Accidental shootings

I agree. Child endangerment at the very least.

This happened here as well a few weeks ago. A 2 yr old boy shot his 1 yr old sister and she died. The gun was obviously loaded and within reach of the toddlers. I'm torn to be honest. On one hand I think the guilt and depression and loss of their child is punishment enough....but on the other hand, how stupid can you be? I understand having a gun whether it be for hunting or protection or what not....but NEVER loaded and in reach of a child. That is just pure stupidity! Either way, these families both lost a child, I'm sure it was on accident but you cant bring the kid back. Aweful situation....and i'm still torn! I think there should be some kind of punishment for them. I agree child endangerment at the least. So sad!

I don't have an opinion on whether or not they should be punished. I do think that people need to realize that out f site is not the same as locked up where a gun is concerned.

Absolutely they should be charged and face possible jail time!
There was a story here recently about 9 and 10 yr old brothers who were target shooting with their step father, when the father went in the house (I believe to use the bathroom) the 10 yr old shot his brother (who survived) the father is being charged for child endangerment.
My husband and I own several (okay a lot) of guns, all but 2 are always locked (unloaded) in a steel combination safe that is in a locked closet, the other 2 are our hand guns kept locked in a bio-metric combination safe by our bedside, we have friends who also own guns when they come to our house if they want to take their gun off (out of holster/off of their belt etc.) they know we will put it in our safe until they leave/put it back on. DS is only 1 and we have already started talking about gun safety, just today DH was cleaning his gun and DS looked like he wanted to play with it we told him that it was a grown up tool and not ever for playing with. Once he is old enough we will teach him more about gun safety and how to shoot, but never under any circumstance would we leave a gun anywhere within his reach (even once he is older and trained in gun safety loaded or not), that is just irresponsible.

Yes, if you decide that you want to exercise your right to own a gun then you need to be held responsible if you do not use or store it properly. To have a loaded gun under a couch cushion is just absolute negligence on their part.

I think they should be charged with something, definitely child endangerment. I can admit that I have no understanding of guns because I don't personally have a use for them in my home, but I can't imagine that this is appropriate use of a firearm. I thought of it as if my own child went over there to play and was accidentally killed because they left a loaded gun in their couch cushion, I would probably pursue every legal action that I could against them and their own child deserves the same.

maybaby10 wrote:I think they should be charged with something, definitely child endangerment. I can admit that I have no understanding of guns because I don't personally have a use for them in my home, but I can't imagine that this is appropriate use of a firearm. I thought of it as if my own child went over there to play and was accidentally killed because they left a loaded gun in their couch cushion, I would probably pursue every legal action that I could against them and their own child deserves the same.

Your bolded is my exact sentiment on the "they lost a child and have suffered enough" opinion. Had a neighbor's child been the one to die, there wouldn't be a question of whether they needed to be held accountable. While there is that human emotion of wanting to see them "punished" legally because an innocent life was needlessly lost, that is arguably not the role of the legal system. However, the legal system is responsible for charging those who have broken the law. Perhaps manslaughter charges would be debatable, but these parents clearly endangered the lives of their children.