5 year old kills his sister with his birthday gun in US

[Slainte]

Title says it all, here's the link.

When will people fucking learn?

I've really got no problems with guns for hunting as long as they're properly looked after. But to give them to children is madness IMO and to leave them around like this couple is beyond reprehensible. Criminal negligence for sure.

Thanks. Comments aboutbthe 7yo are scary. Ds is 6, I cannot imagine allowing him ti shoot in a year

Right. I mean, my nephew isn't just running around with the guns or anything, BIL lets him shoot at targets if he's right there. But I wouldn't allow my DS to do that at 7 either.

It's hard to imagine the mindset of these people. I got a bit nervous because ds was carrying around a well-sharpened pencil the other day. I am probably overly anxious, but still.

That's awful. I can't get my head round guns being all over the place, terrifying.

The NRA are baffling me. They accuse Obama of using "tragic accidents" to open a debate about gun control for personal or political reasons.

I just can't get my head around a community where gun use/ownership is so commonplace that any attempt to control it is like saying you can't have domestic animals, or lock your own front door, or something.

But if it starts when you're an infant then no wonder I suppose

how unbelievably tragic the whole scenario is, and that these sort of people cannot see this is NOT just "a terrible accident" - it was negligent plain and simple. The children are too young to fully understand and in any case, the responsibility lies with the parents to supervise guns properly. That they have pretty pink girly accessories is also worrying that these things are just seen as pretty accessories rather than lethal weapons. The little girl could just as easily have shot herself or brother or her mum.
The crap about "it was her time" makes my blood boil.

Yesterday my 11yo accidently shot her bro in the eye with a foam dart from a nerf gun - they know the rules about not firing in peoples faces or close up, it was an accident while she was loading it - both were shocked and DS was hurt and cried. This sort of thing WILL happen, but no harm done in our case cos the bullet was foam!

We live in the UK and in a quiet sleepy village, but even then I have told my kids if they EVER see a gun in the bushes at the park or somewhere, they DO NOT TOUCH IT

I've just come back from a weekend in pocono mountains, in Pennsylvania. We were spending the time at an indoor water park, think Center Parcs but American stylee. There were large notices by the main entrance forbidding bringing fire arms onto the premises. The fact that there is a need for a sign telling people this beggars belief.
I will be going on a 'mothers against guns' rally this weekend. Apparently we can expect nra members to turn up and, as licencising permits it in Pennsylvania, to be wandering around carrying guns.