Things can happen with anything mechanical. I won't draw a bow with someone, especally a child in harms way. I would check any bow in the future before drawing and make sure there is no one in harms way. Don

BT, I'm going to pick on you a bit. I've seen this happen a lot of times as a sales rep. It has to do with torquing the string while letting down on a short ATA bow. When trying to ease it down most all people twist the string to some degree. What this does is roll it off the cam or idler, usually the cam, and you saw the result. It doesn't hurt the bow but can hurt other people close by, as you found out. Oh, and usually a person has to twist the string to hold onto it because they are drawing more poundage than they can comfortably handle. When letting these things down don't try to ease them down. Just let them down and "go with it" to avoid a dry-fire.

I might have torqued it a bit, but I doubt it. I'm not new to archery, and have tried out and shot alot of bows, especially in the last couple of months. Even if it was 70#'s, that weight is not too heavy for me. Matter of fact, the sales rep that was standing there made several comments on the fact that I could draw, and let down all of the bows I tried with ease. Not bragging intentionally, but drawing and letting down 70#s is cake for me.

And no worries, pick all ya want, I got a thick skin. LOL

I work at Dick's Sporting Goods and I can tell you that we zip tie our stings in our store to keep customers from drawing any bow back. As for Parker bows the bowtech at Dick's do nothing to them but take them out of the box and put them on display. Parker sets up all their bows at the factory so you can shoot them right out of the box.

I have a McPherson and a Parker and have no reservations taking either one into the woods on a hunt.

I have had a Parker for 4 yrs and have never had a problem with it. Nice bow.