Child Accidentally Shot in Leg

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http://www.myfoxdc.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=5329626&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

MONROVIA, Md. (AP) -- A 5-year-old boy was accidentally shot in the leg by a loaded gun he found under a sofa cushion in his home, authorities said.

Charles Donato's wound was not life-threatening, said Capt. Tim Clarke of the Frederick County Sheriff's Office. The boy was being treated at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

The boy reached under the cushion Wednesday evening and touched the pistol, causing it to fire a 9mm bullet into his upper right thigh, Clarke said. The boy's two siblings weren't hurt.

Parents Gail and Richard Donato called 911 and rendered aid to their son until paramedics arrived, Clarke said.

Investigators seized several weapons from the home and are working to determine why a loaded handgun was left unattended and hidden beneath a sofa cushion.

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Not OC but we have talked about this in the past regarding leaving loaded weapons out and unsecured.

This kid was so lucky. The last person to handle that gun was irresponsible leaving there. That child is so lucky!!

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Touched the pistol and it went off? ....wow :banghead:

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You did not know that? Only takes touch!! Anywhere on the gun!!

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LEO 229 wrote:

You did not know that? Only takes touch!! Anywhere on the gun!!

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Speaking of people that may not be familiar with the operation of a pistol. I was invited to an ACLU meeting in Northern Virginia around the end of January. I think I may go and open carry. :celebrate

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I have 5 children and 2 grandchildren.



I keep loaded guns in my house.....BUT I have trained my children and grandchildren not to "touch" my guns.



I would never put a loaded gun under a sofa cushion or anywhere else that you might inadvertently "touch it"



To me the logical answer is that one of the boy's "siblings" had daddy's gun and hid it under the cushion.



Tarzan

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Could be daddy kept it there in case of a home invasion while he was watching the game.

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LEO 229 wrote:

Could be daddy kept it there in case of a home invasion while he was watching the game.

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I hope not. That's what holsters are made for. :banghead:



Tarzan

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Xeni wrote:

LEO 229 wrote:

You did not know that? Only takes touch!! Anywhere on the gun!!

Click to expand...

Speaking of people that may not be familiar with the operation of a pistol. I was invited to an ACLU meeting in Northern Virginia around the end of January. I think I may go and open carry. :celebrate

Click to expand...

Please do! With reports back to us. Don't forget the voice recorder!

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tarzan1888 wrote:

I have 5 children and 2 grandchildren.



I keep loaded guns in my house.....BUT I have trained my children and grandchildren not to "touch" my guns.



I would never put a loaded gun under a sofa cushion or anywhere else that you might inadvertently "touch it"



To me the logical answer is that one of the boy's "siblings" had daddy's gun and hid it under the cushion.



Tarzan

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I don't have kids but if I did I would still want a loaded gun in the house, most likely in my bedroom. Of course this is not much of a problem if you are always carrying the weapon when not sleeping - right?

But either way or if for some reason there was a gun in the house for my wife for instance I would teach my kids from the earliest age that they are able to understand and before they are able to climb up and get into things that a gun is NOT to be played with. I think they would have a curiosity about it nevertheless so I would also tell them that if they ever want to see the gun I will let them while in my presense BUT if I ever catch them playing with it without my permission......... I'd take them to an outdoor range and show them what a gun can do to a watermelon and ask them "what if that was you, or your sister"? Basically instill some respect into them by example since the issue would be rather abstract to a child otherwise.

I agree with your hypothesis, it might very well have been put there by one of the other siblings. I'd say the kid who got shot most likely knew it was there and that is why he was searching under the cushion. Otherwise the gun would most likely have to been stored there which is unlikely IMO. You'd have to be pretty irresponsible to do that! Either way it's a failure of parental control and discipline of their kids.

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Another thing I would do, being kids are kids, would be to put a small piece of paper or a hair between the slide and the face of the chamber so that if the slide were racked the indicator would fall out unnoticed and I would be able to tell if someone had touched the gun. You'd have to be careful that your method actually worked since oil could make the indicator stick in place. Perhaps even check the indicator's functionality every once in awhile.

Sneeky but better than finding out the hard way that your kid wasn't obeying you.

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Xeni wrote:

Speaking of people that may not be familiar with the operation of a pistol. I was invited to an ACLU meeting in Northern Virginia around the end of January. I think I may go and open carry. :celebrate

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Good! Go. Go and convince them to add the 2A to their agenda. If you're an attorney then please consider working with them on 2A cases.

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Doug Huffman wrote:

Xeni wrote:

Speaking of people that may not be familiar with the operation of a pistol. I was invited to an ACLU meeting in Northern Virginia around the end of January. I think I may go and open carry. :celebrate

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Good! Go. Go and convince them to add the 2A to their agenda. If you're an attorney then please consider working with them on 2A cases.

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That may work in localized chapters but I'm afraid the overall thrust of the ACLU is not protection of our constitutional rights but a society that is free of individual constraint and individual responsibility. From what I can tell it's a hedonistic democratic socialism. Guns, as is Christianity, are counter to that.

I haven't really tried to define their motives by observation of their actions. So the above definition is incomplete at best. But I am quite sure they as a group are not motivated by respect for the constitution. They merely use it as a means to their end. Check out the founders of the ACLU. Some individuals within are without doubt respecters of the Constitution so your idea may gain some traction. But don't be surprised if higher ups are not interested in 2A issues.

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This kid wasn't "accidentally" shot. Whoever put that gun under that couch cushion is as responsible for the injury as if they had pulled the trigger intentionally. Leaving a firearm unattended like that with kids around is idiotic, and whoever is responsible deserves prosecution.

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I agree..

In Virginia it is a crime.



§ 18.2-56.2. Allowing access to firearms by children; penalty.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to recklessly leave a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any child under the age of fourteen. Any person violating the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to authorize a child under the age of twelve to use a firearm except when the child is under the supervision of an adult. Any person violating this subsection shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. For purposes of this subsection, "adult" shall mean a parent, guardian, person standing in loco parentis to the child or a person twenty-one years or over who has the permission of the parent, guardian, or person standing in loco parentis to supervise the child in the use of a firearm.

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LEO 229 wrote:

I agree..

In Virginia it is a crime.



§ 18.2-56.2. Allowing access to firearms by children; penalty.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to recklessly leave a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any child under the age of fourteen. Any person violating the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to authorize a child under the age of twelve to use a firearm except when the child is under the supervision of an adult. Any person violating this subsection shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. For purposes of this subsection, "adult" shall mean a parent, guardian, person standing in loco parentis to the child or a person twenty-one years or over who has the permission of the parent, guardian, or person standing in loco parentis to supervise the child in the use of a firearm.

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That's a law that I agree with. Isee the need for loaded firearms for protection but that does not relieve us of the responsibility for keeping them out of the hands of children. We cantrain a kid about firearms, talk to a kid about never touching firearms without supervision and threaten them with punishment if they disobey, BUT they are still kids and some of them will get the firearm if it is available.If we keep a loaded firearm in a home with children we must take measures to insure the children cannot gain access to them. There are excellent quick access firearm boxes that we can get for that purpose.

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double tap!! Sorry

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acrimsontide wrote:

LEO 229 wrote:

I agree..

In Virginia it is a crime.



§ 18.2-56.2. Allowing access to firearms by children; penalty.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to recklessly leave a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any child under the age of fourteen. Any person violating the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to authorize a child under the age of twelve to use a firearm except when the child is under the supervision of an adult. Any person violating this subsection shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. For purposes of this subsection, "adult" shall mean a parent, guardian, person standing in loco parentis to the child or a person twenty-one years or over who has the permission of the parent, guardian, or person standing in loco parentis to supervise the child in the use of a firearm.

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That's a law that I agree with. Isee the need for loaded firearms for protection but that does not relieve us of the responsibility for keeping them out of the hands of children. We cantrain a kid about firearms, talk to a kid about never touching firearms without supervision and threaten them with punishment if they disobey, BUT they are still kids and some of them will get the firearm if it is available.If we keep a loaded firearm in a home with children we must take measures to insure the children cannot gain access to them. There are excellent quick access firearm boxes that we can get for that purpose.

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That is something I preach about all the time.

I have a gun in a quick access box nearby. NOBODY can get it but me and the wife.

I do not want friends to pick it up and play with it. I have seen cases where the owner is killed with his own gun at the hands of a dumb friend wanting to dry fire a loaded gun.

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acrimsontide wrote:

LEO 229 wrote:

I agree..

In Virginia it is a crime.



§ 18.2-56.2. Allowing access to firearms by children; penalty.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to recklessly leave a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any child under the age of fourteen. Any person violating the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to authorize a child under the age of twelve to use a firearm except when the child is under the supervision of an adult. Any person violating this subsection shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. For purposes of this subsection, "adult" shall mean a parent, guardian, person standing in loco parentis to the child or a person twenty-one years or over who has the permission of the parent, guardian, or person standing in loco parentis to supervise the child in the use of a firearm.

Click to expand...

That's a law that I agree with. Isee the need for loaded firearms for protection but that does not relieve us of the responsibility for keeping them out of the hands of children. We cantrain a kid about firearms, talk to a kid about never touching firearms without supervision and threaten them with punishment if they disobey, BUT they are still kids and some of them will get the firearm if it is available.If we keep a loaded firearm in a home with children we must take measures to insure the children cannot gain access to them. There are excellent quick access firearm boxes that we can get for that purpose.

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So you agree with resticting the rights of individuals based on age. 2A doesn't say as long as you are old enough.

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PT111 wrote:

acrimsontide wrote:

LEO 229 wrote:

I agree..

In Virginia it is a crime.



§ 18.2-56.2. Allowing access to firearms by children; penalty.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to recklessly leave a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any child under the age of fourteen. Any person violating the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to authorize a child under the age of twelve to use a firearm except when the child is under the supervision of an adult. Any person violating this subsection shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. For purposes of this subsection, "adult" shall mean a parent, guardian, person standing in loco parentis to the child or a person twenty-one years or over who has the permission of the parent, guardian, or person standing in loco parentis to supervise the child in the use of a firearm.

Click to expand...

That's a law that I agree with. Isee the need for loaded firearms for protection but that does not relieve us of the responsibility for keeping them out of the hands of children. We cantrain a kid about firearms, talk to a kid about never touching firearms without supervision and threaten them with punishment if they disobey, BUT they are still kids and some of them will get the firearm if it is available.If we keep a loaded firearm in a home with children we must take measures to insure the children cannot gain access to them. There are excellent quick access firearm boxes that we can get for that purpose.

Click to expand...

So you agree with resticting the rights of individuals based on age. 2A doesn't say as long as you are old enough.

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I was a kid.... I did some real dumb stuff.... I am happy I did not have a gun till I was past the age of 7. :lol: