I am a landlord providing homes to lower income families in the East Saint Louis (Cahokia) Illinois area. Tenants call in maintenance requests when they have a problem.

In October of 2005 I recieved a call from "Annie" that none of the electrical outlets in her 13 year old son's front bedroom were working. Even when the power is "off" I still turn the circuit breaker to the off position before proceeding. After removing the outlet cover to begin a visual inspection of the recepticle and wiring I saw several small brass objects behind the recepticle in the outlet box.

Located on the other side of the wall, behind the outlet box, is the head of the younger sister's bed.

These brass objects turned out to be seven .22 caliber rimfire cartridges. These are commonly called .22 caliber shorts to differentiate them from Long, or Long Rifle cartridges. The primer can be detonated by an impact anywhere near the rear of the bullet, not like other rounds which have a smaller impact area centered and recessed in the butt of the cartridge awaiting a firing pin.

Now it turns out that many things can detonate a rimfire cartridge. Such handy and obvious implements as hammers and table legs will set off the bullet or the not so obvious yet everyday elements like heat or a 110 volt spark from alternating current can also do the trick.

It turns out her son (striving hard to find his way to gang banger heaven) decided to hide them there. Not sure what he did with the pistol.

Thankfully the power went out in his room before anything went wrong.

Thank you "Gangsta Rap".

Submitted on 02/11/2006

Submitted by: Anonymous
Reference: None - personal experience

Copyright © 2006 DarwinAwards.com

Jack said:
Neutral: Personal Account
There at first I that this was going to be another story about some idiot substituting pistol cartridges for fuzes, but this is something new! Thanks for the submission!

James said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
Glad you caught this! Thankfully no one was hurt, but the evidence of stupidity is clear and present. I'll vote to keep this as a PA.

Jorge said:
Neutral: Personal Account

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