Colorado Man Shoots Malfunctioning Computer
A Colorado Man finally had enough of his malfunctioning Dell:
When ctrl + alt + delete doesn’t work, just shoot the darn thing.
That’s what one man did on Monday night, according to Colorado Springs police. Lucas Hinch, 37, was cited for discharging a weapon within city limits after he took the fight with his computer outside and got the revenge most of us only dream about.
“He got tired of fighting with his computer for the last several months,” Lt. Jeff Strossner said. “He was having technology problems, so he took it out in the back alley and shot it.”
Strossner tweeted Hinch “executed” his computer in an alley on the 2200 block of West Colorado Avenue.
The penalty for the citation will be up to a judge, police said, adding that Hinch was good-natured about the citation and hadn’t realized he was breaking the law when he went Wild West on that useless piece of technology.
Seems like justifiable homicide to me.
And, of course, it reminds one of this classic scene from Office Space: (Slightly NSFW)
We’ve all been there.
Another example of what passes for responsible firearms ownership in the USA.
Oh, lighten up for a moment and enjoy the shared frustration. Not to mention, studies show most of us break little-known laws quite frequently.
Some computers just need killin’.
So he went all Elvis on it…you’re a mean one, Mr. Hinch.
Which reminds me, what were Elvis’s last words?
Just came across this related incident:
Another Dead Copier
Good, tight grouping. No one injured or endangered. Probably cleaned his gun after the shooting.
That’s what I call good gun control.
And yeah, we’ve all been there.
“PC Load Error? WTF?”
@John Peabody: I believe it’s “PC Load Letter”
I can’t believe that this is rare enough to merit a news story when it happens.
@Pinky: I think the rarity isn’t in the shooting, but a neighbor who called the cops instead of saying “right there with you, pal” or asking if he could unload a few rounds himself.
If one of my neighbors did that, I’d definitely be in the latter category. Hell, my local cops would probably ask if they could put a few more holes in it themselves instead of arresting the guy.
They used to have events like “take a sledgehammer to a Toyota”. I’ve got to think that people would pay money to shoot at a computer that was stuck on the blue Windows “welcome” screen.
Damn, I’m sorry. I forgot that firearms are toys for our humor and amusement.
Every kid should have one.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/08/27/girl-accidentally-kills-gun-instructor/
@Jenos Idanian #13: Yeah, right until a round ricochets into your house.
He was probably trying to apply for Obamacsre.
@ernieyeball: Sometimes, being stupid is a capital offense. And it doesn’t take a gun for that to happen.
The instructor was stupid for doing it, and her parents were stupid for letting her participate. He’s been punished; I hope they are. And that poor girl has to live with what she did for the rest of her life.
The problem is that the day when computers can shoot back is coming faster than we all think! The Asimov laws will not be able to save us.
You only have to do this once before the rest start behaving.
@Jenos Idanian #13:
I’m going to dispute calling that grouping ‘tight’ unless he was using a handgun at >50′ or so. That looks more like a ‘minute of anger’ grouping to me . . .
@M. Bouffant:
How safe this was would depend largely on the details. If the computer was in front of a decent backstop (say, a slope or a dirt berm) and he didn’t violate any of the usual safety rules, the risk to him and anyone else in the vicinity was probably negligible compared to their average morning commutes. You’re not going to get a ricochet off something as flimsy as PC tower, and unless you’re standing way too close and not wearing eye protection, danger from debris is essentially non-existent.
Now having said all of that, it’s considered polite to let your neighbors know you’re about to do something like this (assuming they are within earshot). Otherwise, they are liable to do the prudent thing and call the cops to report gunfire . . .
This is the Google view of the 2200 block of W Colorado Ave. Colorado Springs. There are alleys behind structures on both sides of the streets. Can’t clearly identify slopes or dirt berms. Even if we could I don’t see how that mitigates the fact that he was breaking the law by discharging his firearm in the city limits.
But you know. Screw the law and the safety rules.
As long as you’re having fun!
https://www.google.com/maps/place/2200+W+Colorado+Ave,+Colorado+Springs,+CO+80904/@38.8443039,-104.8583546,158m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x87135ab9c14ea5eb:0x1a53db157c590397
@ernieyeball:
Yea . . . that does look a little bit dense for recreational shooting. From the looks of that alley you’re either talking about standing over it shooting down (which is fine if it’s on dirt, but might be dicey on cement) or shooting at it ‘down-ish’ from a little ways back, which would be a big F***ing red flag unless you know exactly what’s behind your target for the next mile or so (and it doesn’t include people).
Kudos for running the address – I should have done that first. And this guy would definitely have been better off using a sledgehammer.