GUNS DON'T KILL PEOPLE, OR DO THEY?

[HairOfTheDog]

I think people should just stop being stupid about guns. Keep them locked up. Ammo in a separate place. If you keep a gun for protection, put a lock box in your bedroom or nightstand. Just make sure it's safe and not left or "hidden" where a child can find it. It's not rocket science.

Seems simple, right?

And, yet, the accidental shooting of children (seem to be getting younger and younger) still happens regularly because adults leave loaded weapons in reach.

These three separate incidents have all gone down in the last 10 days.
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2-YEAR-OLD SHOT IN THE FACE BY 4-YEAR-OLD - POLICE INVESTIGATING WHETHER TO FILE CHARGES AGAINST MOTHER
COCHRANTON, Pa. (AP) — A 2-year-old boy was accidentally shot in the face by his 4-year-old brother who found a loaded gun in their northwestern Pennsylvania home while their mother slept.

Sgt. Mark Zaleski says the victim was shot in the face, beneath his right eye, when his brother accidentally fired the .380-caliber Ruger pistol.

Police haven't said who owns the gun or who might be criminally responsible for it falling into the boy's possession.

Zaleski says the boy's mother was napping at the time. Another 1-year-old child was also in the house.

The boy was being treated at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC -- he was reportedly in critical condition --no report on his current condition..

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Broth...407090.php
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3-YEAR-OLD SHOOTS 2-YEAR-OLD TO DEATH IN UTAH - POLICE INVESTIGATING AS TO WHETHER TO FILE CHARGES AGAINST PARENTS
LOGAN, Utah - A 2-year-old Utah boy has died after being accidentally shot by his 3-year-old sister with a rifle.

Cache County sheriff's Lt. Mike Peterson says the boy was shot in the stomach with a .22-caliber rifle Friday evening in the family's home in College Ward.

"The gun had been used earlier in the day by the victim's father and was set down after returning home," said Cache County Sheriff's Lt. Mike Peterson, according to CBS affiliate KUTV in Salt Lake City. "The gun was in an unloaded state but did have live rounds in the magazine. We believe the three-year-old had to manipulate the action enough to chamber a live round prior to the incident occurring."

All family members were home and the boy's mother immediately called for assistance.

First-responders - some just a few houses away - rushed to the home and transported the boy in critical condition to Logan Regional Hospital, where he underwent surgery, KUTV reports. An air ambulance then flew him from Logan to Primary Children's Hospital, where he died.

Peterson says while investigators believe the shooting was accidental, they'll submit a report to the county Attorney's Office for review. The office will determine whether any charges are filed.

http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/Utah-...46741.html
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4-YEAR-OLD SHOOTS AND WOUNDS 3-YEAR-OLD IN MISSOURI - FATHER ARRESTED FOR CHILD ENDANGERMENT


^ Larry Madison, 27, was charged Monday with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child and marijuana possession.

The incident happened at a home in the 9000 block of Lorna Ln. in St. Louis around 12:30 p.m. on Easter.

According to police, Madison left a loaded shotgun within easy reaching distance of his two sons (in a closet), ages 3 and 4. Police say he was smoking marijuana and his wife was sleeping in another room when the 4-year-old picked up the shotgun and shot his 3-year-old brother.

The victim was transported to the hospital with a graze injury that appeared to be minor (thankfully).

Madison was taken into custody and the gun was removed from the home.

http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Police-Fa...32611.html
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