Florida Theme Park Lets 13-Year-Olds Shoot Machine Guns, Live Gunfire: Is it Safe? [Video]
In a move that is likely to ignite a heated debate over gun control, a new theme park in Orlando, Florida allows kids as young as 13 to shoot live rounds — even a fully automatic machine gun and AK-47, according to a Fox News report. For proponents of second amendment rights, Machine Gun America is a good thing. For opponents, the fantasy-inspired shooting range raises concerns over gun safety.
On the MGA website, it has an “About” section that details its offerings. It also has an armory of weapons that look like those seen in the Call of Duty franchise videos.
“Feel the rush of power as you take on the ultimate shooting experience at Machine Gun America, Orlando’s first and only Automatic Adrenaline Attraction attraction. Our mission is simple—to provide each of our guests with big thrills and unforgettable action, as well as a bullet hole-ridden target to take home as a souvenir. You’ll get the opportunity to shoot real machine guns and other world-class firearms or square off in realistic, military-grade simulators for a totally new experience…”
Florida: Machine Gun America attraction opens in Kissimmee – http://t.co/xjr5zgxDia #NRA #2A @MGAattraction (via @orlandosentinel)
— NRA News (@nranews) December 23, 2014
The opening of the theme park shooting range recalls a tragedy that took place three months ago in Arizona. Then, at the Bullets and Burgers gun range, instructor Charles Vacca was accidentally killed by a 9-year-old girl. During his supervised training, which didn’t last long, according to critics, the fully automatic Uzi held by the young girl recoiled, and a round struck the man in the head, killing him.
By the girl’s own admission, she believed the weapon was “too much for her to handle.” The Arizona facility allows anyone over the age of eight to shoot a firearm as long as the instructor thinks they are capable.
Wes Doss spoke with Fox News co-hosts recently about the new theme park. Doss pitched the many features and attractions, and touted the safety of the facility. He says in addition to a gun range instructor being with a guest at all times during live fire, most of the precautions take place silently behind the scenes.
“The facility is a very accommodating facility. We want people to be there, relax and have a good time. But we also want the safety to be a paramount issue.”
Doss points out that kids of the minimum age are required to be accompanied with a parent “100 percent of the time.” And while the facility has many weapons to choose from, it’s at the discretion of the range instructor as to which one is used. The criteria are subjective, and is based on a number of factors: the shooter’s age, size, personality and personal experience.
Apparently, the facility is a big hit among families, sons and fathers, and women. Doss says there is something for everyone who want to get out and have a good time. And if shooting live fire is not your fancy, there are shooting simulators, similar to those used in police academies around the country.
[Image via: Orlando Sentinel via Twitter]
