3 Year old fatally shoots himself with a loaded gun from moms' purse. What do you think should happen to those parents?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 15:48:00 -0400

Mother sets the purse down.
Inside the purse is a loaded gun.
The toddler grabs and plays with the gun.
The gun goes off, the bullet goes thru his little heart.

I felt SGT Efaw (Mick) G. made a great point with regards to parents and how they should be held accountable for their child's death if done by a weapon that was not secured.

What do you think should happen to those parents that leave their weapon out, not in a secured area like a safe and their child is either hurt or killed?

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/5c4a5136a61f4625b4324200bbf8b30e/boy-3-shot-self-gun-he-found-mothers-purse

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Jun 12 at 2015 4:14 PM

SGM Matthew Quick — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 16:14:02 -0400

I think these parents have been punished enough...sad.

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Jun 12 at 2015 4:25 PM

SGT Jeremiah B. — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 16:25:40 -0400

At some point, we have to decide that some accidents are worthy of prosecution. It's getting to the point where the hospital I work at is actually launching a campaign to get parents to ask people they're visiting if there are unsecured firearms in the house. We're fielding way too many accidental gunshot victims.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Jun 12 at 2015 4:57 PM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 16:57:52 -0400

I have a hard time deciding if the parents have already suffered enough as SGM Matthew Quick has already stated, or if they should be hammered for being irresponsible and stupid......

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Jun 12 at 2015 7:13 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 19:13:36 -0400

It's a fact that every incident like this is fodder to be used to try to demonize guns for all of the American people, not just these irresponsible people. Common sense people! Every gun is loaded. Every gun is wanting to be played with by your kids. Your kids know where you keep them. NO excuse will bring back your child. Sorry for your loss, but you are criminally liable. Reckless disregard. As a prosecuter, I would wait to file carges until after the funeral, but as gun owners, we are responsible for our weapons. If we aren't, the government will be. Very sad.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Jun 12 at 2015 7:32 PM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 19:32:19 -0400

If a parent leaves a weapon unsecured and the kid shoots someone with it, the parent should be prosecuted for murder based on depraved indifference, imho. Some will argue, "but I need the gun locked and loaded for protection!" If so, get a concealed carry permit and put it in a holster. Don't leave it in a purse or on a desktop where the kids can get their hands on it...

Also, if you live in such a dangerous area, maybe it's time to think about moving... unsecured weapons are always a recipe for disaster.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2015 8:34 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 20:34:55 -0400

Is this a tragic, horrific accident, or a case of severe parental negligence? If the police investigation finds it to be the latter, the Prosecutor needs to present his case before a grand jury and determine whether or not this mother should be indicted and under what charges. Unintentional homocide seems a little too extreme in this case. This mother had no idea that her actions on this day would or could likely result in the death of another human being. Manslaughter may be considered, but this is where the judge must be allowed a maximum amount of discretion to consider mitigating evidence and circumstances. Things like how contrite and remorseful is the mother? What is the mother's past record? Was the firearm legally-acquired and legally-registered? Had this mother been properly trained through a certified firearms safety course? What was her purpose for carrying a concealed, loaded firearm? All of these factors will and should be carefully weighed into the state's decision on how to proceed once this poor child has been laid to rest.

Response by PO3 Sherry Thornburg made Jun 13 at 2015 4:38 AM

PO3 Sherry Thornburg — Sat, 13 Jun 2015 04:38:08 -0400

I feel for the parents of that 3 year old. They are going to suffer for that moment a long long time.

As for the statistics . . .
Children as young as 5 can be taught gun safety. Cub Scouting teaches it.
Thinking you can hide a gun from a child is deluding yourself. They will find it or hear you talk about it at some point. Lock them up out of reach when they are very young. Lock up weapons especially if you have other children come visit your house. They may not have been taught anything about guns yet.
Every child should know the difference between a real gun and a toy. When they know the difference and know gun safety, you don't have these problems.

My grandparents kept a loaded rifle and shotgun by the front door all through my childhood. The four children in the house knew they were real. We knew not to touch them. Nobody ever got hurt. You may think my grandparents broke my #2 point, and you would be right, but that was another time and people didn't hide weapons in farm country. They were out to be of use against snakes and other wildlife problems.

Response by SGT John W Lugo made Jun 14 at 2015 5:21 PM

SGT John W Lugo — Sun, 14 Jun 2015 17:21:49 -0400

The family has already been punished, and will have a event that they will never forget anytime soon. Unfortunately because of her mistake this idea of charging her won't reverse what happened. Sometimes we are quick to respond to someone's situation, but Mothers live a very hectic life and expected to handle multiple task in a day. Accidents happen, how many times have we just walked away then remembered something after the fact. Sorry for their lost my God bring them comfort.