Loaded, unsecured gun claims another child's life

[redheadbaker]

I just can't with this anymore. When is enough enough?? 

Girl, 11, killed as kids played with gun

Police believe the fatal shooting of an 11-year-old girl Saturday morning occurred as children played with a loaded firearm inside a Mantua home.

Investigators said a male friend of the victim’s mother came to the home on the 3800 block of Wallace Street sometime Saturday morning. He allegedly stashed a loaded gun on the top of the refrigerator in the kitchen.

At some point, the firearm was moved to the master bedroom, where it was left unsecured, according to authorities.

Police said the victim was in the bedroom with her mother and three other children – a 16-year-old, a 2-year-old and a child under the age of 10.

When the mother left the room to use the bathroom, the children found the gun, according to investigators.

Police said as they played with the loaded, cocked firearm, the 2-year-old pointed the weapon at the 11-year-old.

The gun discharged shortly before 10 a.m., striking the 11-year-old girl in the arm. The bullet then entered her chest.

Though the victim was rushed to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, she died about a half-hour later.

Police said the Homicide Unit is continuing to investigate the incident.

The names of the victim and others involved in the shooting were not being released Saturday. There was not yet word on whether criminal charges would be filed in connection with the case.

Read more at www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/Girl_11_killed_in_Mantua_shooting.html#FHACZDVdf8zvkwYb.99

[redheadbaker]

And one of the comments on this site about the same story says:

"I have a weapon on every floor with no locks and 3 kids.
Not one of them has picked up a gun and pointed it at another human being; let alone shoot one by accident. Its how you raise them."

I want to reach right through the screen and throat-punch him/her.

[anastasia517]

Apr 6, 2014 12:14:31 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

And one of the comments on this site about the same story says:

"I have a weapon on every floor with no locks and 3 kids.
Not one of them has picked up a gun and pointed it at another human being; let alone shoot one by accident. Its how you raise them."

I want to reach right through the screen and throat-punch him/her.

Jesus.  How the hell is THAT the reaction anybody has to this story?  How is it not "Shit, maybe I should invest in some gun safes" or something to that effect!?

[aurora]

Apr 6, 2014 12:14:31 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

And one of the comments on this site about the same story says:

"I have a weapon on every floor with no locks and 3 kids.
Not one of them has picked up a gun and pointed it at another human being; let alone shoot one by accident. Its how you raise them."

I want to reach right through the screen and throat-punch him/her.

Right, because 2-year-olds never ever disobey.

[Velar Fricative]

And let me guess, no one will be charged for this because it was all just a horrible mistake and the gun owner will have to live with causing the senseless death of a child and that is punishment enough.

[curbsideprophet]

What is wrong with people??

[MixedBerryJam]

Apr 6, 2014 12:53:57 GMT -5 aurora said:

Apr 6, 2014 12:14:31 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

And one of the comments on this site about the same story says:

"I have a weapon on every floor with no locks and 3 kids.
Not one of them has picked up a gun and pointed it at another human being; let alone shoot one by accident. Its how you raise them."

I want to reach right through the screen and throat-punch him/her.

Right, because 2-year-olds never ever disobey.

Or visitors

[cinnamoncox]

How sad and senseless. Those poor other children who had to witness that

[thejackpot]

Such a tragedy. Just a complete and utterly senseless loss.

[decemberwedding07]

Apr 6, 2014 13:12:24 GMT -5 MixedBerryJam said:

Apr 6, 2014 12:53:57 GMT -5 aurora said:

Right, because 2-year-olds never ever disobey.

Or visitors

Seriously.  We don't have children.  We own guns.  Guess what?  They are stored (unloaded) in a safe that is locked at all times, because anything else is reckless.  Even if you don't think there's any way that a child will ever touch your loaded, unlocked gun, WTF makes you so sure that there's no way your house will ever be broken into when you're not home?  If any of our guns were stolen, we would be devastated, not at the loss of the guns, but at the thought of what they could be used for in the hands of a criminal, so before DH bought a single gun, he spent a ton of money of a giant safe that cannot be moved.

[jillboston]

Apr 6, 2014 12:56:55 GMT -5 incogneato said:

Apr 6, 2014 12:14:31 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

And one of the comments on this site about the same story says:

"I have a weapon on every floor with no locks and 3 kids.
Not one of them has picked up a gun and pointed it at another human being; let alone shoot one by accident. Its how you raise them."

I want to reach right through the screen and throat-punch him/her.

This idiot needs to be found and charged with reckless endangerment.

OH WAIT WE CAN'T CHARGE PEOPLE FOR THIS SHIT BECAUSE THE FUCKING NRA WRITES OUR LAWS!!!

Exactly. Mothers who leave a kid unattended in a hot car go to jail. How is this any less negligent and reckless. FFS.

[anastasia517]

Apr 6, 2014 13:52:14 GMT -5 jillboston said:

Apr 6, 2014 12:56:55 GMT -5 incogneato said:

This idiot needs to be found and charged with reckless endangerment.

OH WAIT WE CAN'T CHARGE PEOPLE FOR THIS SHIT BECAUSE THE FUCKING NRA WRITES OUR LAWS!!!

Exactly. Mothers who leave a kid unattended in a hot car go to jail. How is this any less negligent and reckless. FFS.

Because SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS!!1!!!!1111!! > childrens' lives, apparently.

[copzpartdeux]

Gun on every floor and unlocked is nothing but an unhinged nut job. They should lose their kids before they lose their kids.

[phunluvin82]

Yeah, the story is WTF-worthy enough (though so common now, it's crazy), but that comment makes me 

Just b/c you THINK your kids have never touched those guns doesn't mean they haven't or won't.  I DON'T CARE HOW you raised them.  Kids are naturally curious and also unable to grasp the severity of the danger or the finality of death until they reach a certain age.  What a fucking moron.  Reminds me of that 20/20 special.  That should be required watching for all gun owners w/ kids. 

[iammalcolmx]

Apr 6, 2014 15:35:51 GMT -5 copzpartdeux said:

Gun on every floor and unlocked is nothing but an unhinged nut job. They should lose their kids before they lose their kids.

There is a man here who says his Mom has one in every room. Before they come over they yell her name from the yard so they won't get shot.

[penguingrrl]

WTF is wrong with people who leave loaded guns unlocked in their home? The level of paranoia that leads to that is seriously disturbing. Even if you don't have kids, will never have kids and don't have any kids who visit do you think you're immune to a home invasion while you aren't home to "stand your ground" and having the weapons stolen? And what if an intruder finds it before you get to it? I mean, even without children it's a terrible idea.

Add in children who don't know better no matter how well you think you taught them and it will end in tragedy.

[redheadbaker]

Update: Police are charging the mother with involuntary manslaughter. She has not yet been taken into custody.

It was her boyfriend who brought the loaded gun into the home, where he placed it on top of the refrigerator. Police have not charged him in connection with the girl's death and have not said if they will or not.

[Deleted]

we need to start charging these gun owners.

[kkfeb04]

Meanwhile, in Lancaster County, you get 6 years probation for "playing with your loaded weapon" and killing your 2 month old.

lancasteronline.com/news/local/east-lampeter-father-pleads-guilty-to-fatally-shooting-daughter-on/article_bcad2a36-b69e-11e3-8a34-001a4bcf6878.html

Comments on earlier article states there was a connection with a state rep. You can't tell me if there was no connection or if he looked different that he wouldn't be serving the full sentence. 

[redheadbaker]

Apr 16, 2014 12:05:47 GMT -5 @septimus said:

we need to start charging these gun owners.

Apparently they don't even know who he is -- the girl's mother wouldn't tell the police his name. And now they can't find her, either.

[AAM2012]

Apr 17, 2014 9:46:21 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Apr 16, 2014 12:05:47 GMT -5 @septimus said:

we need to start charging these gun owners.

Apparently they don't even know who he is -- the girl's mother wouldn't tell the police his name. And now they can't find her, either.

Wow. I have no words. What exactly are they charging the mother for, not cooperating with police?

[redheadbaker]

Apr 17, 2014 15:36:08 GMT -5 AAM2012 said:

Apr 17, 2014 9:46:21 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Apparently they don't even know who he is -- the girl's mother wouldn't tell the police his name. And now they can't find her, either.

Wow. I have no words. What exactly are they charging the mother for, not cooperating with police?

Manslaughter. it was her who actually left the children alone in a room with the loaded gun.

[sandsonik]

Apr 6, 2014 12:14:31 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

And one of the comments on this site about the same story says:

"I have a weapon on every floor with no locks and 3 kids.
Not one of them has picked up a gun and pointed it at another human being; let alone shoot one by accident. Its how you raise them."

I want to reach right through the screen and throat-punch him/her.

What a fucking moron.

Hopefully, this asshole is lucky enough to see his or her kids grow to adulthood, but I'm pretty sure that by that time they'll learn that just because kids don't do something in front of you doesn't mean they never did it, or never will.

Otherwise, no one would ever lose their virginity, mkay?