POLICE: KY. GIRL, 2, ACCIDENTALLY SHOT, KILLED

[onehandle]

Source: AP

BURKESVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Authorities in southern Kentucky say a 2-year-old girl has been accidentally shot and killed by her 5-year-old brother, who was playing with a .22-caliber rifle he received as a gift.

Kentucky State Police said the toddler was shot just after 1 p.m. CDT Tuesday in Cumberland County and was taken to a nearby hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

Cumberland County Coroner Gary White told the Lexington Herald-Leader that the children's mother was at home at the time.

White told the newspaper that the boy received the rifle made for youths last year and is used to shooting it. He said the gun was kept in a corner and the family didn't realize a shell was left inside it.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/police-ky-girl-2-accidentally-shot-killed#overlay-context=article/mexico-detains-father-law-cartel-boss-guzman

[TDale313]

1. This is *so* fucked up!!!!

Who the fuck gives their five year old a gun?!? And then leaves a shell in it and allows the five year old to play with it around their two year old sibling? So many lives ruined by just plain stupidity. Poor kids

[Grins]

35. Look again...

The story said he was given the rifle last year, making him a 4-year old. Even more stew-pud.

[BlueStreak]

76. What kind of society doesn't immediately put those parents in jail

for child abuse and endangerment?

What kind of society allows people like that to continue to own firearms?

Those who are in favor of gun ownership should realize that these are the people who most threaten your "right" to keep guns.

[Warpy]

2. Who the hell gives a 5 year old a .22 rifle

and lets him play with it alone?

This is nuts. Kids that age aren't even old enough for BB guns.

Something is incredibly wrong with that family.

[Skittles]

16. gun humpers do

yup

[truthisfreedom]

17. Apparently non-thinking idiot gun nuts do.

[Kelvin Mace]

38. People who will be sobbing at the funeral

but saying it's OK, because "God took their little girl home".

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

71. My thoughts too...

[SummerSnow]

42. So true.But the parents will be the first to talk about their "rights"to have that gun.

[Myrina]

43. The rifle was probably as tall as he is!!

[Courtesy Flush]

49. NOPE! It was a gun that's made just for little kids. I'm not kidding.

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/guns/5-year-old-kentucky-boy-fatally-shoots-2-year-old-sister-his-own-rifle

[colorado_ufo]

3. Not a 5 year old, a FOUR year old! He got the rifle last year!

And they kept it in the corner of the room? My head is spinning.

The stupid - it burns!

[tblue]

4. Are they still glad they got him that gun?

A train set wouldn't do? A bike with training wheels? No. It's gotta be a freaking gun. Both parents, you go right to the pokey. You don't get to raise that boy anymore. Ugh. Madness!

[Journeyman]

5. Well, everyone in that family hopefully learned a lot about irresponsible gun ownership today. . .

If there's justice in Cumberland County, tomorrow the parents will begin their schooling on what the inside of prison is going to feel like for the foreseeable future, and the boy will meet his new guardians.

[Skittles]

15. I bet they don't learn a damn thing

[Soylent Brice]

19. +1

[SummerSnow]

44. Youre right .All theyll do is buy their son another gun....

Then he'll might accidently shoot them.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. A 4 year old was given a rifle

That is way beyond fucked up.

[Kalidurga]

7. This isn't an accident.

The parents gave a 4 year old a gun on purpose.

[snooper2]

60. in the comments section this was written: who gives a 5yo a gun as a gift????

This is one response: Apparently, someone who regrets having a second child

[defacto7]

8. Grand mal stupid

[Warren DeMontague]

9. Oh, God.

Ugggggggggggh.

[TheMadMonk]

10. Who will be the first to try defending the indefensible? /nt

[ReRe]

11. Total negligence!

Those two parents should be sterilized. Period. God... babies killing babies.

[Pholus]

12. "NRA Talking Points™ spewing gun fetishist" in the house?

Referring to the thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1172&pid=121401

The very definition of Cherry Picking is only highlighting the good (like every case of Defensive Gun Use to cross the newswires anywhere, anytime as in the first thread). Now attempts to highlight every cost or tragedy can't have the luxury of INDIVIDUAL posts....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1262886

[Doctor_J]

36. This is the consequence of too many laws

This could have been prevented by a good 5-year-old with a gun. Would you rather he'd killed his sister with a baseball bat?

How did I do getting the ball rolling?

[Crunchy Frog]

56. The 2 year old should have had her own gun.

[Robb]

65. And NRA training courses. In daycare. Mandatory.

It's really the only solution.

[Pholus]

68. Sadly I feel like I just went 10 rounds with one of them right there.... ;)

It's just sad....

[SunSeeker]

13. "the boy received the rifle made for youths last year"

This is why gun manufacturers made sure they got themselves exempted from product liability law.

Lawn darts for kids? No way, those dangerous pointy things have been pulled off the market!

Guns? Oh sure, we have some specially made for kids...for ease of shooting by their tiny hands.

[GreenStormCloud]

34. They are not exempt from product liability law.

If the gun is defective and causes harm, the manufacturer can still be sued. They can't be sued for the stupidity of the owner or for illegal actions of the owner. You can't sue Ford if someone lets a kid get behind the wheel and drive.

It was extremely stupid for the parents to give a kid that young a gun. I was eleven when my folks gave me a shotgun, and made sure I knew the safety rules.

[SunSeeker]

48. Yes, they are. Educate yourself at this link:

http://m.dailykos.com/story/2013/01/31/1183784/-2005-Law-Gives-Gun-Manufacturers-and-Dealers-Protection-From-Lawsuits-Not-Given-to-Other-Industries

Ford doesn't design cars for kids to drive. If they did, they'd get sued. Gun manufacturers purposely make "youth" rifles designed to be fired by kids. And yet they can't get sued for that. That is insane. And criminal.

[GreenStormCloud]

50. Your own link supports what I say.

From your link: The Washington Post has an article about the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, a law which
prohibits suits against gun dealers and manufacturers “for the harm caused by those who criminally or unlawfully misuse firearm products.”

That is exactly what I said. Regarding the Sandy Hook lawsuit, biometric locks are still science fiction, vaporware. They don't exist yet. So that lawsuit will fail.

You can't sue Ford because somebody let a kid get behind the wheel.

[SunSeeker]

51. You can sue Ford if they design a car for a kid to use. But not if guns are designed for kids.

You are missing the point.

The link does not support your assertion that gun manufacturers are subject to the same product liability laws as other manufacturers. It shows that the NRA slipped in a law in 2005 that allows them to build products that cause more harm than benefit and not get sued.

[GreenStormCloud]

53. Boy's 22s are designed for about age 10,

and are to be used under adult supervision. Age 4, unsupervised, is a misuse, and not covered under product liability law. The parents screwed up very badly. The gun maker is not to blame as his product functioned as advertised.

If a 4 year old picks up an electric kitchen knife and cuts someone with it, is GE to blame?

[SunSeeker]

62. Are you saying it's reasonable to make guns for 10 year olds?! nt

[GreenStormCloud]

72. For use under adult supervision - Yes.

Boy's 22s have been made since before I was born, and I am old enough that I am collecting SS by reason of age. Dad gave me a shotgun when I was 11. I still have it.

[SunSeeker]

73. Wow. That explains a lot about your posts here. nt

[Skittles]

14. "Guns don't kill people...."

except, they DO

[FlaGranny]

18. Good Lord!

Kids that age don't even understand that death is permanent. A 4 or 5-year-old doesn't have the maturity or self control to NOT shoot at someone if they get angry. Stupid, stupid parents.

[alcibiades_mystery]

20. ...

...

[thucythucy]

21. This poor kid (the brother) is going to have to live with this

for the rest of his life.

What a nightmare.

[PD Turk]

22. Morons!!

In my family we were at least 10 when we got a BB gun and 12-14 when we got the real thing, and there was no guarantee when we could get them even then. When Dad percieved that we were mature enough to have them is when we got them, and we weren't allowed to shoot them unsupervised.

The type of negligence displayed here...... I don't even know where to start

[leftynyc]

23. Parents should be held responsible for this

Giving a loaded gun to a 4 year old? Their fetish for guns has gotten them a dead child and one who will be damaged for life. I hope they're happy now.

[upsidedownforklift]

24. Tragic

The greatest and most overlooked problem in society is bad parenting.

[Robb]

25. Joe Camel? No. Lawn darts? No. Rifle made for kiddos? HELLZ YEAH!!!

[Exultant Democracy]

26. All 5 year olds should have their guns taken away.

All parents who bought these "youth guns" should be given a choice, your guns or your kids.

All those who manufacture and sell guns for kids should be banned from gun sales.

[BootinUp]

27. What is wrong wth people.

Such a pointless tragedy.

[City Lights]

28. That is so messed up!

[Javaman]

29. moron parents. nt

[tarheelsunc]

30. Guns don't kill people, 5 year olds do.

Let's use the NRA's stance and charge this sociopath with murder.

[Granny M]

31. I can't fathom the parents' thought process.

I worry about the safety of a backyard slide that i want to give my grandkid for his birthday.

That 5 year old should be removed from the home. And I don't say that lightly. That is neglect of the highest order.

[avebury]

32. I refused to feel any sympathy for the family.

The parents showed total disregard for common sense in giving a rifle (even one made for "children&quot to a young child. The parents should be thrown in jail facing whatever charges the authorities can charge them with because a normal adult would have been able to foresee the consequences of their choice. Their toddler daughter never stood a chance. If love for your children is not sufficient for parents to insure their safety then they do not deserve to be parents. It is time that the legal system starts putting these idiots in jail.

[Crunchy Frog]

70. I hope the 5 year old can get a good adoptive family

and get the kind of therapy he's going to need. I hope he can come out of this with the understanding that the parents killed his sister and that he bears no responsibility for what happened.

I hope he doesn't have to spend the rest of his life tormented by guilt over this.

And true, if you love guns more than you love your children, then you shouldn't have children. I would be pleased if those parents got life sentences and no further opportunities to procreate.

[baldguy]

33. It was an accident. I'm sure the 5 yr old was a responsable gun owner.

sad sarcasm:

[Arctic Dave]

37. Awww, they look so cute with their guns at that age.

Nothing says good parenting like giving a child something that can kill other people.

[onehandle]

39. 'Thanks for the gun, Dad. But I wanted a pony.'

Boom.

[harmonicon]

63. Well, now they can go get their own pony. Kids need to learn some responsibility.

You know, something about bootstraps. If that girl wants a pony, she's just going to have to go shoot someone who has a pony and take it herself, or hold up a liquor store to get the cash to buy the pony or something.

[SammyWinstonJack]

66. A future Sarah Palin in the making.

[sigmasix]

40. they killed their daughter

These adults gave thier 4 year old son a gun to show all those nasty libruls that they can do anything they want to with a gun. The parents cultivated the murder of thier own daughter just to show how ignorant gun safety advocates are. The NRA continues to support the murder of our children by working so hard at placing guns in the hands of toddlers, rapists, wife beaters and pedophiles.
Anyone that is a member of the NRA supports violent gun crimes and irrespponsible gun ownership. There really is no other choice for gun fetishizers and violent felons- NRA membership comes with ready-made conspiracy theory justifications for the murder of thousands of Americans because of NRA-created legislation and thier antiAmerican aims.
Why do gun nuts hate America so much?

[kestrel91316]

41. Everyone in that community is probably going to mourn this

"senseless tragic ACCIDENT" instead of insisting that the irresponsible gun-owning parents be prosecuted for child endangerment and murder.

[L0oniX]

45. ...add IQ test along with background checks.

Being stupid is not against the law ...if it was we wouldn't have a congress.

[Politicub]

46. You gun grabbers! Guns don't kill people

Five year olds do!

Zomg Who will protect the 2nd amendment rights of kindergartners if not gun strokers!!!!$$:



Seriously, second amendment absolutists are the lowest of scum. The debate is over and the American people have decided by a wide margin that we want comprehensive gun control laws.

The only thing standing in front of sensible gun control are chicken shit republicans who have sold their souls to the NRA.

[thesquanderer]

47. The only thing that stops a 5 year old with a gun is a 2 year old with a gun

Let's see the NRA fly with that one.

[arcane1]

52. Too young for a car, or for beer, or for a PG13 movie, but guns are made specially for them.

Mind-boggling.

[Crunchy Frog]

54. Whichever adult is found responsible should never see the outside of a prison again.

"Rifle made for youths". Is this your responsible gun ownership, guys?

[liberal N proud]

55. The children who die as a result of gun shot are mere sacrifice for the right to bear arms

This must be the only way the NRA and gun advocates can quantify these senseless deaths. So they can pack heat, some children must die.

Sad analogy for our Constitutional Rights when so many have to pay the price for others.

[tomm2thumbs]

57. I mean c'mon... everyone knows guns are only appropriate as Bridal Gifts!

Guns: Perfect Wedding Gifts....
http://hhshootingsports.com/WireShots/archives/1465


oh wait, I stand corrected. Here's an entire article on how to pick the right gun & ammo for your child
http://www.gunsandammo.com/2012/10/29/ga-basics-how-to-choose-your-kids-first-gun/

I was obviously undermisinformed about this entire subject!

[maxsolomon]

58. Criminal Negligence

Negligent Homicide. Both parents. File charges tomorrow.

You left your KINDERGARTNER alone with a LOADED gun "for less than 3 minutes" (to go smoke a cigarette?).

[harmonicon]

61. Imagine how much worse it would have been if the 5 year old weren't a responsible gun owner. (nt)

[ileus]

64. Firearm safety is no accident.

Other than SD firearms no other firearm should ever be loaded in the home.

And SD firearms should always be at the adults side when out for the protection of the family.

[Jefferson23]

67. No matter how you slice the results of giving a gun to a four year old toddler, this ends

tragically for the boy. Parents who give a gun and leave it unattended propped up in a
corner are now possibly facing criminal negligence....and who will help the boy process
this horrific accident? His dopey Mom and Dad?

The idiot parenting is beyond comprehension.

[NoodleyAppendage]

69. Why isn't the AP title, "Negligent Parents Contribute to Shooting Death of 2 Yr Old Daughter"?

These STUPID and PREVENTABLE "accidents" need to be rephrased to put the blame on the parents, who quite frankly were criminally negligent in giving a gun to a 5 year old in the first place.

[Bay Boy]

78. I agree...

...that would be a better headline.

[Sunlei]

74. "the family didn't realize a shell was left inside" family let the 5 yr old, dry shoot the gun??

Adults in the family left a gun lay around like it was just a toy.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

75. The worst things about this story are:

Last edited Sat May 4, 2013, 05:42 PM - Edit history (1)

1. Miniature brightly colored firearms marketed specifically to small children

2. Laws on the books specifically protecting gross negligence in storing and handling such weapons from liability and prosecution such as would result from such negligence with almost anything else aside from GUNS.

Edit: My number 2 may not strictly be correct, it's more the lack of statutes addressing negligent gun storage. I can't find good sources on the matter of what Kentucky law says regarding this one way or another. There are laws regarding handguns and liability but not rifles and shotguns, apparently.

[Beacool]

77. So sad!!!

What kind of idiot parents give a 5 year old a loaded rifle???? Don't bother, it's a rhetorical question.

[daleo]

79. Guns are like cigarettes

You want to get them young to establish a life long habit. Mature adults tend not to take up either activity, if they aren't introduced to them while they are young. Church is generally the same.