O.T., Six Shooter

Constitutional
Right

Man that blows. Them people should be in trouble for letting the children access the gun. Still not the guns fault though!

Tragic accident, emphasizing the need for common sense and due diligence when firearms and children are in the same house.

Both of these children should have been shown the handgun and explained to them THAT IT WAS NOT A TOY. My father taught me many lessons and firearms at a you age before he built my 98 Mauser 30-06 hunting rifle.

Kent

It is stories like this that the gun haters love, gun tragedies with kids. ALL guns should be locked up when a kid lives there, period.

Tragic story. What"s the point of the heading "Constitutional"?

Based on how I was raised I've got to side with Kent on this one. I too was taught how to handle and act toward and around guns, of any kind, around the age of 5. By then I already had a good idea just from watching my Dad and Grandpa but that's when I got a Daisy BB gun and the two main rules that should be taught to EVERY child were drilled into me. First there is no such thing as an unloaded gun, and second NEVER point a gun at anything you wouldn't plan to shoot. I never heard the "don't touch unless an adult is around" mantra so common nowdays. Instead I got taught what to do when there was no adult around because one there isn't always gonna be an adult around. Besides, what do you do when your are the adult and still don't know what to do?

Cases like this are tragic in many ways. First because a child was killed and the little girl involved has to live her life with the guilt for what she did always on her mind. To make matters worse it really wasn't her fault because I'll bet she was never taught anything about guns beyond what she saw on TV. This tragidy could have been prevented, not by locks, but by the adults involved taking the time to teach their kids about something that can be hazardous to them. Locks have their place but a locked gun is worthless if it's being kept for self defense. Besides, if a kid wants to play with the gun who's to say they won't also keep looking to find a key or another way to get around the lock. Too some revolvers, if kept loaded with a round under the hammer could discharge if handled improperly so lock or not they can still kill or injure. Basically a lock isn't a cure all by any means.

The only sure cure is training. How many parents teach their kids that hot water can scald them, the burner on an oven will burn them, a knife can cut them, and on and on, all at an early age, but when it comes to something that can be more hazardous than any of the ones I just listed, if used improperly, the kids remain blissfully ignorant until something like this happens.

It's a tragidy I'll admit but it could have been so easily prevented with just a little time on the part of the adults involved to teach their kids something ALL kids (and adults for that matter) ought to know, gun safety.

I was also taught to respect guns at an early age. Cardinal rule, "gun is always loaded".
I had a Red Ryder at age 6, a single .410 at 9.
At age ten I was playing down in the basement and spotted my Dad's Model 97 12 gauge hanging on a couple pegs bteween the floor joists. I got it down, and then worked the pump action.

Then I knew I was in trouble. the hammer was cocked back. Worse yet, there was a cloth wrapped screwdriver handle in the muzzle. I knew how to get the hammer released on my .410 but this was a different breed of cat. Try as I might I couln't thumb it back and get it to release.

Well, I wasn't going to hang it up with that hammer back, but I was afraid to just pull the trigger. I just figured it was loaded. So I did the next best thing. VERY carefully used a pair of pliers to take that plug out, keeping my hand away from the muzzle. Dad had told mr sbout the danger of a barrel fouled by mud or anything. Then I walked over to the coal bin, pointed it in there and pulled the trigger. You guessed it some very dead coal and my ears ringing badly. Followed in an instant by my Mom flying down the stairs.

She was in shock, I was trying to calm her down. Saying it wasn't dangerous at all, it didn't go off "accidentally". "I expected it to go off and was just clearing the chamber in the coal."

Well all logical, but I think my Dad got an earful when he got home. But the diligent firearm training he gave me saved the day. And he never ever said a word to me about it. He knew I was embarassed and ashamed and sorry, and had learned my own lesson. What a wise and wondereful man he was.

A few years later he sold the gun, because he had trouble releasing the hammer! I saw him fire it in the air on two occasions..

Gordo

I have had a 6 year old and a 357 mag. I do not in any way, think a loaded revolver is a plaything for a 6 year old. It was my job to watch what she played with. This is tragic, but it is a parents judgement and supervision problem, not a constitutional one.

The adults involved should be in jail for leaving a gun where children can get it. Hoss

I'm with Gordo,Wayne,and Kent. There should have been teaching on the adults behalf about guns. the theory of locking it up is ludicrous as the only thing a lock is good for is to keep the honest folks honest.Well now the do gooders will have to come up with more stupid legislation due to this action. To bad about the boys death though.

We had something very similar happen here 2 years ago. Only the kids were 15. The only home invasions I have ever heard of around here were drug houses. There is no way a 6 yr old is to be trusted with a gun. BTW - whats the constitutional issue here - stupid people get there kids killed?

I don't and haven't disputed that. Just as stupid parents leaving prescription drugs and poisonous cleaners in unsafe places, or allowing younger childeren into the shop or out on a tractor before they are ready, do the same thing.

Guns, drugs, and heavy equipment are all inanimate objects that on there own cannot hurt anyone. Someone must cause them to. Of course parents are repsonsible for keeping their children, and the environment they live in, safe.

Allowing young untrained children access to loaded guns is no better nor worse than leaving children in a running vehicle while parent runs into a store to buy some item. Or leaving kids in a car not running but with the keys in the ignition. These tradegdies are not the fault of guns nor cars, they are the fault of foolish, careless adults.
Mr. Bob
longtime NRA member