https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:19:05 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parent-charged-with-childs-self-inflicted-gun-fatality#post-1164102 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 15:45:45 +0000 Vegmama 1164102@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think every situation is different, but my heart says that a responsible gun owner would know how to properly lock &amp; store their gun. ESPECIALLY when there's a child/children in the house, gun safety should be exercised to a ridiculous extent. If it wasn't their child, it could have been a friend or family member who shot themselves ... In both situations, I believe the owner/parents were negligent. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parent-charged-with-childs-self-inflicted-gun-fatality#post-1163885 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 14:34:45 +0000 MsLipGloss 1163885@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@TurtleDoves: Ha :) I just know that in so many cases, the only people willing to give a(n initial) statement to the press is/are law enforcement. . . especially if there is a defense attorney involved who is advising their client to keep their mouth shut! It's usually in law enforcement's interest to speak up, and usually in the accused's best interest to stay quiet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parent-charged-with-childs-self-inflicted-gun-fatality#post-1163869 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 14:30:38 +0000 yoursilverlining 1163869@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Freckles: I agree that it should be the gun owner's responsibility, even if it was someone else who left the gun underfur sofa. It is the gun owner's responsibility to act in a responsible manner with their gun; follow up on where it is and ensure it's being stored responsibly at all times. </p> <p>I think if a gun owner isn't storing their weapons per any weapon-storage laws/rules in their area, they should be liable. </p> <p>My heart thinks they should be liable regardless of how their weapons are stored, if a child gets to them and violence occurs...but I'm hesitant on what the real-world legal limits of legislation like that would look like. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parent-charged-with-childs-self-inflicted-gun-fatality#post-1163854 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 14:25:47 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 1163854@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: I *love* (and I mean it) that you always offer the attorney's perspective because we must *always* consider all accounts and look at what is and isn't actually legal. I encourage it. But, when I answer these questions (see well thought-out response below), I do so in a very instinctive 'right off the bat' kind of way. </p> <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: absolutely. Dumba** guy. Store a fun properly. Arguably: how does the law define a "properly store gun" ? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parent-charged-with-childs-self-inflicted-gun-fatality#post-1163843 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 14:20:55 +0000 kiddosc 1163843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: True, I didn't think of it that way. Maybe he manned up and admitted he left the gun out, who knows. Perhaps all adults living in the home should be charged to some extent for not providing a safe environment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parent-charged-with-childs-self-inflicted-gun-fatality#post-1163835 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 14:19:12 +0000 Freckles 1163835@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There are more horrible cases in this old article: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/29/us/children-and-guns-the-hidden-toll.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/29/us/children-and-guns-the-hidden-toll.html</a></p> <p>It depends on the circumstances, but i think the parent/gunowner should be charged. It is their gun, their responsibility. I don't care *who* left the gun under the sofa, it's someone's responsibility. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parent-charged-with-childs-self-inflicted-gun-fatality#post-1163814 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 14:11:43 +0000 Mrsbells 1163814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think everytime someone doesnt lock their gun away in a safe and someone else gets access to it and hurts other people they should be held accountable in some way.<br /> In this case the gun was left under the sofa! Thats terrible </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parent-charged-with-childs-self-inflicted-gun-fatality#post-1163810 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 14:10:08 +0000 MsLipGloss 1163810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kiddosc: Maybe not as obvious as the article would have you believe . . . "Police say" . . . what if it was one of her caretaker's (or the home owner's)? Who is going to admit that it was their gun? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parent-charged-with-childs-self-inflicted-gun-fatality#post-1163807 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 14:09:39 +0000 edelweiss 1163807@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i would prefer laws that prescribe some guidelines about how firearms should be stored around children, and/or more public education regarding safe use and storage.</p> <p>my concern about charging the parents with manslaughter or the like is that there is a lot of room for interpretation and that the laws would be selectively enforced against parents based on discriminatory factors, such as race or socioeconomic status. for example, if ted turner (i'm just picking his name out of a hat, i don't know whether he owns a gun) had a child who accidentally shot him/herself, would there be a criminal charge? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parent-charged-with-childs-self-inflicted-gun-fatality#post-1163800 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 14:07:41 +0000 loveisstrange 1163800@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lindsay05: Yep.</p> <p>A responsible gun owner properly stores his/her weapon. I think they should be liable for a charge of negligence, at least. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parent-charged-with-childs-self-inflicted-gun-fatality#post-1163795 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 14:06:19 +0000 kiddosc 1163795@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>"she found a loaded .22-caliber pistol that police say Clark had left under the couch"</p> <p>It is very obvious that he didn't take precautions to keep the child away from the weapon. I think he should definitely be charged. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parent-charged-with-childs-self-inflicted-gun-fatality#post-1163791 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 14:03:49 +0000 pui 1163791@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>From the article, it sounds like this guy should go down for as much as possible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parent-charged-with-childs-self-inflicted-gun-fatality#post-1163789 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 14:03:18 +0000 Adira 1163789@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Part of me thinks that losing a child is probably punishment enough. But then when I think about said child killing someone ELSE, then I do think the parents need to be held responsible. And then I think if they're going to be responsible for their child's actions with a gun, then it doesn't matter who was killed (the child or someone else).</p> <p>So... yes? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parent-charged-with-childs-self-inflicted-gun-fatality#post-1163787 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 14:03:11 +0000 Lindsay05 1163787@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, any responsible gun owner knows to store their guns safely and properly, including keeping all ammo stored seperately.</p> <p>ETA: losing your own child is probably punishment enough. Maybe he should be charged with improper storage of the firearm ( i havent actually read the article so not sure if this firearm was legally stored). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parent-charged-with-childs-self-inflicted-gun-fatality#post-1163778 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 13:59:53 +0000 MsLipGloss 1163778@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like any other crime, it all depends on the facts and the level of egregiousness (and there are only enough here to get a rough idea of what happened) . . . But my heart breaks for the baby girl. On so many levels. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parent-charged-with-childs-self-inflicted-gun-fatality#post-1163757 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 13:53:28 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1163757@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/21/justice/north-carolina-toddler-shot/index.html?c=homepage-t" rel="nofollow">http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/21/justice/north-carolina-toddler-shot/index.html?c=homepage-t</a></p> <p>Two year old fatally shot herself with her father's gun that was not properly stowed away. Usually these tragic incidents occur and no one gets arrested. This time the father is charged with involuntary manslaughter. </p> <p>Do you think parents should be charged when their children accidentally kill themselves or others with the parents' gun? </p>