Next time he will just do the laundry

[Eaglesfan27]

Interesting story from Gamespot:

Irate dad takes potshot at gamer son

Fed up with son forgoing chores in favor of gaming, a Florida man threatens PC with handgun--which goes off.

By Tim Surette, GameSpot

Posted Apr 25, 2006 12:25 pm PT

File this story under "Tough Love." Florida media outlets are reporting that a resident of Dunedin, located near Tampa, fired a gun at his son's computer monitor after an argument.

Upset with his son spending too much time playing computer games, Joseph Langenderfer threatened his 22-year-old son, saying he was going to shoot the computer. The gun fired, putting a bullet into the wall just three feet away from the son was sitting, according to CBS-affiliate WTSP's Web site.

Local police got a 911 call from the son saying his dad shot at him after an argument. The two were reportedly arguing over the son spending too much time playing "computer games" and not doing laundry. The names of the "games" were not mentioned.

Langenderfer, who claims the gun went off accidentally, is being held on one count of attempted murder.

[TredWel]

See? Video games do have a direct correlation to gun violence!

[heybrad]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

The names of the "games" were not mentioned.

Well then, who the hell are we supposed to blame this on?

[Glengoyne]

I don't think He'll be doing laundry next time. He freaking called 911 on his dad. What kind of screwed up relationship do you have to have in order to report your dad shooting your computer?

[Blade6119]

Originally Posted by Glengoyne

I don't think He'll be doing laundry next time. He freaking called 911 on his dad. What kind of screwed up relationship do you have to have in order to report your dad shooting your computer?

He didnt shoot the computer, he shot the wall right next to the sons head...im not quite sure what id do if my dad fired a gun in my direction and barely missed, but doing nothing would not be the option

[Franklinnoble]

The smart thing to do is put a password on the computer, rather than shoot something that costs several hundred dollars.

[Blade6119]

Originally Posted by Franklinnoble

The smart thing to do is put a password on the computer, rather than shoot something that costs several hundred dollars.

He never shot the computer...just the wall

[TargetPractice6]

Originally Posted by Glengoyne

I don't think He'll be doing laundry next time. He freaking called 911 on his dad. What kind of screwed up relationship do you have to have in order to report your dad shooting your computer?

I'm kind of baffled that anyone would respond like this.

What kind of screwed up relationship do you have to have for a gun to be out in the first place? If either of my parents, or anyone else, ever wielded a loaded gun during an argument I'd call the police too (especially if it was fired 3 feet from my head).

[Franklinnoble]

Originally Posted by Blade6119

He never shot the computer...just the wall

Right... but he threatened to shoot the computer.

My point is, the gun should have never entered the equation. Put a password on the machine, and tell the brat you won't log him on until his chores are done.

[Glengoyne]

Originally Posted by TargetPractice6

I'm kind of baffled that anyone would respond like this.

What kind of screwed up relationship do you have to have for a gun to be out in the first place? If either of my parents, or anyone else, ever wielded a loaded gun during an argument I'd call the police too (especially if it was fired 3 feet from my head).

I guess I DID need a sarcasm smiley.

[TargetPractice6]

Originally Posted by Glengoyne

I guess I DID need a sarcasm smiley.

Guess so.

[Joe]

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by TargetPractice6

(especially if it was fired 3 feet from my head).

I must have missed the head part somewhere. I only see three feet away from where he was sitting, no mention of three feet from his head.

Not saying it was right, but was it three feet away from his foot, three feet away from his hand, his head, where?

Again, not saying that it was right, but it also depends on where they were positioned (ie: Was the dad standing right next to him and aiming in the direction of the PC, which could be away from the kid, and the gun accidentally goes off). Where I'm sitting right now, someone could be over my shoulder pointing a gun in the direction of my PC in a manner where I am clearly not the target and any accidental shot that hit the wall could be listed as "three feet away from where I am sitting". Granted, I would be freaked out, but could be freaked out yet not ever feel like my life is being immediately threatened (though nervous about a misfire).

There's probably a lot more to the story that we're not seeing and both people are screwed up if you ask me.


I guess this could also be a good arguement for better gun control if guns are getting into the hands of idiots like this.

[EagleFan]

Dola: Looking at a pocture of the guy, he looks like he should be locked up for some reason or another.

[Blade6119]

He shot the wall...im assuming, especially if the kid was sitting down, he didnt hit the very bottom of the wall...id imagine like anyone would that he shit at desktop level in the wall...also known as head level...not the ceiling, not the carpet...the wall...i cant imagine it was much higher or lower from his head

[Izulde]

Langenderfer is in the Pinellas County jail charged with one count of attempted murder, (accused of trying to kill his son, not the computer.)

Computer homocide.. what a cool idea.

[stevew]

I always think it's funny when people get pissed off and like destroy their TV or something stupid. Now you're also mad cause you've got a broken TV.

[CraigSca]

What's cool is - when the Dad goes to jail and no longer makes the payment on the house - no more computer games.

[WSUCougar]

The son should have pulled out his +1 "Orb of Bullets Deflecting" and then gone all lightning bolt on Pop's ass.

[vex]

Just a guess, but the 22 yr old will be looking for new housing options now, since he can't bum off his parents.

[Passacaglia]

I bet the dumbass aimed at the monitor, not the CPU.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

Nobody ever mentions the poor walls in shootings. What did a wall ever do? Nothing but protect and provide privacy. But when it comes to shootings, the walls always get shot up. When I think of all the sheetrock that has been innocently shot up...

[rkmsuf]

I don't get the 911 thing either. If the guy wanted to shoot the kid he would have yet he just sat by while the kid called the cops.

[Bee]

Any chance the dad gets locked up with the guy who killed the kid for walking on his lawn in Ohio? I'd think the two of them would get along well...