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Rumor · Mar 14, 2006, 04:26 PM

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - 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.

Future NRA member.

turtle777 · Mar 14, 2006, 04:32 PM

That'll teach HER a lesson. Well served !

-t

hyteckit · Mar 14, 2006, 04:43 PM

Hmm... glad the kid didn't shoot himself. The mother does not desire to own guns.

turtle777 · Mar 14, 2006, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by hyteckit

The mother does not desire to own guns.

You mean deserve ?

-t

TETENAL · Mar 14, 2006, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by hyteckit

The mother does not desire to own guns.

Who would, after such an incident?

hyteckit · Mar 14, 2006, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by what_the_heck

You mean deserve ?

-t

Yeah, deserve. My bad.

turtle777 · Mar 14, 2006, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by TETENAL

Who would, after such an incident?

Well, yeah, that too.

But she deserved to be shot.

-t

Rumor · Mar 14, 2006, 04:52 PM

This is one of the funniest things I've heard in a long time.

When the boy picked the gun up a second time, it fired. "It appears to be accidental," said St. Paul police spokesman Pete Crum.

Like there is a chance that the kid intentionally shot his mother.

turtle777 · Mar 14, 2006, 04:55 PM

This whole thing is beyong me. The mom must be braind dead.

-t

Jawbone54 · Mar 14, 2006, 05:12 PM

PLEASE PUT YOUR GUNS AND AMMUNITION IN A SAFE PLACE OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN! LOCK IT UP!

This kind of person gives the rest of us (gun owners) a bad name.

Rumor · Mar 14, 2006, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

PLEASE PUT YOUR GUNS AND AMMUNITION IN A SAFE PLACE OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN! LOCK IT UP!

This kind of person gives the rest of us (gun owners) a bad name.

It sure does. I don't own a gun, but I have no problems with guns. I have problems with irresponsible people.

turtle777 · Mar 14, 2006, 05:31 PM

Oh, and here the mandetory disclaimer:

Guns don't kill, people do.

-t

FireWire · Mar 14, 2006, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by what_the_heck

That'll teach HER a lesson. Well served !
[...]
But she deserved to be shot.

Well that attitude explains many things from previous topics...

I agree that her actions were asking for troubles, but nobody deserves this and nobody should be delighted that this happened.

Originally Posted by what_the_heck

Guns don't kill, people do.

Amen.

turtle777 · Mar 14, 2006, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by FireWire

I agree that her actions were asking for troubles, but nobody deserves this and nobody should be delighted that this happened.

Amen.

She should be grateful. It might as well have saved her life.

If it didn't happen now, and in her knee, she might have been shot dead later.
I'm sure she'll be mor careful in the future.

-t

production_coordinator · Mar 14, 2006, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by Rumor

Future NRA member.

What does the NRA have to do with this?

It would have taken a $10 lock and common sense to have prevented this.

turtle777 · Mar 14, 2006, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

It would have taken a $10 lock and common sense to have prevented this.

It's just troublesome that many gun owners seem to lack that...

-t

Rumor · Mar 14, 2006, 06:03 PM

Why have a loaded gun for home security if you are going to keep it locked?

turtle777 · Mar 14, 2006, 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by Rumor

Why have a loaded gun for home security if you are going to keep it locked?

The likelyhood to get shot by accident because kids find it is higher than you being surprised by an attack and not being able to get your gun in time.

-t

wdlove · Mar 14, 2006, 08:04 PM

Very sad. It was stupid to have a gun that was in the reach of a child. A another reason that there should be a required class and license prior to having children. Just so many parents doing stupid things.

Doofy · Mar 14, 2006, 08:07 PM

9mm? What a pansy.

Velocity211 · Mar 14, 2006, 08:08 PM

Why would she put the gun back under the couch when the kid has already took it once before?

MaxPower2k3 · Mar 14, 2006, 08:14 PM

Originally Posted by Velocity211

Why would she put the gun back under the couch when the kid has already took it once before?

well she took all the bullets out, right? So why shouldn't she give her 3-year-old son a handgun?

Mastrap · Mar 14, 2006, 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by Rumor

Why have a loaded gun for home security if you are going to keep it locked?

I wonder how I've managed to make it to my ripe old age without having a gun in the house for home security.

Velocity211 · Mar 14, 2006, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by MaxPower2k3

well she took all the bullets out, right? So why shouldn't she give her 3-year-old son a handgun?

The thought of giving a gun to a child is seriously wrong no matter what, IMO.

demograph68 · Mar 14, 2006, 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by Mastrap

I wonder how I've managed to make it to my ripe old age without having a gun in the house for home security.

BEcausE yoU haVe sUper poWers!

Wiskedjak · Mar 14, 2006, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by what_the_heck

It's just troublesome that many gun owners seem to lack that...

-t

I would say that many people lack common sense, some of whom somehow managed to become gun owners (and parents)

applesnapple · Mar 14, 2006, 11:07 PM

Originally Posted by what_the_heck

That'll teach HER a lesson. Well served !

-t

Big Mac · Mar 15, 2006, 04:33 AM

Good Idea: Owning a gun for protection

Bad Idea: Owning a gun for protection that you store under a couch cushion

starman · Mar 15, 2006, 07:16 AM

Originally Posted by wdlove

Very sad. It was stupid to have a gun that was in the reach of a child. A another reason that there should be a required class and license prior to having children. Just so many parents doing stupid things.

You don't know WTF you're talking about. That's the most ridiculous statement I've ever heard.

Dakar · Mar 15, 2006, 07:40 AM

Jack Bauer made him do it.

TheIceMan · Mar 15, 2006, 07:54 AM

what an idiot for a mother.

pooka · Mar 15, 2006, 08:33 AM

Some of you people are retarded.

Yeah, ok, the woman is stupid. But it seems perfectly clear to me that the problem wasn't the gun... but the freakin kid. I propose we ban children.

The Child Control Act of 2006. Problem solved.

turtle777 · Mar 15, 2006, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by pooka

But it seems perfectly clear to me that the problem wasn't the gun... but the freakin kid. I propose we ban children.

So, guns don't kill people, 3 year old kids do

-t

pooka · Mar 15, 2006, 08:41 AM

Originally Posted by what_the_heck

So, guns don't kill people, 3 year old kids do

Exactly. Imagine the damage this child could do if allowed to physically mature. Inconceivable.

turtle777 · Mar 15, 2006, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by pooka

Exactly. Imagine the damage this child could do if allowed to physically mature. Inconceivable.

Here the kids CV at age 21

3 years: shot mom in the knee
5 years: shot dog dead - by accident of course
7 years: shot auntie in stomach - by accident of course
11 years: double whammy: killed a dog and a cat with one shot - by accident of course
13 years: shot dad in arm - by accident of course
17 years: shot postman - by accident of course
21 years: killed granny - by accident of course

-t

greenamp · Mar 15, 2006, 08:49 AM

Originally Posted by Dakar

Jack Bauer made him do it.

production_coordinator · Mar 15, 2006, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by Rumor

Why have a loaded gun for home security if you are going to keep it locked?

I really hope you are kidding.

If you have an unsecured, loaded pistol in your home is... you are inviting tragedy into your life. And if you have children... multiply that by a million.

wallinbl · Mar 15, 2006, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by FireWire

I agree that her actions were asking for troubles, but nobody deserves this and nobody should be delighted that this happened.

Amen.

See, now she'll lock her gun up. Otherwise, she's risking the death of herself, her son, or someone else. Getting shot in the knee may have saved a life.

Doofy · Mar 15, 2006, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

I really hope you are kidding.

It's a good point. What you gonna do, ask the intruder to wait while you unlock the gun cabinet?

(of course, leaving guns out is not a good idea when kids are around).

wallinbl · Mar 15, 2006, 09:16 AM

Does anyone have any statistics comparing the number of bad guys shot vs the number of good guys shot with personally owned weapons?

I'm not saying you shouldn't own them, I just curious - it seems like it only gets reported when this type of thing happens - you don't see "Guy shoots intruder" nearly as often.

legacyb4 · Mar 15, 2006, 09:19 AM

How about the third lesson of putting your guns away...?

"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.

turtle777 · Mar 15, 2006, 09:22 AM

Originally Posted by Doofy

It's a good point. What you gonna do, ask the intruder to wait while you unlock the gun cabinet?
(of course, leaving guns out is not a good idea when kids are around).

If you're that paranoid, you should carry the gun at all times on you, but NOT under the couch cushion...

-t

Doofy · Mar 15, 2006, 09:28 AM

Originally Posted by what_the_heck

If you're that paranoid, you should carry the gun at all times on you, but NOT under the couch cushion...

Good point.

wallinbl · Mar 15, 2006, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by Doofy

It's a good point. What you gonna do, ask the intruder to wait while you unlock the gun cabinet?

Don't they have guns that unlock based on fingerprint or something? Surely, with all the genius in the world, we can come up with a simple solution to make the gun easily accessible to adults, but not children. Hell, we have this for cars now.

Our server room is locked by a keypad that requires a 4 digit code for entry. It takes less than a second to open.

greenamp · Mar 15, 2006, 03:09 PM

These gun arguments have been hashed out so many times already, and it's always the same people saying the same things over and over and over.

Dakar · Mar 15, 2006, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by greenamp

These gun arguments have been hashed out so many times already, and it's always the same people saying the same things over and over and over.

They should just be shot.

Of course that might just start the argument anew among fresh blood.

real thread grader · Mar 15, 2006, 09:09 PM

B-

thats some wicked funny ****!

production_coordinator · Mar 15, 2006, 09:30 PM

Originally Posted by wallinbl

Don't they have guns that unlock based on fingerprint or something? Surely, with all the genius in the world, we can come up with a simple solution to make the gun easily accessible to adults, but not children. Hell, we have this for cars now.

Our server room is locked by a keypad that requires a 4 digit code for entry. It takes less than a second to open.

People make it sound like a trigger lock takes hours to unlock.

If you keep ONE key on your personal key ring (the ones the kids do NOT have access to) and keep it next to your bed... when you go to bed, it's not really going to slow you down. And if you are worried about the robber sneaking up on you, perhaps you should invest in a $12 motion sensor light.

I don't own a gun, but having an idiot parent be shot because of pure negligence doesn't make me believe better gun legislation would have changed anything.

I'm actually one of those people that believe handguns should be banned... but rifles/shotguns should be legal. I see a difference in the two things... but many don't.