Sadly, the boy died because his brother shot him in the chest @ close range; pretty much a poster worthy example of improper usage of the gun. However, luvmyteddy is an older, responsible adult living alone with a deaf, older dog, and is looking for something to run off pesky wildlife that was trying to invade her home. A world of difference in circumstances and determining criteria; I don't see an issue with her ordering the pellet rifle.
I grew up in a house with many guns; never, ever, ever thought about messing with one of them without my Dad's direction. My girls grew up around guns in this house; they never, ever touched the guns. We also kept all the ammunition locked up, so there was never any access to a loaded gun. Both girls started hunting when they were in high school, and had to take a state approved hunter safety course before they could obtain a hunting license; they now have lifetime hunting licenses, and each owns several guns. I totally agree that guns are deadly; they are meant to be, but the real problem is in unsafe handling by the person pulling the trigger. BB and pellet guns have a safety button, and will not accidentally discharge if that button is engaged. Our pellet rifle is always loaded and ready to go, safety button engaged, and the gun is stored on top of a cabinet; even though we have no young children coming into the house.