Gun Laws & Legislation

Mark Kelly wrestles dog away after it mauls sea lion in Laguna Beach

Mike Piccione Editor, Guns & Gear
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Former astronaut and gun-control advocate Mark Kelly, while on a family vacation at a Laguna Beach, Calif., resort had to violently pull his teenage daughter’s dog off a young sea lion it was mauling on the beach.

The dog is described as a 65-lb. American bulldog mix and is owned by the former astronaut’s daughter, the Los Angeles Times reported. It reportedly broke free from the 18-year-old’s control and went on to kill a young sea lion at approximately 2 p.m. on March 23.

Kelly is a retired naval aviator and astronaut who recently started Americans for Responsible Solutions with his wife, former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Giffords was shot two years ago in an assassination attempt by Jared Loughner. Americans for Responsible Solutions is their lobbying organization that supports a ban on certain semi-automatic firearms, magazine capacity restrictions and background checks for private firearm transactions.

The video, which was shot by an amateur who was on the scene, shows the dog clamping down on a young seal. Onlookers, including Kelly’s daughter, unsuccessfully tried to get the dog to release his grip on the sea lion. Kelly arrives on the scene and forcibly shook the dog until it released the limp animal.

Criminal charges will not be filed because the mauling is being called an accident, the Times reported.

Watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9dd0KwnpKU

Kelly was recently in the news for trying to buy an AR-15 rifle at Diamondback Police Supply, a Tucson, Ariz., gun store, along with a .45 ACP pistol. The AR-15 rifle is a firearm he is lobbying to ban.

After being spotted buying the rifle, Kelly claimed it was to illustrate how easy it was to purchase what he calls an “assault rifle.” Kelly said that his intent was to turn the gun in to local police after he completed the transaction.

Douglas MacKinlay, owner and president of Diamondback Police Supply Co., Inc., explained his recent decision to deny the sale to Kelly in a March 25 statement.

“While I support and respect Mark Kelly’s 2nd Amendment rights to purchase, possess, and use firearms in a safe and responsible manner, his recent statements to the media made it clear that his intent in purchasing the Sig Sauer M400 5.56mm rifle from us was for reasons other than for his personal use,” MacKinlay said.

While it is within the law to buy the firearm and turn it over to the police, MacKinlay decided to terminate the transaction.

“In light of this fact, I determined that it was in my company’s best interest to terminate this transaction prior to his returning to my store to complete the Federal From 4473 and NICS background check required of Mr. Kelly before he could take possession this firearm. A full refund was sent to Mr. Kelly, via express mail, on Thursday of last week,” he said.

MacKinlay will instead donate the Sig Sauer rifle to the Arizona Tactical Officers Association, “where it will be raffled off to generate funds the association can use to purchase much needed tactical equipment for the organization’s members.”

“Additionally, Diamondback Police Supply will make a $1295.00 contribution (the selling price of the M400 rifle) to the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program,” MacKinlay said in his statement.

The Eddie Eagle GunSafe program is the National Rifle Association’s program for gun safety for pre-K children to the third grade.

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Mike Piccione