Michigan man shot when cat knocks gun onto floor

Wednesday, March 9, 2005

ASSOCIATED PRESS

BATES TOWNSHIP -- An Upper Peninsula man cooking in his kitchen was shot after one of his cats knocked his 9mm handgun onto the floor, discharging the weapon, Michigan State Police said.

Joseph Stanton, 29, of Bates Township in Iron County, was shot in his lower torso around 6 p.m. Tuesday, the state police post in Iron River reported. He was transported to Iron County Community Hospital.

Michelle Sand, a spokeswoman at the Iron River hospital, said Stanton was treated there before being transferred to Marquette General Hospital for further treatment. But Marcie Miller, a representative of the Marquette facility, said there was no record of the hospital receiving a patient by that name.

A telephone message seeking comment was left Wednesday at Stanton's home.

State police said he was cooking at his stove when the cat knocked the loaded gun off the kitchen counter behind him.

Submitted on 03/09/2005

Submitted by: Christopher J. McCann
Reference: Detroit Free Press 3/9/05

Copyright © 2005 DarwinAwards.com

Daniel said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
Once again, guns are always loaded and there is no such thing as a safety. I like this one, usually it's the dog who did it.

Charles said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
Leaving a loaded gun on the counter, cats or no cats, is stupid. But I am concerned by the apparent denial on the part of the Marquette spokesperson...

Jack said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
While there seems to be some confusion as to which hospital he went to, I'll accept the validity of the sumission. In my experience, I've found that cats prefer knives to guns, so this is an interesting story...

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