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Here's some additional info, including an allegation of a suicide pact, from an Australian newspaper. It includes a photo of the outdoor range setting.

Keep in mind that Australian newspapers are about as ethical as the National Enquirer.

All the news stories that I have read indicate that the women were acting normally until the time they were shot. One used the word "jovial." There also is no indication in their background of a reason for suicide. Suicide pacts usually involve alienated young people who have few interests, and usually at least one has some kind of mental illness.

- Jim
[Edited to correct typo]

You reckon one of them might not have been privy to the pact?

It would be helpful to know whether or not rifles were being fired on the range at the time of the incident.

A small caliber handgun round is highly unlikely to pass completely through one person's head and inflict a serious wound on a second person, but a ricochet from a centerfire rifle could.

This is of course just another speculation because we don't have nearly enough information to draw any useful conclusions.

Excaliber wrote:It would be helpful to know whether or not rifles were being fired on the range at the time of the incident.

A small caliber handgun round is highly unlikely to pass completely through one person's head and inflict a serious wound on a second person, but a ricochet from a centerfire rifle could.

This is of course just another speculation because we don't have nearly enough information to draw any useful conclusions.

I'm thinking of the set-up at Elm Fork. I was curious why they allowed FMJ on some of their ranges and not others, but when we went, it was obvious.

They have two of their ranges back to back so if someone shot through the first he'd be likely to hit a man on the second. I think I recall them saying they are working to put up appropriate protections or have already done so--I am not sure. But I am using this to illustrate that my experience of one very long line is not the only set-up for ranges and that such a wound would not necessarily be intentional or even be known to the shooter depending on circumstances, but could easily be possible depending on set-up.

Suicide pact?

One wonders why? I suspect that there is a note somewhere?

Sad.

Suicide notes are old-fashioned. Now it's Facebook pages or messages left on personal computers.

- Jim

seamusTX wrote:Sad.

Suicide notes are old-fashioned. Now it's Facebook pages or messages left on personal computers. - Jim

I was wondering about this. That is the first question that many people ask. I wonder how many leave notes versus those who do not.

Is it horrible that I am a bit relieved by this finding? I am still sad for the ladies and their families. But relieved that it was not caused by something beyond their control.

WildBill wrote:I wonder how many leave notes versus those who do not.

According to Wikipedia, 12 to 20% leave messages.

I suppose motive is a factor. Some people want to make a dramatic gesture. However, many suicides are impulsive; and some likely suicides manage to look like accidents, presumably to spare the survivors.

- Jim

seamusTX wrote:and some likely suicides manage to look like accidents, presumably to spare the survivors. - Jim

And maybe to collect insurance.

This article just adds to the questions.....

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/11/ ... ml?tag=pop

Authorities said the sisters were in the same lane at the Family Shooting Center and had at least two small-caliber pistols in their stall. Shooters at the range line up behind a wooden wall and shoot at targets through an opening that resembles a window, Arapahoe County sheriff's Capt. Louie Perea said.

Surveillance video at the range captured the sisters falling out of the stall about a half-second apart, with patrons quickly reacting, Perea said.

At least two shots were fired, Perea said. He declined to release further details, citing the ongoing investigation.

The earlier articles indicated that there was only one shot. At least it sounds like the the survivor's condition is improving.

WildBill wrote:And maybe to collect insurance.

The suicide exclusion in life insurance generally is only for the first two years.

I suppose when someone buys a million dollars life insurance and dies in an accident a short time later, the insurance company looks hard at the circumstances. Probably they know all the tricks.

Anyway, I doubt this case has anything to do with insurance. Most unmarried young people have no life insurance, or only what comes with their job.

- Jim

i8godzilla wrote:
The earlier articles indicated that there was only one shot. At least it sounds like the the survivor's condition is improving.

Being the survivor of a suicide pact with your twin sister may be hard to live with. Just sayin'...

seamusTX wrote:

WildBill wrote:And maybe to collect insurance.

The suicide exclusion in life insurance generally is only for the first two years.

I suppose when someone buys a million dollars life insurance and dies in an accident a short time later, the insurance company looks hard at the circumstances. Probably they know all the tricks.

Anyway, I doubt this case has anything to do with insurance. Most unmarried young people have no life insurance, or only what comes with their job.

- Jim

I agree that this is probably not the case in this in this incident, but that is one reason that some people don't leave a note.