It's not the gun, it's the parent. I grew up in an armed household and the guns were semi-secured but I was taught from an early age that guns are not toys, you don't handle it unless you need to use it or clean it, you don't point at anything you don't want to shoot, they should always be treated as loaded, they are a great responsibility and you can't unkill something.
I think the kid gets the benefit of the doubt. However he will need counseling IMO for a myriad of reasons most of all he could be at risk for PTSD, no rational or sane human being wants to kill anyone or harm them grievously and as well with counseling he can have a rundown on why this happened and what can be done to come to terms with it and learn a VERY important lesson. The mother belongs in the slammer for child neglect, and felon in possession.
There are tons of stories about kids bringing guns to school, sometimes at younger ages than this child. In fact when my older cousins went to HS they attended with a bunch of people who kept shotguns in their trucks to go hunting after class. They don't allow it at that school anymore but that used to be a common sight.
Not legal by any means. She had prior drug related convictions thus couldn't own a gun due to felony statutes passed in the nineties.
First rule of carry, secure the weapon. Depending on what model firearm the .45 was it could have had a more slack trigger where a light bump could fire it. Some models have less than adequate safeties, etc. There are a million factors that could have contributed to a loosely carried gun neglegently discharging.
I don't think the entire book should be thrown at the kid, but it wouldn't be terrible for him to experience mild legal consequence for this. Sometimes mistakes are the best teachers. Though I don't want that innocent little girl to lose her life over that, hopefully she pulls through.
Same response.
