IT'S NOT THE GUNS - PARTS 6 AND 7

A teenager in Marrero died Sunday after being shot in what the shooter said was an accident.

Christian Cardon, 23, told investigators he didn’t know there was a bullet in the chamber of his new AR-15 semi-automatic rifle when he pulled the trigger early Sunday morning.

A single shot fired, striking 16-year-old Trey Stahl, of Marrero, in the neck, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesman Col. John Fortunato said.

Stahl was pronounced dead at the scene, Fortunato said.

Cardon, 23, 1718 Gulf Drive, Gretna, was booked into Jefferson Parish Correctional Center on one count of negligent homicide.
....

It was the second time in a week that a child has been killed in what authorities are calling accidental shootings.

Brandajah Smith, 5, shot herself in the head with a .38 caliber gun June 23 after her mother left her locked and alone in her house on North Galvez Street.

Brandajah’s mother, Laderika Smith, 28, a convicted thief and prostitute, was booked with second-degree murder in the child’s death.
....

Louisiana has the nation’s second-highest rate of childhood gun deaths, after Alaska. In 10 years, more than 1,000 children were killed by bullets in the state — 739 were murdered, 224 committed suicide and 89 were killed accidentally.

In a country with weak firearm laws and a state with some of the weakest gun laws in the country, is it any wonder that the accidental shootings are all too frequent?  The National Rifle Association blathers on about the mentally ill with access to guns, lack of enforcement of present weak gun laws, and the warning that enactment of stronger gun control laws will result in only criminals having guns.  But what's the NRA's solution for stupid and irresponsible people who own guns?  I'd guess the group would suggest their usual solution - more guns with fewer restraints.  How many deaths will it take to bring us to our senses?

IT'S NOT THE GUNS - PART 4

A Texas girl died on Tuesday night after being accidentally shot with an AK-47 assault-style rifle while her stepbrother was “making the weapon safe by pulling the trigger,” authorities said.

In a press release on Wednesday, Johnson County Sheriff Bob Alford explained that deputies responded to a call Tuesday night about 8 p.m to find 13-year-old Emilee Bates shot in the stomach.
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Bates was taken to a Fort Worth hospital, where she died at around 10 p.m. Tuesday night. Officials said that the incident was considered an accident and no charges would be filed.

According to KXAS, this was the fourth fatal accidental shooting of a child in North Texas in less than one month.

What every household needs: a loaded AK-47.  Four fatal accidental shootings of children just in north Texas in one month, but it's not about guns.  Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!  How many children's deaths will it take to bring us to our senses?

IT'S NOT THE GUNS - PART 3

A Tullahoma man is accused of shooting his 13-month-old baby girl Sunday night while cleaning a handgun at the family's home.

Kevin Sayre, 26, faces a charge of aggravated assault after police said he was cleaning the 9mm gun at the East Gate Apartments when the weapon fired, striking the baby in the chest.
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The child is listed in critical but stable condition.

"We're always disappointed, astounded, surprised when we heard of someone who is handling a firearm recklessly, neglectfully," said Tullahoma Police Chief Paul Blackwell.

Why is the police chief astounded or surprised by stories of reckless handling or storage of loaded guns?  I decided to limit my series of reports of accidental shootings to infants and children, because I could not keep up with the weekly numbers if I included adults.  I don't even manage to keep up with all the reports of children who are victims of accidental shootings.

H/T to David Waldman at Daily Kos, who documents the shootings this week.   I did not know there were quite so many in just one week.

IT'S NOT THE GUNS - PART 2

The Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office is investigating a shooting at the Haymeadow Trailer Park in Bossier City that sent an 11-year-old boy to the hospital.

Authorities say two boys, aged 11 and 13, were at the older child's home around 4 p.m. Friday when the teen accidently shot the 11-year-old in the abdomen with a .22 handgun revolver. The weapon belongs to a family member of the teenager.

The injuries to the 11 year old boy are not life-threatening, and the shooting was determined to be accidental.  Will anyone be held responsible for owning a loaded hand-gun which is accessible to children?

The NRA brays about restrictions on responsible gun owners, but, in addition to guns used to commit crimes, frequent accidents involving guns and children indicate that a good many gun owners, who, though they do not use their weapons to commit crimes, are obviously not responsible gun owners.  Would it be against the 2nd Amendment to pass laws requiring gun owners to secure their weapons and ammunition to prevent children from having access?  I think not.

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.  

The "well-regulated" descriptive in the 2nd Amendment is completely ignored by those opposed to regulations on gun ownership.  Before the spate of mass shootings, an incident such as the above may not have been the subject of a news report, so perhaps we should consider that we are making progress.

IT'S NOT THE GUNS...

A man accidentally shot himself in the leg while bowling at Jupiter Lanes about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, police said. Witnesses said the man had been carrying a gun in the pocket of his shorts.

"The guy just stepped up to bowl," Jim Miller said. "I think he hit his leg on his back swing."

Added fellow witness Mike Martin: "The ball hit him in the leg, which triggered the revolver."

I did not realize this sort of incident happened so often.  Or is the media just beginning to take note?  The consequences this time are not grave, but they could have been.  Bowling with a loaded pistol in his pocket?  Is this man a responsible gun owner?

H/T to Charles Pierce.

WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?

The Tyler Morning Telegraph has learned that a Van Independent School District employee accidentally was shot during a district-sponsored concealed handgun license class on Wednesday.

The class was part of an effort to permit teachers to carry firearms on VISD campuses.

....

[School board member Leslie] Goode would not disclose the identity of the employee or the nature of the injury, but did say the accident would not change his mind about a recent decision by the board to arm some teachers.

Thank heaven the person was not killed or badly wounded.  Sadly, I fear this is not the last of this kind of story we are likely to hear as the push for guns in schools continues.

Image from Wikipedia.