Gerald:  I take your and Field 907's point about negligent vs. accidental discharge, but the point I was trying to make remains.  I used to work in an Anchorage Emergency room, and I've personally treated police officers, hunters and home owners who were accidentally (or negligently, if you prefer) shot by themselves or someone close to them, and in my experience it's pretty rare for those police officers, hunters or homeowners to face charges related to a firearms accident.  I don't know what this kid was up to that night, but he did stay on the scene, talk to the responding police, later turn him self in, and generally accept accountability.  Even the police officer I treated who accidentally shot himself asked us not to report his GSW to the police (which we were legally required to do).  I'm all for accountability - I just think it should be applied impartially.