Illegal under Texas law?
A person commits an offense if a child under 17 gains access to a readily dischargeable firearm and the person with criminal negligence failed to secure it or left it in a place to which the person knew or should have known the child would gain access.
It is an affirmative defense if the access was supervised by a person older than 18 and was for:
* Hunting, sporting, or other lawful purposes.
* Consisted of lawful defense of people or property.
* Was gained by entering property unlawfully.
* Or occurred during a time when the actor was engaged in an agricultural enterprise.
*****
Now, I understand that it's a legal defense since it was used in "lawful defense"...but how in the heck could Dad have known that when he left it available? And if he knew they'd be in danger, then wouldn't leaving the children in danger be illegal?
Anyhow, I'm glad this kid was trained and had access to a firearm to defend himself. I hope he's coping with the stress of it, he did good.