Pa. teen accidentally shoots 80-year-old woman in the head

[left-of-center2012]

An 80-year-old woman has a bullet lodged in the back of her skull after an accidental shooting involving her grandson on Tuesday afternoon, according to reports.

Three 18-year-old men were on the upper floor of a home in Philadelphia, playing with a gun, the Inquirer reported from police. The older woman and her daughter were downstairs, when around 4 p.m.
the gun discharged upstairs, shooting through the floor and hitting the woman. The woman was in a wheelchair when she was shot, WPVI reported. The Inquirer reports that she is in stable condition at an area hospital, but the bullet is lodged in the base of her skull.

The woman’s grandson and one of the other men remained at the scene and were questioned, but the third left the scene, the Inquirer reported. His whereabouts are still unknown.

“This could have been very tragic. You got a grandmother sitting in her living room just enjoying the day and takes a bullet through the floorboards,” Captain John Walker told WPVI. The handgun believed to be used in the shooting was recovered by officers, the outlet reported. Officials did not immediately know who fired the gun.

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2022/03/pa-teen-accidentally-shoots-80-year-old-woman-in-the-head-report.html

[randr]

1. This is not an accident

If I mishandle a snake and it bites me is that an accident? An accident is something that couldn't be avoided.

[doc03]

2. Where was that "Good Guy with a Gun"? nt

[PBC_Democrat]

3. This wasn't a 'Bad guy with a gun' situation ...

It was three stupid kids with a gun and an irresponsible adult who made it possible.

The adult needs to be a jail jumpsuit by the end of the day today. Gun ownership comes with the responsibility to safeguard that weapon.

[doc03]

4. That was the point according to Wayne LaPiere if everyone had a

gun there would have been "A good guy with a gun" that have been prevented with more guns. I don't think you can blame an adult for not storing the gun safely when they were supposed to be adults themselves.

[atreides1]

7. Which adult?

They weren't kids...they were all 18, which makes them young adults!

[XanaDUer2]

16. They're 18 nt

[Sancho]

5. People Control, Not Gun Control

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 70’s, 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 weren’t secured are out of control in our society. As such, here’s what I now think ought to be the requirements to possess a gun. I’m not debating the legal language, I just think it’s 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 it’s 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 learner’s 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 driver’s 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.

[left-of-center2012]

6. "This is my generic response"

Yep

[FakeNoose]

10. The license you propose needs to be prohibitively costly

I agree with everything you say above, and I would add a high cost to getting the legal license. Why, because there will be administrative costs to maintaining the records and enforcing these gun laws. Also the gun owner who commits a violation should forfeit the weapon and the license if there should ever be ANY infractions. If the infraction results in injury to another person, the cost of that victim's medical care would be paid out of the licensing fund. I prefer to call it a bond, but you get the idea. The days of cheap Saturday Night Specials is long gone, or they should be gone.

[Demsrule86]

12. No 18 year old should have a gun unless he is in the military and on duty...so no...guns got to go

and they will eventually.

[MissMillie]

8. In all of my living years (and there have been a lot of them)

I have NEVER accidentally shot anyone w/ a gun.

Of course, guns don't hold any allure for me. And I find it difficult to understand the allure they have with others.

And so these three young men apparently find them fun, or interesting, or both. But, these three 18 year-olds didn't KNOW that it's a dumb idea to play with a gun? At 18? Are they mentally challenged? What's next for them? Juggling hand grenades? Ingesting lighter fluid? Shaving their nuts w/ a pairing knife?

Not one of the 3 could come out and say, "you know, if we want to do something stupid, let's put the gun down, go outside and play in traffic."?

[Demsrule86]

13. I used a gun once to save my life...stuck in the sticks in WVA...and a group of men tried to

break-in. After I moved back to the burbs and had kids, I gave the family guns from Grandpa back to the family...they hunt. I don't want my kid around guns and in Georgia, it was hard as many had guns and didn't lock them up...I believe these 'accidental shootings should end with jail time for the kid shooters and parents that leave guns lying around.

[MissMillie]

15. I'm glad you had what you needed to defend yourself.

I don't choose for others on this issue. I only choose for me.


I still don't understand why three 18 year-olds (or even just ONE of them) don't (doesn't) understand that guns are not toys. They're in the house w/ other people present. No intruder threat. The report does not indicate that they were cleaning the weapon.

They're legal adults literally PLAYING w/ a gun, at the risk of harming themselves and others.

There definitely should be consequences.

I say if you're and ADULT and you don't know that a gun isn't a toy, that should disqualify you from owning a gun.

[DFW]

9. "Officials did not immediately know who fired the gun."

Really? I do. It was some asshole who had no business being anywhere near a gun.

(Unless he was in Ohio, that is, apparently)

[Ilsa]

11. "playing with a gun" 'nuff said. nt

[BlackSkimmer]

14. "Three 18 year old men...were playing with a gun."

There is so much wrong with this sentence.