Gun lover snipes people with air rifle for ‘practice’
Guns are banned in Vietnam, and rightfully so, given that the weapon’s potential to protect or harm is dependent on the wielder.
Still, being a gun enthusiast doesn’t make one inherently evil. It is perfectly fine to be interested in learning how a gun works, or have a passion for video games that involve the art of sniping.
But it is definitely not fine for one to shoot at strangers and call it “target practice”, as this man from Hanoi has done with an air rifle.
Here’s how he had to answer to the law for his dangerous actions.
Bought an air rifle online and sniped at people from his 14th-floor apartment
Police found several guns and bullets at the man’s apartment
Image adapted from VTC News
30-year-old Vũ Tuấn Dũng, from Hanoi, had an interest in guns and often went bird-hunting as a hobby. In February 2020, he bought an air rifle from a dealer online and practiced shooting from his window at a water tank on the rooftop opposite of his apartment, which was located on the 14th floor.
After a while, he became bored with a stationary target, and switched to sniping people who were passing by on the streets below for a greater challenge.
Image adapted from VTC News
It wasn’t until May 2020, when a man was severely wounded after getting hit in the neck, that Dũng was discovered and arrested by the police.
Before that, he had already fired 80 bullets at passers-by, hitting several others.
In the end, he couldn’t escape the long arm of the law.
He was charged with murder and sentenced to 15 years in prison
Vũ Tuấn Dũng at court last Monday
Image adapted from VNExpress
Last Monday, Dũng was brought in front of the Hanoi People’s Court to answer for his crimes. As VNExpress reported, though none of his victims died, the court ruled his actions as “showing disregard to human lives” and charged him with murder.
Dũng was then given 15 years of jail time. He admitted his crimes and expressed remorse, explaining that he hadn’t realized the severity and potential danger of his actions at the time.
“I thought the shots were harmless given the long distance,” he said.
Although he’s now regretful for his actions, he’ll still be expected to face the consequences for breaking the law, and harming innocent people.
Air rifles are dangerous weapons banned by the government
It is a well-known fact that owning weapons of any kind without authorization is illegal in Vietnam. However, that hasn’t stopped many people from buying and selling air rifles. Some also believe that these guns are just toys used to hunt birds and vermin, and are completely harmless to humans.
However, that is simply not the case. According to VNExpress, an air rifle is capable of wounding targets up to 100 meters away. A hit to vital areas such as the head, neck, and chest can very well prove fatal.
Dũng might not have actively intended to hurt anybody, yet the lack of awareness of the risks of his actions has cost him dearly.
Let his case be a lesson for us to equip ourselves with the right knowledge to stay safe whenever we get into a potentially dangerous hobby.
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Cover image adapted from VTC News