 (February 1982,
Arizona) Desert marksmen aim their weapons at Saguaro cacti so frequently
that Arizona was forced to declare the "sport" a felony. Offenders risk a
$100,000 fine and three years in prison. But that doesn't stop
sharpshooters like 27-year-old David, who was trying to impress friends
when he opened fire on a Saguaro in 1982.
He was killed when it fell on him.
He reportedly fired two slugs from a 16-gauge shotgun at a 27-foot cactus,
and began to shout, "Timber!" He only had enough time to utter the first
syllable before a 23-foot section of the prickly plant fell and crushed him
beneath its spiky skin.
This story was confirmed by a caller to RAdio-Free Wease in Rochester,
NY, who swore it happened "years ago" when he lived in Arizona. He placed a
call to the Arizona Republic and the operator connected us to editor Tamara
Thornton, who clearly rememberd the incident, but said it happened "like
fifteen years ago."
Another Cactus Encounter
DarwinAwards.com © 1994 - 2009
Submitted by: Coronal
Reference: Arizona Republic, High Country News
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Cactus Crunch
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