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February 6, 2005

Stupidy Kills, So Do Potato Guns!

Stupid Person + Potato Gun=Death

Prime example of how stupidity kills. It's clear anything that causes an explosion, especially homemade, is very dangerous. The below article describes how a man was killed by shooting a potato gun. A potato gun is virtually a homemade pipe bomb that causes an explosion to force a potato shooting out one end, similar to a regular gun. Unfortunately, stupidity kills.

URBANA, Ohio (AP) A man was sentenced to three years probation after admitting he fired potatoes from a metal pipe contraption that exploded, killing his brother-in-law.

Judd B. Coffey, 32, also must perform 100 hours of community service for a charge of possessing a dangerous ordnance, under the ruling Tuesday by Champaign County Common Pleas Judge Roger Wilson.

Coffey pleaded guilty in December, saying he fashioned a potato gun out of a foot-long section of pipe.

The potato gun blew up in June outside Coffey's home in the western Ohio village of Cable, killing 21-year-old Kyle
Thompson. Coffey and two other men were hospitalized.

Coffey moved to South Carolina after recovering.

Posted by ande4192 at February 6, 2005 6:52 AM | Laughs!

Comments

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Posted by: suzi at February 6, 2005 4:57 PM

Yo you stupid tater guns is tihgt. I shot one at my cat before and it is awesome. Mr. Bigglesworth my cat went flying and because I filled the tater with gasoline he went boom I think he is decomposed by now. Just remember yo tater guns are tight.

Posted by: Bob Higlac at February 19, 2005 3:45 PM

I gotta potato gun at home and if it was virtually a pipe bomb then the damn thing would blow up when you pressed the ignitor-and it don't. It sends a potato flying 100 yards,350 yards if u use a mixture hairspray and butane. So take your damn website and shove it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Garrett Cutler at June 20, 2005 7:38 PM

any body can make a tater gun. unfortunately, some people do not have enough common sence to use the right tools and supplies. there are several types of PVC pipe. you need to use the thicker pipe (it wont blow to pieces). you only need a small ammount of hairspray, not that stuff from a welding torch. more fuel does not equal a bigger bang- just as in a car engine, air fuel ratio is important for a high flying spud. Last thing i find important to remember (i can type pages and pages) is DO NOT LET THE TATER FREEZE INSIDE THE BARREL. That will make the gun into a frozen bomb (pipe gets brittle when frozen and the tater cannot blow out).

Posted by: d-man at June 29, 2005 1:21 PM

I've been making Potato guns for years. Personally ive never had a combustion cannon blow up on me, but i did have a Phnuematic "Air Cannon" try to take my hand off though. I was pumping it it up with air and the back cap popped off so fast i lost it, Leaving pieces of PVC in my hand. but it comes with the territory. I understand the risk. and learn from the mistakes of previous cannons to make the next one's safe and better. If your going to make one, Know that it can take your freaking head off. but if you make it right and safe, it will NOT! P.S. Combustion guns have more PUNCH! FK-YEAH!

Posted by: Andrew at July 31, 2005 12:02 AM

Potato cannons are fine. Stupid people are not. The gene pool is better off without them. I commemorate this man and know he has probably already been nominated for a darwin award.

Posted by: kenton at September 22, 2005 5:09 PM

potatoe cannons are awsome, recently i built a cannon that shot a truck bearing through a 2 1/2 foot tree. ur a gay queer that thinks cannons are unsafe cuz ur a pussy and havent ever made one

Posted by: jesse at September 27, 2005 6:50 PM