Ilene Bauer Poet Rhyme

Last Stop Shooting Range

A nine year-old girl and an Uzi,
When combined in a singular breath,
Is a set-up for certain disaster,
Which in this case, resulted in death.

At a shooting range in Arizona,
While her parents recorded the scene,
The instructor stood next to their daughter,
A scenario they called routine.

But the weapon was too much to handle
And the bullets flew out of control.
What began as the thrill of a lifetime
Took a somber and sorrowful toll.

For the girl killed her shooting instructor
And must live with that thought evermore,
But the guilt should reside with her parents,
Whose stupidity’s hard to ignore.

Yet the blame must be shared with the venue,
Putting guns in the hands of a child
And there simply is no explanation
That could help things to be reconciled.

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Robert Johnson September 17, 2014 at 7:11 AM You wrote this masterfully. But it's left me feeling sad. It truly tells the moral of missing what you had. She can't go back and change this. Saying sorry's not enough. The lesson's here for all to learn. But oh my God, it's tough. Peace. :)

Casarah Nance September 16, 2014 at 7:01 AM Oh that is such a sorrow story, on so many levels. I grew up in a household with guns, and we learned to respect them, we handled bb guns and toys, but just because a child is taught about guns doesn't mean to put an uzi in their hands. I was 14 when I shot my first deer rifle, and 21 my first handgun. There is no reason for a 9 yr old to shoot a real gun. Your story was very well written sweetie. Hugs to you for sharing this with us