guns too? So he can shoot another unarmed black kid and claiming SYG?

Gun humpers make me ill. All gun humpers. Wingnut gun humpers and moonbat gun humpers.

[AtheistCrusader]

64. Zimmerman should have been DQ'd under the Lautenberg amendment.

Domestic violence charge. Deferred or charges dropped.

There ARE gun laws, but they don't do shit if violations aren't prosecuted. If Zimmerman had been prosecuted, we would never have heard of Trayvon Martin, and he would have gone on to live his life, like he should have been able to.


We have a number of sensible gun laws, but they are not, in these example cases, enforced.

Name call all you like, that little girl should never have been shot, shooter should have been in jail and prohibited by law from owning or possessing a firearm. But he wasn't, so chain of events leads to her getting shot.

Do you honestly think I or any other poster in this thread wanted her shot? That's pretty fucked up right there. You don't get to credibly scream 'NRA' every time someone points out that there was a law (multiple in this case) already on the books that should have prevented this tragedy.

That's the POINT of laws/regulation right? To reduce harm? Well, FUCKING DO IT THEN.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

74. When a gun humper is more concerned with their gun and a nine year old child

becomes an after thought. . .I lost credibility?

You gun humpers are amazing.

[AtheistCrusader]

76. And the strawman arises again.

Because I said none of that shit you just smeared me with.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

78. As I stated earlier, go hump your gun. I'll work to prevent nine year old kids

from being shot with sensible gun control laws.

I'm done dealing with NRA talking points on DU.

[AtheistCrusader]

79. If you actually read my post, you'd see I pointed out REGULATIONS that would have saved her life

or prevented her injury, if she survives.

Freaking out over some imaginary keyword you have personally designated as a NRA talking point isn't useful.

[cherokeeprogressive]

92. Which laws

mean something to those who wish to break them, or who aren't afraid of the consequences?

[PowerToThePeople]

18. Take all his guns and melt them down in a smelter

Do not allow him to own any more, EVER.

[Crunchy Frog]

20. The only way you'll accomplish that is lifelong imprisonment.

If he's not in prison he will be able to obtain another firearm easily.

[TorchTheWitch]

22. How is it that none of his neighbors had a problem with someone

firing guns off in a residential neighborhood? WTF?

[ReRe]

29. I rec this only for exposure.

All I feel is total sorrow.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

32. This is why we need fucking background checks and gun control, fucking gun humping gundamentalists

Manzano is well-acquainted with the criminal justice system, he has been arrested previously on drug and weapons charges, and had just two weeks before been sentenced to probation on a charge of unlawfully carrying a weapon.

This motherfucker should never have had access to guns due a criminal record.

Don't bother to tell me anything about law abiding citizens anymore. I'm sick of that red herring.

This piece of trash shot a nine year old kid and has a criminal gun charges in his past.

BTW. . .Texas. why am I not surprised?

[AtheistCrusader]

37. Charges, not convictions.

I feel the justice system failed society here.

Without a conviction, rights are not removed.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

38. He is on probation for a weapons charge.

And the mentally ill lose their rights with no convictions.

[AtheistCrusader]

39. Conviction is not required.

The mentally ill must be adjudicated mentally deficient, and there are legal criteria for that, though they vary from state to state.

In this case, yes, he was on probation, but the judgment was deferred. That means; no conviction if he completes the probationary period without incident.

(Also, he may have possessed the firearms before he was first arrested, but that is not a requirement.)

[Nanjing to Seoul]

40. So, the kid deserved this criminal to shoot them. Let's not control guns

shooting nine year old is a-okay!

Wayne LaPierre would be proud.

[AtheistCrusader]

61. Why you gotta come at me with a strawman like that.

I didn't say or suggest any of that bullshit.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

72. Strawmen, huh? Discussion over. You lost with your NRA approved talking points

Gun humpers make me sick.

[AtheistCrusader]

75. Another little datapoint you may have missed.

The delta between political parties with members that report owning a gun is only 6%. 22%D, 28%R.
http://www.people-press.org/2013/03/12/section-3-gun-ownership-trends-and-demographics/


Just because someone points out a particular FACT, from REALITY whether or not the NRA happens to also say the same thing on that SINGLE PARTICULAR POINT doesn't make it an NRA talking point.

It's most certainly not a NRA talking point to advocate for Registration, which I have been doing since early DU2.

You might consider letting go of your prejudices and at least having a conversation before sticking your fingers in your ears.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

77. what is popular may not always be right and what is right may not always be popular

Gun humpers are such an oppressed minority.

People killed by guns are meaningless anyway.

Please stop. You go hump your gun, I'll work for sensible gun control laws to prevent nine year old kids from being shot.

[AtheistCrusader]

80. Again, there's a law that could have prevented that shooting.

It was not enforced.

Executive action could fix that without worrying about passing a single new law through a divided Congress anyway.
Please consider the possibility.

[Eleanors38]

47. Vast majority of gun-owners are responsible. You heard it. Again. nt

[Crunchy Frog]

50. Are responsible for most gun deaths and injuries

either directly, or indirectly, through the legal transfer of guns to criminals.

Just completing your sentence for you.

[Eleanors38]

52. Try as one might, gun prohibition through smear won't work...

...except for GOPer strategists. But some prohibitionists here are hell-bent on aiding those guys. I, for one, will not.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

54. your second amendment fixation won't bring this nine year old child back if the child`dies

but who cares about that? responsible gun owners might be inconvenienced by sensible gun control laws. And everyone knows a child is meaningless and replaceable. . .collateral damage. But that gun and the gun humper that has it must be protected because gun are an irreplaceable, God given right.

I am getting sick of NRA talking points on DU.

[Eleanors38]

62. I'll give you a couple if tips for free...

1) Since gun control is clearly not a movement characterized by grass roots organization and activism, and is more an elitist outlook, then act accordingly: Talk with other elites, many who manage to arm themselve with no problem, and (re) start an MSM "campaign" to disarm the publc. Thus has been tried before, so prohibitionists should be well-practiced. Advice: MSM doesn't lord it over the information age as it once did, so don't expect much.

2) Again, working with elites, only here at DU, work to censor/ban any discussion of gun propaganda by Anyone in GD. Or better yet, get pro-2A Democrats banned or prohibited from DU altogether. You must know the proclivities of the owners by now, should be child's play. But until then, All discussion about "gun issues" Will be met by full-throated Response and Debate.

Use your elitist, central-command strong suit and have your opposition eliminated on DU. (BTW, I have a feeling that may be going on anyway, no?)

[Nanjing to Seoul]

71. I've got a couple of tips for you

1: Elitist or not, most rational, non-gun humpers are tired of seeing nine year old children shot.

2: Take your NRA talking points to Free Republic.

[Eleanors38]

83. My response:

1) You will not out "compassion" me or other pro-2A Democrats on the innertube, or in real life; there is too much demonstrated animosity in your responses to squeeze in much else.

2) Unless you succeed in banning fellow DUers, or muzzling them, you Will continue to receive Sustained argument and Debate. "We" are quite used to the stigmatization campaign culture warriors use on web sites & social media, it's old hat self-parody.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

85. Animosity for people who support gun murders because they feel it's their right to own

something whose purpose is to kill and maim? What? Pro-2A Democrats? Republicans in denial!

2: Free Republic again is that way --------------->. Go spout your NRA self-pity "I'm an oppressed gun humper" talking points there. I'll work on protecting nine year old children.

[Eleanors38]

86. You said it: You're full of animosity, and can't help it.

I'm staying right here. You know it, and I know it.
BTW, I have seen no evidence you are doing anything material for liberal or progressive causes. But you seem to fancy yourself as some kind of arbiter of what those philosophies mean. And you have shown yourself to be in possession of at least electronic hatred.

Remember. I'm here. I will continue to rebut absurd charges and false accusations. Take to heart what I counseled regarding "ridding" DU of people whom you (by your words) hate. Otherwise, your protestations remain loud, hollow, and droll.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

87. And you're full of crap. NRA talking point crap.

Dismissed, gun humper! Go hump your gun. I'll work to protect nine year old children.

Case closed.

[Eleanors38]

90. Da judge has dismissed all charges! Free at last!

[oneshooter]

69. I take it that you would prefer the Chinese form of gun control?

[Nanjing to Seoul]

73. Considering I live in China and there is next to no gun violence

And I don't have to look over my shoulder and worry which gun humper will shoot me, I'll take it.

If you are going to mention China, please don't to someone who has lived here for the last almost seven years now.

BTW, South Korea has the same gun control as Mainland China. So does Hong Kong and Taiwan.

[RandiFan1290]

46. Texas man. nt

[aikoaiko]

49. A simple state law about shooting within a certain distance of neighbors would shut him down

Of course such common sense legislation doesn't appeal to those who wish to restrict gum ownership or culture warriors.

[BeyondGeography]

51. Agreed...a totally avoidable tragedy nt

[SecularMotion]

59. I wouldn't restrict all gum ownership,

but bubble gum can be a danger to some inexperienced chewers and should be restricted.

[aikoaiko]

60. I deserve that.

[Blue_Tires]

68. I don't know about Dallas

but there are laws in most cities/suburbs/etc. about discharging firearms in residential areas...

[Eleanors38]

89. Right on the nose. Culture war is always extremist & reactionary.

[hatrack]

55. Freedom!

nt

[CanonRay]

56. Sounds like a clear cut case of "stand your ground" to me

Do I really need the sarcasm thingy?

[TBF]

57. Rec for visibility. K&R nt

[In_The_Wind]

67. .

[Politicalboi]

81. Put more laws or restrictions on ammo

And let the gun nuts keep their empty guns. Also make those who have guns in their homes have to make "their" home bullet proof so if they have an "accident" inside, they are the only ones to lose. This same thing could happen while some legal owner is cleaning their gun and oop's bullet goes through window and strikes house across the street. No more fucking excuses.

[oneshooter]

84. Great ideas!!!

What are you doing to bring these wonderful law to fruition.

[Eleanors38]

88. Next: Bans on re-loading equipment! It's gotta work!

Someone sees a stand-up comic's line, and they post here as if it were the first time! Talk about re-runs.

[Jefferson23]

82. America keeps the nightmare alive. n/t

[cherokeeprogressive]

91. Jail time. Lots of jail time. Make a HUGE example out of him.

And move on.

[lonestarnot]

93. 20 years old and wishing himself dead too probably, about now. Pen time should be for a very long

time.