Cheney's Shot Was Not the First

Feb. 13, 2006 — -- Vice President Dick Cheney can add his name to a list of politicians who have misfired mistakenly, or not, on another person.

The other vice president who opened fire on another man was Aaron Burr, America's third vice president. On July 11, 1804, Burr, a Republican, met Federalist Alexander Hamilton in New Jersey to duel over a personal and partisan grievance. Burr might have been president and not vice president if it were not for Hamilton's influence.

When Burr's term as vice president was over, he ran for governor of New York. Hamilton, once again, used his influence to prevent Burr from winning. Burr retaliated by challenging Hamilton to a duel.

They met on the dueling grounds of Weehawken, N.J., and each fired a shot. Burr's wounded Hamilton, who died the next day.

In 1913, at the age of 12, former Illinois governor and two-time losing Democratic presidential nominee Adlai Stevenson was showing off with his brother's hunting rifle when he accidentally shot and killed a young playmate named Ruth Merwin. The shooting took place at a Christmas party given by his parents. He accidentally killed Merwin as he was imitating an older boy executing the manual of arms.

In January 2006, in Richmond, Va., Delegate Jack Reid's .380 semiautomatic handgun went off in his office during his morning ritual. He would pull out the small handgun, release the clip, and store the weapon in his desk drawer. But this time, the gun fired as he popped the clip and sent a single bullet into a bulletproof vest that was hanging from the back of his closed door.

A list of previous hunting accidents involving politicians is provided by http://politicalgraveyard.com/death/hunting.html.