3 yr old accidently shoots & kills father!

[David2012]

Boy, 3, Shoots Dad After Finding Loaded Hand Gun
By Myles Collier , Christian Post Contributor
July 15, 2012|8:26 am

http://www.christianpost.com/news/boy-3-shoots-dad-after-finding-loaded-hand-gun-78248/


Authorities in Indiana are investigating a tragic shooting which left a father of three dead after one of his young children found the gun and it discharged.

Michael A. Bayless, 33, of Martinsville, Ind., was home with his wife, three children and another juvenile family member, according to Indiana State Police Sgt. Jerry Goodin.

Bayless was watching television with his two other children when the 3-year-old found the .45-caliber hand gun which accidently discharged mortally striking Bayless, according to Goodin, who added that Bayless was the registered owner of the gun.

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Makes you wonder where the father had put the gun. Not to speak ill of the dead... but it seems awful careless to have left a gun where a 3 yr old could get to it. If the 3 yr old could get to it, then so could the other older kids. This appears to have been a accident waiting to happen.

 

[reddog1]

Very sad and terrible tragedy. Prayers sent.

 

[Mr10mm]

Wife did it and blamed the kid.

 

[Popjim]

Prayers for the family and friends touched this tragedy

 

[Wheel Gun]

Wife did it and blamed the kid.

On the surface, plausible. Forensics should easily determine if the child fired the gun. A 3-year-old firing a .45 will show the effect.

I feel sorry for the family.

 

[KOPBET]

Stupidity is painful.

 

[rda1911]

hmmm simple empty chamber would negate this tragedy as the child usually can't work the action.

 

[BadgeBunny]

Wife did it and blamed the kid.

It kills me that I'm this cynical, but that was my first thought ...

 

[Rod Snell]

And yet some people taking the CHL course still object to "you are responsible for your keeping your gun inaccessible to unauthorized people, especially children."

 

[SoonerShooter08]

hmmm simple empty chamber would negate this tragedy as the child usually can't work the action.

Staking your life or the life of your child on what you think they're incapable of could easily be setting yourself up for failure.

Often these accidental shootings are due to the parent or caretaker taking a "protectionist" mindset and leaving firearms as a mystery that they unfortunately end up "discovering" in the wrong way.

You gotta start early the very basics of safety and based on how a child's mind develops, I don't think that a very basic introduction is "too early" even at 3. Even if it's understanding that they shouldn't touch a firearm unless a parent is present and otherwise they should walk or run away.

It's a truly sad story and there's no guarantee it could've been prevented other than making the weapon inaccessible. Prayers go out to the family.