Three indicted on gun show death

A US police chief and gun club have been indicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter over the death of a young boy who shot himself at a weapons fair.

Eight-year-old Christopher Bizilj lost control of a recoiling Uzi submachine gun while he was firing at a pumpkin at the event in Massachusetts.

Police chief Edward Fleury's company had sponsored the fair at Westfield Sportman's Club in October.

Two other men have also been indicted for involuntary manslaughter.

"A Micro Uzi is made by and for the Israeli Armed Forces and is intended to meet the operational needs of Israeli Special Forces," the prosecutor said in a news release.

"It is not a hunting weapon."

Police Chief Fleury and the club also were indicted on four counts each of furnishing a machine gun to a minor.

Strict laws

Massachusetts has strict gun laws that require parental consent and the presence of a certified and licensed instructor before a child is allowed to fire a weapon.

The machine gun event drew hundreds of people to the private sporting club's 375-acre compound.

An advertisement on the club's website said children under 16 would be admitted free and the fair would include machine gun demonstrations and rentals.

"You will be accompanied to the firing line with a certified instructor to guide you. But you are in control - 'Full auto rock & roll'," the ad said.

The boy's father, a hospital director from Ashford, Connecticut, has said his son had fired handguns and rifles before, but never an automatic weapon.

A certified instructor was with the boy at the time.

The boy's father was standing 10ft behind him and reaching for the camera at the time.

State legislators are considering drafting a bill banning under-21s from firing automatic weapons, reports say.