Shooting live rounds in a Haunt

**Johnson724** · 10-11-2011,05:09 AM

You know...this is just not a good idea. Even firing blanks.

http://www2.wspa.com/news/2011/oct/1...il-ar-2535293/

For those of you who dont like to click:

SPARTANBURG County, SC --
Spartanburg County will tighten restrictions for haunted houses and trails after an Upstate man was shot in the leg during a tour.

According to Spartanburg County deputies, a pellet from a shotgun blast pierced Cody Ervin's pant leg and left calf when he and his wife were on a tour at Screaming Holler Haunted Trail.

The shotgun blast, according to deputies, was part of the attraction to make it scarier.

"There was a loud noise, then there was another loud noise, and it sounded like a gun shot and Cody was like 'something just shot me,'" explained Heather Ervin.

Heather said the group was passing through a tunnel covered in felt when they heard the blast. She said it was extremely close and that the pellets ricocheted and pierced through the felt covers.

"They're not even allowed to touch you at haunted trails, much less shoot you," she said.

Turns out, there are no regulations on shooting live rounds at haunted trails, said the director of the Spartanburg County Planning Department.

But after Sunday night's incident, the department's director Mike Padgett says that will change and become part of the inspection process.

Padgett said there will be new restrictions "as far [not being allowed to discharge] weapons unless the pellets or shot has been removed from the shell itself," he said.

The planning department only looks for fire and life safety issues at these types of venues, but Padgett says until the regulations are changed, he'll contact the owners of all haunted attractions to recommend they not use live rounds.

As for Screaming Holler, Padgett says the owners never set up an inspection but opened anyway. Padgett says an inspector left a note last week telling the owners to set up a time, but they never called. On Monday, Padgett sent an inspector to post a "stop work" order which means the place will be closed until its inspected.

The man who operates the attraction, "Bo" Poteat, said in a brief off-camera interview that he is considering not re-opening the attraction for the rest of the year.

He says this past weekend was just a trial run for friends and family, but the Ervins said that's not the case and that there were plenty of people there paying admission, including them.

No charges will be filed in the case, said deputies, though the Ervins say they want the owners to pay medical bills since Mr. Ervin had to go to the emergency room, though he wasn't seriously injured.

**offmymeds** · 10-11-2011,06:08 AM

Ha, I guess shooting live rounds was not considered a "life safety issue"?

**creeeepycathy** · 10-11-2011,06:22 AM

'there are no regulations on shooting live rounds at haunted trails'... so what is the problem? J/K That, of course, could only happen in South Carolina. dumb a$$es. lmao!

What's funnier is that the man who operates the attraction, "Bo", may not re-open. The big baby!!! LOL Btw- nobody names their kids BO in SC. They are all Bubbas...geesshhh... LOL

I say we get our shotguns, meet Bo at the haunted attraction, shoot some rounds at his calves and watch him dance. lmao! j/k

**James B.** · 10-11-2011,06:35 AM

I cannot believe someone has to e told that is a bad idea. This sort of nonsense makes all gun owners look like stupid rednecks.

**the dogman** · 10-11-2011,07:40 AM

Shooting live rounds around unsuspecting people? That could never go wrong.

He likely didn't want to go through inspection because he didn't want them to 'ruin' his haunt by telling he he can't shoot guns in the vicinity of people. I wonder what else in his haunt wouldn't pass inspection?

It's a shame we have to have these regulations on paper. It should be common sense.

**Lurks in the shadows** · 10-11-2011,07:43 AM

He was smart enough to realize that his haunt would not pass any inspection, yet stupid enough to go through with it anyway!
That goober should be taken out of the gene pool...

**DaveintheGrave** · 10-11-2011,07:53 AM

I think I hear Banjo music...............

Maybe the noise was just some E-crackers. Those things are LOUD.

**Madame Leota** · 10-11-2011,08:10 AM

Wow - you can run a business without ever realizing that it's not a good idea to shoot at your customers.

Cathy, your post cracked me up! I agree - in fact, I suspect some of my hillbilly relatives may be somehow involved, lol.