topic Re: They are SO Little in Community Chat

They are SO Little

gertrudecloset — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 18:37:13 GMT

We have to do something besides run our mouths and offer prayers

Police in Pennsylvania say a 4-year-old girl is dead after her younger brother apparently shot her by accident inside a car parked at at a gas station. Chester Police said a 2-year-old boy was "handling a gun inside of a vehicle" when it discharged.

CBS Philadelphia reports the shooting happened outside of the Eagle Save Mart in Chester on Tuesday. The family lives in the area and frequents the mini mart.

People nearby heard a single gunshot from inside the vehicle, which was parked at a gas pump. The 4-year-old girl was rushed to Crozer-Chester Medical Center, where she was later pronounced dead.

Police did not identify the girl or boy but NBC News the Philadelphia Inquirer reported the children were siblings.

Loved ones gathered outside of the hospital Tuesday afternoon waiting on an update on the girl's condition and became emotional after officials confirmed her death, the station reported.

Witnesses say the children's father was outside of the car when, according to officials, a 2-year-old boy was handling a gun inside of the car and it discharged. The bullet struck the 4-year-old girl who was also sitting inside.

People on the scene immediately rushed her to the hospital, which is just over a half-mile away from the scene.

Witnesses struck by the tragedy say the children were always with their dad.

"It was a morning ritual, I'd see them every morning," Theodore Thaddeus Crump said. "He was a good dude. He went to work every day. He kept his kids right there beside him. It's the number one thing that he did, OK. Their dad was a very beautiful man."

The investigation is ongoing.

According to data analyzed by advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety, so far this year there have been at least 51 unintentional shootings by children in the U.S., resulting in 17 deaths and 38 injuries.

Last year, there were at least 379 unintentional shootings by children nationwide, resulting in 154 deaths and 244 injuries, the group said.

Re: They are SO Little

Kachina624 — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 18:49:41 GMT

Parents need to be held seriously accountable for carelessly leaving firearms where children have access to them. They usually just get a slap on the hand. How many cases do we have every year where a kid gets a parent's gun, takes it to school and shoots someone? These parents are guilty of murder and should be so punished.

We had a case in my town where the two year old son of a police officer got his hands on a revolver and shot and killed himself. To make matters worse the police and local judiciary have tried to cover it up. State attorney general is investigating.

Re: They are SO Little

kitcat51 — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 19:01:09 GMT

and do what? The father made a horrible mistake & 2 children have paid the price...he'll live with the guilt & whatever punishment the law provides. I have guns, they're secured in my home, I know my responsibility when they're in my possession & I don't take that responsibility lightly...unfortunately others do.

Re: They are SO Little

Desertdi — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 19:59:13 GMT

@gertrudecloset It's bad all over. I am in PHX, and every time one of our sports teams SCORE, my neighbors are outside firing their weapons "in celebration". (I don't sit near any windows"). Thanks for your forum post. Di

Re: They are SO Little

gertrudecloset — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 20:41:46 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
Parents need to be held seriously accountable for carelessly leaving firearms where children have access to them. They usually just get a slap on the hand. How many cases do we have every year where a kid gets a parent's gun, takes it to school and shoots someone? These parents are guilty of murder and should be so punished.

We had a case in my town where the two year old son of a police officer got his hands on a revolver and shot and killed himself. To make matters worse the police and local judiciary have tried to cover it up. State attorney general is investigating.

Exactly @Kachina624

Re: They are SO Little

Mom2Dogs — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 22:59:34 GMT

Parents are at fault, plain and simple.

Re: They are SO Little

Jk9 — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 23:07:00 GMT

A firearm should never be out of a secured (enclosed) area in a vehicle. It's the parents' responsibility to secure that gun - period. Once again a human action results in the loss of life.

Re: They are SO Little

skatting44 — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 23:59:39 GMT

Yes, horrific accident , but all the oness is on the Gun Owner.

First of all why did he have an unsecured gun in his glove box- was he worried abt car jackings in his area ? Wonder if it is a legally registered gun . As a gun owner he has the responsibllity to have the gun secured in a locked box . Many states have specific rules abt transporting fire arms. There are consequences to not following existing state and Federal laws.

Re: They are SO Little

hckynutjohn — Sat, 09 Apr 2022 18:55:59 GMT

Responsible gun owners do not leave a firearm anywhere where a child can access it. Only an idiot leaves one unattended that is loaded and c***ed, ready to fire.

With a handgun with say, a 5lb trigger pull, I think it would be very hard for a child that young to be strong enough to pull it.

It's a shame that these types of gun owners make the gun look like the problem instead of the moronic person that would do something so stupid.

Condolences to the other members of that child's family. 🙏

hckynut 🇺🇸

Re: They are SO Little

on the bay — Sat, 09 Apr 2022 12:54:25 GMT

There are many groups across the country that are teaching, giving talks on gun safety for owners-how and where to lock your guns and ammo-speaking at schools, civil and government groups,police, posting nationwide talks and messages on this.

My daughter is actively involved with all of these on a local and nationwide level with many other parents especially.

Also speaking to our own family members repeatedly who own guns.

Always asking if your child stays over someone else's house- do they own guns? Where are they? We did this back when my children were growing up. It is not just alcohol or drugs you need to ask about.-

Groups to get involved in-

Mom's Demand Action, Be Smart, MOA,(message of action to doctors to share the Be Smart message to parents.

Re: They are SO Little

jubilant — Sat, 09 Apr 2022 14:36:16 GMT

This is so very sad. The loss of this precious little girl.

DH does keep a loaded gun in our closet up high. When our grandchildren came over (when they were little) the gun was always unloaded and still up high and they were not even allowed in that room. The loss of this precious little one, the guilt this man will face the rest of his life, the little brother who pulled the trigger (who hopefully will not remember since he was so young, and the guilt the father will have to live with....it's such a trajedy.

While I am deeply sorry for this family, it was negligent to leave a loaded gun anywhere near small children.

Re: They are SO Little

mspatmac — Sat, 09 Apr 2022 15:34:57 GMT

Until the gun owners are held accountable and severely punished nothing will change! Responsible gun owners do not leave guns where children can find them.

Re: They are SO Little

riley1 — Sat, 09 Apr 2022 19:08:24 GMT

Weapons owners have to be responsible and held accountable for leaving a loaded weapon within reach of a child, teen or anyone else.

They should always be in a locked safe.

Re: They are SO Little

hckynutjohn — Sat, 09 Apr 2022 19:24:09 GMT

@riley1 wrote:
Weapons owners have to be responsible and held accountable for leaving a loaded weapon within reach of a child, teen or anyone else.

They should always be in a locked safe.

@riley1

I agree with everything except your last sentence. If they are responsible owners locking them in a safe could be an option, depending on their specific home environment. In my home environment, a locked, or any safe, is not necessary.

hckynut 🇺🇸