Florida Teen Shoots Himself in the Face at a Library With a .38 Special

A 16-year-old boy is recovering after shooting himself in the face at the Dickinson Memorial Library in Orange City, Florida, yesterday afternoon. According to WESH, the boy had brought the .38 special into the library and began to show it to friends. It accidentally shot off, and hit the boy...

By Kyle Munzenrieder

November 16, 2012

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A 16-year-old boy is recovering after shooting himself in the face at the Dickinson Memorial Library in Orange City, Florida, yesterday afternoon.

According to WESH, the boy had brought the .38 special into the library and began to show it to friends. It accidentally shot off, and hit the boy in the eye.

The incident happened at about 4 p.m.

"He took the gun out, showing it, and it discharged," Orange City police Detective Ken Jones told the station.

He's recovering at the Halifax Health Medical Center and is said to be in critical but stable condition.

The Volusia County public library system's code of conduct states that "no weapon of any kind may be brought into the library except by a law enforcement officer operating within the scope of duty."

Florida did recently force all local governments to repeal gun laws that would have, for example, barred someone with a concealed carry license to bring a gun into a library. Though, the boy was under 21 and would have not qualify for a license.

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