Really, Really Bad : Toddler Shot & Killed Accidentally

[JoJoGunn]

This just should not happen, ever. What was this parent thinking? Why was the handgun not secured and away from the child? This is just the kind of thing that anti gun people look for so they can get our rights taken away to own any gun.

Toddler dead from gunshot
May 22, 2011 @ 01:00 AM


The Herald-Dispatch

ASHLAND,KY -- A toddler died Saturday night after accidentally discharging a gun that was in a vehicle with the 2-year-old child in the Cheddar's parking lot in Ashland, according to a press release from the Ashland Police Department.

Emergency responders were dispatched to the parking lot of the Ashland Town Center at 5:45 p.m. in response to several reports of a child that had been struck by a vehicle. When emergency personnel arrived to the scene, it became apparent that the 2-year-old child had been shot in the face.

The child was originally taken to King's Daughters Medical Center before being airlifted to the trauma center at Cabell Huntington Hospital.

A preliminary investigation by the Ashland Police Department indicated that a parent was putting another child into a car seat when the parent reported hearing the shot and turning around to see the 2-year-old lying in the passenger seat bleeding severely. The parent grabbed the child and ran for help. The press release said a parent had left the firearm in the vehicle, and it discharged when the child obtained it.

The Ashland Police Department will continue to investigate the incident.

Toddler dead from gunshot - The Herald Dispatch

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[HotGuns]

That should not have happened.

[sgb]

[babarock]

How very very sad and totally preventable. Stories like this break my heart.

[dukalmighty]

I realise there are a lot of things going on in peoples minds especially with small children,but if the gun was secured in a COM safe when not in direct control of it this would not have happened,this is another example besides theft that your guns need to be secured

[MattInFla]

There is nothing "accidental" about this - it is criminally culpable negligence. Nothing less.

It's tragic, to be sure, but the term "accident" carries with it a connotation of unavoidability - and this was COMPLETELY avoidable.

[tkruf]

There is nothing "accidental" about this - it is criminally culpable negligence. Nothing less.

It's tragic, to be sure, but the term "accident" carries with it a connotation of unavoidability - and this was COMPLETELY avoidable.

EXACTLY! This is inexcusable negligence. This is the very reason that firearms should be "locked" out of reach of children. This is so sad that a child's life was lost because of carelessness.

Yet more ammo for the "ANTI" crowd. Makes it look like we're all a bunch of idiots that don't know how to handle a weapon. Shew

[dV8r]

Was this an irresponsible parent, gun owner or both? IMHO, there is not enough detail to know for sure.
This I know, it is very sad. :-(

[Erick46590]

Even if the mag was in the gun, I doubt a two year old would be able to cock and switch the safety off. Easily avoidable...

[Hiram25]

Sad story. You are responsible for your weapon at all times, especially when around small children.

[tkruf]

Even if the mag was in the gun, I doubt a two year old would be able to cock and switch the safety off. Easily avoidable...

I believe the story indicated it was a Glock. No safety to switch off.

[GM]

Such a tragedy. Things like that should never happen.

[retsupt99]

Not good...no excuses...should never have happened.

[MKEgal]

This death was completely preventable.

The gun should have been in the parent's holster. Very very hard for a kid to get to it there, and if someone tried to do a purse snatch or car theft, it could have been defended against.

And the article linked & quoted up there didn't mention the brand of pistol. But you're right, if it was a Glock & the kid could depress the trigger (not hard to do) the safety would have come off.

[Aaron1100us]

Stories like this really upset me, no reason for this to ever happen. Come on people, be responsible with your firearms. This makes me sick.