The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: PegLeg45 on May 21, 2009, 03:26:08 PM
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SAFETY SAFETY SAFETY SAFETY SAFETY SAFETY SAFETY SAFETY SAFETY SAFETY SAFETY SAFETY
These types of stories break my heart to hear. Parental negligence, pure and simple. So avoidable.
This was about 45 miles from me in Valdosta.
Boy fatally shot
Seven-year-old killed by brother, 10
Malynda Fulton
The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA —
A 7-year-old boy was accidentally shot and killed by his 10-year-old brother Monday night while they were playing with a gun.
At approximately 8 p.m., Valdosta police were dispatched to the 1100 block of Ponderosa Drive about a non-responsive 7-year-old boy that had fallen at home, said Valdosta Police Department Cmdr. Brian Childress. Emergency medical services responded as well, and transported the child to South Georgia Medical Center for treatment.
“Shortly after arrival, medical staff advised that it appeared the child had been shot in the head,” Childress said. “Once the physician made that call, detectives from the VPD crime scene unit were contacted to respond to the hospital and the home. Detectives secured the home and obtained a search warrant.”
While executing the search warrant, detectives recovered a handgun, Childress said.
Detectives at the hospital interviewed family members and discovered that the child’s 10-year-old brother had shot him, Childress said.
“At this point, it appears the child accidentally shot his brother,” he said.
The child had previously told police that his little brother fell and hit his head.
“We feel that the child’s brother was just scared at the time,” Childress said.
Despite attempts to save him, the 7-year-old boy was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival at the hospital.
Childress said authorities are actively investigating the shooting at this time. Police have not ruled out charges against the adults in this incident, he said.
The Valdosta Police Department offers free gun locks under a program called Project ChildSafe, the nation’s largest firearm safety education program. The Community Policing Officer, Vernotis Williams, also holds orientations to provide safety tips for gun owners.
“Officer Williams has also been to civic group meetings and handed out several locks at local stores,” Childress said. “Since beginning Project ChildSafe, we have issued nearly 3,000 throughout the city. We need the community’s help in increasing the number of locks issued.”
http://www.valdostadailytimes.com/archivesearch/local_story_139232439.html
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Tragic, and the parents may well be charged.
BUT here is a little exageration...
Project ChildSafe, the nation’s largest firearm safety education program.
I guess they never heard of Eddie Eagle.
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Twenty years ago I had my main home defense gun locked up in my nightstand...very secure from my 2 year old son. One day we were tooling around the bedroom.....son was in sight but not being 'monitored'. I turned to see him trying keys on my key ring on the NIGHTSTAND lock. It was innocent on his part but my heart almost stopped that the the key to open it WAS on THAT ring.
He was two and is now 22 and an Airman in the USAF.
But things could have been different.
I changed my "hiding spot" for my .357 after that.
You NEVER think it can happen to you. I'm just lucky that it didn't. VERY lucky.
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Tragic, and the parents may well be charged.
BUT here is a little exageration...
I guess they never heard of Eddie Eagle.
Up until about a 2 years ago I had never heard of it... then again I don't really pay attention to the NRA anymore...
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Makes my stomach turn. So horrible. On one hand, this sounds like abhorrent negligence where charges should be filed as a reminder to everyone how important this is. On the other, these parents are beginning an extremely horrible punishment that is beyond anything I would want them sentenced to. The poor brother is always going to carry that around too.
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Education, education, education.
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You NEVER think it can happen to you. I'm just lucky that it didn't. VERY lucky.
If only General Dynamics made an M1A2 you could stick your kid into until they turned 18! What a tragedy and unnessary loss of life. I'll say a prayer for the child and the family tonight.
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Damn shame!
I feel for this family very much as they are suffering enough.
Now as for my own family. My wife is not a fan of guns but still she understands there importance. My 7yr old daughter has been taught and drilled over and over safe rules.
I even let her hold it to demystify my handguns.
I think she is almost ready to get handed down my first rifle and pistol. A Chipmunk single shot 22 and Ruger Bearcat 22 revolver.
Dont me a statistic, educate your kids and love them every day!!!
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When my wife's family comes down with the "little people", I have to make adjustments to what and where. The only firearm "nightstand pistol" is put in a lockbox, no key.
My desk drawer pistol is locked away, and the shotgun in the closet goes back in the safe. Adjustments with guns and children just have to be made.
Do I feel less armed, well yes. But as previously posted, safety, safety, safety, with children, is more important.
If nothing else, I still have the "Louisville Slugger and fullsize Mag-Lite", till I get the box..
Terrible story, 1 I have heard tragically too many times.
My grandfather used to keep a pistol by his bed, and 1 on top of the fridge, the fear of DEATH, was enough for me back than if I messed with them, but times have changed.
Truly tragic. That boy will have to live with killing his brother the rest f his life. Having his parent(s) prosecuted may be the right thing to do if there was negligence, but there will be NO winners, or happy outcome.
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TW,
My upbringing "exactly" when it came to firearms!
Sorry to hear this day & age does not respect what does not belong to them and not to touch it.
Our upbringing has to "adapt" to today's society or else we are negligent, go figure...
Sorry to hear of the trajedy
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I think a large part of it is WE were 'afraid' of (read 'respected') our parents. Did we disobey and act up....sure. BUT we knew for darn sure where the line was.
Pap always had an old double barrel hanging on the wall and and old S&W 32. We (brother and I) KNEW not to touch them (yes we had been given lessons and later our own 22 rifles).
I knew and saw what a 'gun' could do to cans, bottles, rats and such (Dad wasn't a hunter) so I respected the power and 'life and death' possibilities.
They weren't 'mysteries' to us. We got to handle and shoot with supervision so they were a 'known' item. And Dad sure as hell put the fear of God into us not to play with them (some how we knew he would know).
Bottom line.... ADULTS were in charge and we (kids) knew that and repected that.
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TW,
My upbringing "exactly" when it came to firearms!
Sorry to hear this day & age does not respect what does not belong to them and not to touch it.
Our upbringing has to "adapt" to today's society or else we are negligent, go figure...
Sorry to hear of the trajedy
When I was growing up, there were guns in the house, loaded and unsecured. My folks made sure I knew how to use them and respected them. I had my (unloaded) .22 in my room at about age 13. That being said, we got lucky that I was responsible about them and didn't do anything stupid, because it could have gone the other way. Just one minute of giving in to peer pressure and showing a friend a gun when I was say eight and......I don't have kids, but if I do that is one of the few examples from my parents that I WON'T be following. I do hope that they don't prosecute the parents. The kid needs his folks too much right now. Plus, its bad enough he is going to have to live with killiing his brother, knowing his parents went to jail on top of it is too much.
FQ13
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I think a large part of it is WE were 'afraid' of (read 'respected') our parents. Did we disobey and act up....sure. BUT we knew for darn sure where the line was.
Pap always had an old double barrel hanging on the wall and and old S&W 32. We (brother and I) KNEW not to touch them (yes we had been given lessons and later our own 22 rifles).
I knew and saw what a 'gun' could do to cans, bottles, rats and such (Dad wasn't a hunter) so I respected the power and 'life and death' possibilities.
They weren't 'mysteries' to us. We got to handle and shoot with supervision so they were a 'known' item. And Dad sure as hell put the fear of God into us not to play with them (some how we knew he would know).
Bottom line.... ADULTS were in charge and we (kids) knew that and repected that.
AMEN to that.
My dad was not a gun person, but several close friends fathers were, and they were helpful and gracious enough to guide me into the wonderful world of guns and shooting. It didn't take much intelligence to understand the importance of safety when handling guns.
But, I learned as a teen the power and damage a gun can do when stupidity and negligence prevail. I lost a cousin (who lived in Indiana) to an 'unloaded' gun. He was over at a friends house and the friend shot him in the chest at point blank range with his dad's 'unloaded' .357 magnum.
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When I was a a LITTLE kid, pre schooler, My Dad kept loaded rifle behind the kitchen door and a pistol in his dresser drawer, as has been said before I did not touch them because I did not want get killed dead like my cat who had been hit by a car. As I got older I learned that guns themselves can kill. The old man could be a scary SOB sometimes but it worked, I'm still here.
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Just FYI
A recent scenerio 2 days after Christmas 2008.
I'm sitting at my computer aprox. 8:30am reading the news at my computer with a cup of coffee in an upstairs apartment.
All of a sudden I hear an "unusual bang" rock my side of the apartment, I check on my mom who shares the "other side" ( she's OK) and get a knock on the front door from the downstairs neighbor. Retired Marine ROTC in our county teaching gun safety to kids everyday resided downstairs, nice guy... Had his kids over the Holidays, claimed the shotgun AD in when he went to move it from the closet out to garage went off in his hand when he grabbed it by the receiver. TRUSTED THE COLLEGE KID FOR GUN SAFETY! Asked immediately if the thing was a Rem 870. He was so embarassed but my mom & I knew it was unintentional but I kidded him unmerficely. I TOLD HIM HE WAS DAMN LUCKY I SOLD THOSE POS for a living and to send it back but it did made for a good story when I went to work that day!
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Just FYI
A recent scenerio 2 days after Christmas 2008.
I'm sitting at my computer aprox. 8:30am reading the news at my computer with a cup of coffee in an upstairs apartment.
All of a sudden I hear an "unusual bang" rock my side of the apartment, I check on my mom who shares the "other side" ( she's OK) and get a knock on the front door from the downstairs neighbor. Retired Marine ROTC in our county teaching gun safety to kids everyday resided downstairs, nice guy... Had his kids over the Holidays, claimed the shotgun AD in when he went to move it from the closet out to garage went off in his hand when he grabbed it by the receiver. TRUSTED THE COLLEGE KID FOR GUN SAFETY! Asked immediately if the thing was a Rem 870. He was so embarassed but my mom & I knew it was unintentional but I kidded him unmerficely. I TOLD HIM HE WAS DAMN LUCKY I SOLD THOSE POS for a living and to send it back but it did made for a good story when I went to work that day!
Do tell us more! 870 HAVE 'PROBLEMS?
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My dad (LAPD Homicide Det.) kept locked & loaded weapons everywhere during the Watts Riots ( family even evauated during the uprising ) threatened to "pound the crap' if we even looked in his closet fulll of shotguns, rifles or pistols hidden else where and "never did" because of the fear of reprocussion
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Some 870 models do have a dis lodging receiver but not many send them back IMMEDIATELY if any issues arise
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Some 870 models do have a dis lodging receiver but not many send them back IMMEDIATELY if any issues arise
Never heard this before! Is it recent? How many (percent wise) is some?
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Not really sure if stats was really the case but I know of 2 cases in a few months in my area of returns to Remington to fix the problems in a couple 870 of faulty recievers. And they will stand behind their products and make 'em right.
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Thanks for the info! I was NOT trying to dis Remmys, just looking for info.
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Just trying to keep u informed ;D
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Thank GOD I picked the Mossberg.
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I think a large part of it is WE were 'afraid' of (read 'respected') our parents. Did we disobey and act up....sure. BUT we knew for darn sure where the line was.
Bottom line.... ADULTS were in charge and we (kids) knew that and repected that.
I couldn't agree more, Haz. My grandpa kept a loaded .38 S&W on top of his dresser and an unlocked gun cabinet, for as long as I can remember. Fear of getting my rear end tanned, along with proper safety training, were enough to keep me out of trouble. Time outs just don't have the same effect as a good ol' fashioned whoopin'. Fellow Americans, I implore you. Beat (spank) your kids, it may save their lives someday. If you don't have the stones to do it, ask a neighbor. Heck, call me, I may start a service. I see enough candidates in a single trip to Wal-Mart to keep me in business for a while. ;D
Swoop
P.S. Just in case... I was not condoning nor suggesting violent acts against children. Their is a difference between correction and abuse. I, for one, don't believe their is anything wrong with traditional spanking. I'm glad my parents cared enough to tan my hide.
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I couldn't agree more, Haz. My grandpa kept a loaded .38 S&W on top of his dresser and an unlocked gun cabinet, for as long as I can remember. Fear of getting my rear end tanned, along with proper safety training, were enough to keep me out of trouble. Time outs just don't have the same effect as a good ol' fashioned whoopin'. Fellow Americans, I implore you. Beat (spank) your kids, it may save their lives someday. If you don't have the stones to do it, ask a neighbor. Heck, call me, I may start a service. I see enough candidates in a single trip to Wal-Mart to keep me in business for a while. ;D
Swoop
P.S. Just in case... I was not condoning nor suggesting violent acts against children. Their is a difference between correction and abuse. I, for one, don't believe their is anything wrong with traditional spanking. I'm glad my parents cared enough to tan my hide.
I really agree with you on that Swoop. Too many parents nowadays are either too lazy or too afraid to discipline their child. I was raised the same way as most of the previous posts said. I got in trouble, it was the 2 inch wide, 1/4 inch thick leather belt to my hind end. It makes for better adults in the future.
Me being a parent now, with a daughter that is more stubborn than a drunk mule, has had to discipline her often. Just a quick and stinging swat to her backside is all it takes. No damage done, just temporary pain to remind her of what the rules are. And after every time, explain why she was being punished. It isn't done out of anger, but out of love.
She knows not to touch any of my guns without me being there. Strangely enough today, I just finished installing a new gun safe in my home to guarantee she stays out of them, but there are still a few left out for quick access. But the mystery of them is gone. She sees me handling one, she will ask to see it too. She looks at it, says that is GREAT, and is done. I have to add, she will be 3 years old on the 24th this month.
I am also glad in the Texas they actually have a law making it legal to reasonably discipline a child in public without fear of Child Protective Services being called on you.
I do have to say though, I am truly sorry for their loss. No matter what the circumstances. The loss of a child would be, by far, the worst thing I could think of.
Proverbs 13:24 - He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.
Proverbs 22:15 - Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.
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I couldn't agree more, Haz. My grandpa kept a loaded .38 S&W on top of his dresser and an unlocked gun cabinet, for as long as I can remember. Fear of getting my rear end tanned, along with proper safety training, were enough to keep me out of trouble. Time outs just don't have the same effect as a good ol' fashioned whoopin'. Fellow Americans, I implore you. Beat (spank) your kids, it may save their lives someday. If you don't have the stones to do it, ask a neighbor. Heck, call me, I may start a service. I see enough candidates in a single trip to Wal-Mart to keep me in business for a while. ;D
Swoop
P.S. Just in case... I was not condoning nor suggesting violent acts against children. Their is a difference between correction and abuse. I, for one, don't believe their is anything wrong with traditional spanking. I'm glad my parents cared enough to tan my hide.
Even Salomon said "Spare the rod and spoil the child". The phrase "rule of thumb" comes from the old tradition that if you hit your wife or kids with a stick smaller than your thumb it was not abuse.
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Even Salomon said "Spare the rod and spoil the child". The phrase "rule of thumb" comes from the old tradition that if you hit your wife or kids with a stick smaller than your thumb it was not abuse.
As far as the "rule thumb" thing, that was before Samuel Colt. ;D I think the best thing we could do to counter Islamic extremism, is start giving out guns to muslim women in Pakistan.
FQ13
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P.S. Just in case... I was not condoning nor suggesting violent acts against children. Their is a difference between correction and abuse. I, for one, don't believe their is anything wrong with traditional spanking. I'm glad my parents cared enough to tan my hide.
+100 on that Swoop!!
Glad my parents instilled,"tanned" this in me. Having raised three boys and the oldest being a new parent now I hope my wife and I have passed this on.