Gun show waived fee for children

WESTFIELD, Pa., Oct. 28 (UPI) -- The organizer of a Massachusetts firearms show where an 8-year-old boy was killed by recoil from a machine pistol advertised that it waived fees for children.

COP Firearms & Training, an Amherst company, is owned by Ed Fleury, a police chief in Pelham, Mass. The advertisement for a two-day show at the Westfield Sportsman's Club said that there are "no age limit or licenses required to shoot machine guns," The Boston Globe reported.

"It's all legal & fun," the ad said. "You will be accompanied to the firing line with a Certified Instructor to guide you. But You Are In Control -- 'FULL AUTO ROCK & ROLL.'"

Christopher Bizilj fired a 9 mm Micro Uzi at a pumpkin on Sunday and ended up shot in the head. His father, Dr. Charles Bililj of Stafford Springs, Conn., told the Globe he was about 10 feet away and did not see the marksman guiding Christopher hold the gun to contain the recoil as he had with other children.

The death is being investigated by the county prosecutor and the federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms. A state legislator plans to introduce a law that would ban anyone under 21 from firing a machine gun.