Student accidentally shot himself on UND property

Yesterday, authorities responded to a 9-1-1 call that a U-N-D student had shot themselves on U-N-D property. The student had purchased the gun earlier that day form the Grand Forks gun show which is a lengthy process.

Demund Windham/Weapons Expert: "When you go to a dealer, what you will have to do is give the dealer your drivers license information and fill out a yellow for that the ATF provides to all the Federal Fire arms dealers and they have to call the ATF. When they call the ATF they give them all your information and they tell them either your denied or approved. "

It is against University policy to have weapons on campus and require students to check their guns into the University Police department. University police officer Mark Thorpe says you should know something about a weapon before you buy it.

Mark Thorpe/University Police Department: “When you do purchase a weapon, I recommend that you purchase a weapon that you know something about the clearing procedures, the loading procedures, and maybe even the safety procedures. If you don’t, its always good to get a block of instructions and even if you so know something about a weapon is always treat it as if it were loaded.”

Demund Windham says guns shows get a bad reputation from incidents like this. Windham says the only one to blame is yourself.

Demund Windham/Weapons Expert: "To me, accidents don’t happen with firearms. Its something that was operator error. The victim was probably playing with the gun, as long as your finger is off the trigger the gun shouldn't go off."

If you do buy a firearm these experts have one last piece of advice.

Mark Thorpe/University Police Department: “If you purchase a hand gun or weapon, a block of instruction by a certified instructor wouldn't be a bad idea."

Demund Windham/Weapons Expert: "Keep your finger off the trigger and don’t aim your firearm at anything you’re not ready to shoot."

If charged, the accused could receive expulsion form the University, jail time, or up to a thousand dollar fine.