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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGeorgia man shot dead by toddler, police chief says
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) A Georgia man was accidentally shot dead inside his home on Dec. 5 by a child just under 2 years old, Savannah Police Chief Roy Minter said Tuesday.
Minter said the toddler found the gun and fatally shot Walters, but would not disclose further details per the familys request for privacy. The department said the mans family members were there when it happened.
According to the Savannah Police Department, Dustin Walters was taken to the hospital where he later died.
We grieve along with the Walters family, Minter said Tuesday. As a parent, I cannot imagine what this family is going through or will continue to go through in the coming years.
https://www.kron4.com/news/national/georgia-man-shot-dead-by-toddler-police-chief-says/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=t.co&utm_campaign=socialflow
aeromanKC
(3,324 posts)how about not having a fucking gun in the house!!
Alex, "what will never happen in my house for a $1,000 please"
elias7
(4,007 posts)Has any gun owner ever used their gun for their expressed purpose? Seriously, who breaks into a house when people are at home? To do what? Gun owners are insane, imo
PatSeg
(47,501 posts)Meanwhile, how many accidental shootings have we heard of involving family members, the saddest often involve children.
It happened in my family years before I was born. Two teenage brothers dead from horsing around with a loaded gun. My grandfather would never recuperate from the guilt and wouldn't allow his grandchildren to play with toy guns in his presence. Some mistakes cannot be undone.
Kaleva
(36,312 posts)"home invasion
n.
Burglary of a dwelling while the residents are at home."
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/home+invasion
"23 Home Invasion Statistics You Should Be Afraid Of (Source: https://www.creditdonkey.com/home-invasion-statistics.html)"
https://www.creditdonkey.com/home-invasion-statistics.html
Demovictory9
(32,457 posts)Response to Demovictory9 (Reply #3)
Chin music This message was self-deleted by its author.
Thomas Hurt
(13,903 posts)Now if the gun is loaded and the hammer is cocked maybe. I just don't see a toddler pulling a trigger on a double action pistol.
doc03
(35,348 posts)semi-auto many have no safety. I don't have any toddlers in my place but I still don't have a round chambered in my semi-auto.
Response to RandySF (Original post)
Chin music This message was self-deleted by its author.
Victor_c3
(3,557 posts)raccoon
(31,111 posts)In the house who did it and then blamed the toddler.
The toddler wont go to jail for murder.
Silent3
(15,231 posts)...they'd have checked everyone, including the toddler, for gunpowder residue. That's just one detail off the top of my head I can think of the check. I doubt we're dealing with criminal masterminds here who could fake things well enough to sneak by even a half-assed investigation.
Sancho
(9,070 posts)This is my generic response to gun threads where people are shot and killed by the dumb or criminal possession of guns. For the record, I grew up in the South and on military bases. I was taught about firearms as a child, and I grew up hunting, was a member of the NRA, and I still own guns. In the 70s, I dropped out of the NRA because they become more radical and less interested in safety and training. Some personal experiences where people I know were involved in shootings caused me to realize that anyone could obtain and posses a gun no matter how illogical it was for them to have a gun. Also, easy access to more powerful guns, guns in the hands of children, and guns that werent secured are out of control in our society. As such, heres what I now think ought to be the requirements to possess a gun. Im not debating the legal language, I just think its the reasonable way to stop the shootings. Notice, none of this restricts the type of guns sold. This is aimed at the people who shoot others, because its clear that they should never have had a gun.
1.) Anyone in possession of a gun (whether they own it or not) should have a regularly renewed license. If you want to call it a permit, certificate, or something else that's fine.
2.) To get a license, you should have a background check, and be examined by a professional for emotional and mental stability appropriate for gun possession. It might be appropriate to require that examination to be accompanied by references from family, friends, employers, etc. This check is not to subject you to a mental health diagnosis, just check on your superficial and apparent gun-worthyness.
3.) To get the license, you should be required to take a safety course and pass a test appropriate to the type of gun you want to use.
4.) To get a license, you should be over 21. Under 21, you could only use a gun under direct supervision of a licensed person and after obtaining a learners license. Your license might be restricted if you have children or criminals or other unsafe people living in your home. (If you want to argue 18 or 25 or some other age, fine. 21 makes sense to me.)
5.) If you possess a gun, you would have to carry a liability insurance policy specifically for gun ownership - and likely you would have to provide proof of appropriate storage, security, and whatever statistical reasons that emerge that would drive the costs and ability to get insurance.
6.) You could not purchase a gun or ammunition without a license, and purchases would have a waiting period.
7.) If you possess a gun without a license, you go to jail, the gun is impounded, and a judge will have to let you go (just like a DUI).
8.) No one should carry an unsecured gun (except in a locked case, unloaded) when outside of home. Guns should be secure when transporting to a shooting event without demonstrating a special need. Their license should indicate training and special carry circumstances beyond recreational shooting (security guard, etc.). If you are carrying your gun while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you lose your gun and license.
9.) If you buy, sell, give away, or inherit a gun, your license information should be recorded.
10.) If you accidentally discharge your gun, commit a crime, get referred by a mental health professional, are served a restraining order, etc., you should lose your license and guns until reinstated by a serious relicensing process.
Most of you know that a license is no big deal. Besides a drivers license you need a license to fish, operate a boat, or many other activities. I realize these differ by state, but that is not a reason to let anyone without a bit of sense pack a semiautomatic weapon in public, on the roads, and in schools. I think we need to make it much harder for some people to have guns.
onethatcares
(16,172 posts)had large enough hands to grasp the butt of a pistol and the finger strength needed to pull the trigger. WTF is wrong with that picture?
doc03
(35,348 posts)Act_of_Reparation
(9,116 posts)And trigger pulls are light by design.
The construction of the gun isn't the issue here.
onethatcares
(16,172 posts)I'm not certain.
Perhaps the pistol was left on the table/bed/chair/tv/whatever with the hammer being cocked, live round in the chamber. Tyke picks up said pistol and squeezes trigger.........bang, dead guy.
or tyke knocks gun with round in chamber off table/bed/chair/tv/whatever and the safety doesn't work.....gun goes ........bang, dead guy.
this is presuming it's a semi automatic pistol. A revolver might be a totally different presumption.
It's also presuming the hammer was at rest.
Act_of_Reparation
(9,116 posts)If you are keeping a gun around for self-defense, all safety measures are ipso facto counter-intuitive. If you are under attack, you might not have time to load the weapon or chamber a round, and you don't want to be fumbling around for an external safety. As such, the "self-defense" crowd tends to leave loaded, chambered weapons in easy-to-reach places.
harumph
(1,902 posts)Da Da Da Goo Goo Boom!
Johnny2X2X
(19,066 posts)This idea that the majority of gun owners are responsible and keep their guns locked up is a fallacy. The average gun owner leaves their weapon in a drawer and probably loaded. Maybe on a shelf in a closet. Few use the gun locks most guns come with. Few have gun safes they keep secure. For the majority of gun owners, guns are like fireworks, something they like to have for fun and don't think of securing.
inthewind21
(4,616 posts)clearly felt threatened.
Crunchy Frog
(26,587 posts)Was it the guy who was shot, or was it someone else?
As long as there's never any accountability, this sort of thing will continue to happen. In any event, if you don't want to get shot by a toddler, then make sure that you're not around toddlers who have access to guns. If you don't take those precautions, you're kind of responsible for whatever happens to you.