Gun kills 9 year old in Ft. Worth

[RPBrown]

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Fathers- ... 07185.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"When the gun went off"

Although a very tragic accident and the family is in our prayers, the gun didn't just go off. Poor gun safety practices caused this.

[maverick2076]

Title should be "Father Kills 9 year old in Ft. Worth" Saying the gun did it just goes to demonize firearms.

[philip964]

Title should be "Father Kills 9 year old in Ft. Worth" Saying the gun did it just goes to demonize firearms.

[couzin]

Title should be "Father Kills 9 year old in Ft. Worth" Saying the gun did it just goes to demonize firearms.

Agree as well! It just saddens me when a young person is harmed through no action of their own. Father, while I understand is needed in the family and for financial support, needs a negligient homicide charge. I also realize you can't legislate human brain / gun interaction (no matter how much California tries) - but punishment may wake up some gun owners.

[ScooterSissy]

Title should be "Father Kills 9 year old in Ft. Worth" Saying the gun did it just goes to demonize firearms.

Agree as well! It just saddens me when a young person is harmed through no action of their own. Father, while I understand is needed in the family and for financial support, needs a negligient homicide charge. I also realize you can't legislate human brain / gun interaction (no matter how much California tries) - but punishment may wake up some gun owners.

Wow. I have to say, this one sounds just a bit harsh to me.

Don't get me wrong, I understand it was due to negligence, and I also understand it was a homicde, but to charge the guy?

We have about 30,000 deaths due to motor vehicle accidents each year. I say "accidents", because that is what they are most commonly called - however, if we applied the same standard for the use of the terms as we do on here for "accidental discharge" and "negligent discharge", then I suspect the vast majority of those 30,000+ would be "negligent motor vehicle deaths".

Do we expect charges to be filed in those cases? Only if the offence was egregious. If the driver was drinking, if the driver was driving particularly fast or recklessly. We don't expect charges if someone takes a curve a little too fast, falls asleep at the wheel, fails to slow down enough on rain slick road, etc.

Why should weapons be treated any differently? Both the automobile and the handgun are tools that are dangerous if not handled properly. If this guy was showing off his latest quick draw technique or something foolish, I'd agree. If it's a case of man returning from the range, and taking a gun out of his bag that should have been cleared first, I think adding a negligent homicide would be piling on a bit.

My heart goes out to this family. I can't imagine what the man involved is going through right now.

[jmra]

Title should be "Father Kills 9 year old in Ft. Worth" Saying the gun did it just goes to demonize firearms.

Agree as well! It just saddens me when a young person is harmed through no action of their own. Father, while I understand is needed in the family and for financial support, needs a negligient homicide charge. I also realize you can't legislate human brain / gun interaction (no matter how much California tries) - but punishment may wake up some gun owners.

Wow. I have to say, this one sounds just a bit harsh to me.

Don't get me wrong, I understand it was due to negligence, and I also understand it was a homicde, but to charge the guy?

We have about 30,000 motor vehicle accidents each year. I say "accidents", because that is what they are most commonly called - however, if we applied the same standard for the use of the terms as we do on here for "accidental discharge" and "negligent discharge", then I suspect the vast majority of those 30,000+ would be "negligent motor vehicle deaths".

Do we expect charges to be filed in those cases? Only if the offence was egregious. If the driver was drinking, if the driver was driving particularly fast or recklessly. We don't expect charges if someone takes a curve a little too fast, falls asleep at the wheel, fails to slow down enough on rain slick road, etc.

Why should weapons be treated any differently? Both the automobile and the handgun are tools that are dangerous if not handled properly. If this guy was showing off his latest quick draw technique or something foolish, I'd agree. If it's a case of man returning from the range, and taking a gun out of his bag that should have been cleared first, I think adding a negligent homicide would be piling on a bit.

My heart goes out to this family. I can't imagine what the man involved is going through right now.

[Keith B]

I agree this sounds like a very tragic accident. I was always very cautious about taking loaded firearms out of holsters or bags. I have ANY AND ALL of my loaded guns in a holster that covers the trigger, even in storage in the safe or in a range bag. That way there is no chance something accidentally enters the trigger guard and could discharge the weapon.

Also, if you notice in the video, there is an TSRA and I believe NRA sticker on the storm door.

[Heartland Patriot]

I agree this sounds like a very tragic accident. I was always very cautious about taking loaded firearms out of holsters or bags. I have ANY AND ALL of my loaded guns in a holster that covers the trigger, even in storage in the safe or in a range bag. That way there is no chance something accidentally enters the trigger guard and could discharge the weapon.

Also, if you notice in the video, there is an TSRA and I believe NRA sticker on the storm door.

Agreed. Even when I can't carry "on my person", and I have it in a soft-sided case, I still keep it in the same Don Hume IWB. It serves a two-fold purpose. I can switch easily to having it "on", AND the trigger is covered by the holster. My Ruger has a safety, but that little switch is only one step in the whole process. Terrible and tragic incident. Seems like it could have been avoided, but of course we don't have all the details. I'm just sorry for the little girl whose young life was cut so short.

[speedsix]

...heartache enough to last a lifetime...first report I heard locally the announcer said he'd taken the clip out and forgot there was a round in the barrel...after the shot, it took them a bit to realize she'd been hit...I'd rather die than be that daddy...

[maverick2076]

IIRC, there is a seven day waiting period between when the crime occurs and when the person can be charged in cases of a ND resulting in a death.

[speedsix]

...he should be on suicide watch...his heart must be in a million pieces...I know it was his fault...but what a price to pay for a mistake...

[fickman]

May God have mercy on this man and his family.

We should all learn / reinforce a lesson from this, but I agree that he doesn't need to be dogpiled after the face.

[srothstein]

IIRC, there is a seven day waiting period between when the crime occurs and when the person can be charged in cases of a ND resulting in a death.

This is only in the law for when the child got the gun and shot someone. In a case like this, they could arrest immediately. Given the circumstances, I am glad they showed some compassion and did not arrest yet, but they are probably going to. I base that on the statement that they are waiting for an official cause of death ruling from the ME.

[C-dub]

I feel sorry for the guy and his family, but the gun should not have been loose in the bag. It should have either been in a proper holster or another case. It also shouldn't have been loaded. and loose in the bag.

I don't see how they will let this go without some kind of punishment. If they did it would give too many folks an idea of how they could get away with murder.