Iowa dog shoots man; only thing that will stop bad dog with a gun is good dog with a gun

In journalism school, they taught us that "Dog bites man" is a dull story no one will want to read, but "Man bites dog" is the real grabber.

The dogs have upped their game. We now have "Dog shoots man."

Last year, a dog shot a hunter after the hunter left his shotgun on the ground near Eagle Grove. And the Washington Post has reported at least six incidents of man's best friend turning guns on their owner.

The latest tail, per a story from the Fort Dodge Messenger, reports that 51-year-old Richard Remme was shot by his dog Wednesday.

Remme told police he was playing with his dog, Balew. The dog accidentally disengaged the safety when the dog jumped on him while lying on the couch.

Remme believes the dog stepped on the trigger, causing the pistol Remme kept in the belly band under his overalls to fire, burning Balew on the gut and firing a bullet into Remme's leg, the Messenger reported.

Remme was treated and released for his injury, but may need to consult a surgeon to remove the bullet, the Messenger said.

This story does not include an interview with the dog, whom Remme told the Messenger was afraid of both the dark and water.

This is a clear history of canine mental health issues. America must do more to keep guns out of the paws of mentally ill dogs and other pets.

Iowa and national lawmakers immediately moved to do absolutely nothing in the wake of the tragedy, which is the signature move of the modern politician.

All we can do is offer our thoughts and prayers to Remme and Balew during this terrible time.

I'm ambivalent about this news.

We know, as the National Rifle Association assures us, that guns don't kill people. People kill people … sometimes using guns.

Now we have a dog shooting a person.

I don't know what to make of it.

Should Remme get a second dog?

After all, the only thing that will stop a bad dog with a gun is a good dog with a gun.

It was not immediately known whether Balew attended an obedience school, but perhaps if there were more dog trainers with guns, this incident could have been prevented.

Then again, dogs sometimes become overstimulated in play. More than one dog has been known to bite his owner during some roughhousing.

Perhaps poor Balew believed he needed to stand his ground.

I don't know how the Second Amendment applies to dogs, but I hope Balew stands up for his rights and declares boldly in a bark worthy of the actor who played Moses:

"From my cold, dead paws."

Columnist Daniel P. Finney is a Drake University alumnus from Winterset and east Des Moines. Reach him at dafinney@dmreg.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/danielpfinney or Twitter at @newsmanone.