ST. PAUL, Minn. - A 3-year-old boy shot his mother in the knee with a 9mm handgun he had found under a couch cushion over the weekend, police said.
It was the second time the boy had handled the gun on Sunday. The mother had taken the gun away from the child and removed the bullets — apparently overlooking one in the chamber — and put the weapon back on the couch.
When the boy picked the gun up a second time, it fired. "It appears to be accidental," said St. Paul police spokesman Pete Crum.
The woman was taken to Regions Hospital, with non-life-threatening injuries. "It could have been much more tragic had the child shot himself or hit the woman in a more vital area," Crum said.
The boy was put in the care of his father.
Authorities removed several guns from the home. Crum said they were all legal.
Police said they would forward the case to the Ramsey County Attorney's office for possible child-endangerment charges.
"There are two lessons to learn: Don't let your children play with guns. Always treat a gun as though it's loaded," Crum said.
Its amazing, you need a licence for a gun, to drive, hell even to cut hair. but any dumba** can have a kid.
-mogwai wrote:that should be a class-action suit, actually...
You can't be serious... I don't want a debate, but you can't be serious. How would a dumb a** who left a LOADED wepon on/under the couch around a 3 year old child warrent a class action law suit.
infinitevalence wrote:if they put child proof triggers on guns we would be over run by deer, and ducks
-mogwai wrote:that should be a class-action suit, actually...
You can't be serious... I don't want a debate, but you can't be serious. How would a dumb a** who left a LOADED wepon on/under the couch around a 3 year old child warrent a class action law suit.
infinitevalence wrote:if they put child proof triggers on guns we would be over run by deer, and ducks
ooh... that was a low blow.... funny but low.
i was just saying that if there was going to be a suit against a gun manufacturer for a child safety lock, it should be a class action suit. it's not about the individual who left the gun lying around... it's about the potential that it might be used by someone who wasn't meant to use it (for example, babies getting into cupboards with toxic cleaning supplies and whatnot).
but if it was put up and stored properly then the 3 year old wouldnt have got into it. just like the cleaners.
some guns, like my colt have a grip saftey along with the main saftey. if you cant grip it tight enough no boom boom.
but just the idea of going after a company.... if the wepon had been stored properly and not on the couch then mom wouldnt have a limp. personal blame has to be taken somewere along the line.
ok I'm done venting ... sorry. some things just hack me off
bubba wrote:but if it was put up and stored properly then the 3 year old wouldnt have got into it. just like the cleaners.
some guns, like my colt have a grip saftey along with the main saftey. if you cant grip it tight enough no boom boom.
but just the idea of going after a company.... if the wepon had been stored properly and not on the couch then mom wouldnt have a limp. personal blame has to be taken somewere along the line.
ok I'm done venting ... sorry. some things just hack me off
look, dude... i don't disagree. people should store their guns properly. however, not every gun owner's very bright and the same goes for children. gunmakers need to be cautious of every risk and accomodate accordingly. after all, it's a gun... it kills people.
