Children Reach Out After Gun Range Accident That Left Father Dead
WEEHAWKEN, N.J.(CBSNewYork) -- Four children are speaking out after a gun range accident left their father dead.
As CBS 2's Dick Brennan reported, they have a special message for the 9-year-old girl who was holding the weapon when the horrible accident occurred.
"We're Charlie Vacca's kids, and we wrote this letter to the little girl. We don't know your name, but we are connected by this tragedy," Christoper Vacca said.
They are the children of weapons instructor Charlie Vacca. They sent the message to the girl who lost control of an Uzi sub-machine gun during a lesson in Arizona. The gun pointed up and Vacca was shot in the head and killed.
"In the news we are just called the family, the 9-year-old girl, the instructor, but we do have names. Our names are Ashley, Elizabeth, Tyler, and Christopher," Christopher said.
"Our dad wasn't just an instructor. He was funny, strong, and protective. A hero and our friend. He was a good man," Elizabeth Vacca said.
The Vacca kids, still struggling from the loss of their 39-year-old father, made the tape in an extraordinary act of compassion.
"You're only 9-years-old. We think about you. We are worried about you. We pray for you, and we wish you peace. Our dad would want the same thing," Tyler said.
"Like you, we are living through this tragic event that we can not shut off. It's with us all the time," Ashley said.
The death sparked a national debate over how young is too young for kids to be firing guns. For the Vacca kids right now, it's about forgiveness and healing, for a little girl who is also in great pain.
Our dad would want you to know that you should move forward with your life. You should not let this define you. You should love yourself and love your family.
"Someday we want to meet you, hug you, and tell you that it's all okay," Christopher said.
The 9-year-old girl's parents are Alex and Alison Maclachlan of Weehwaken. They had been vacationing in Arizona. In a statement last week they said that they are devastated, and that words cannot express their sadness.
No charges will be filed in the case.
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