Kaye's Days

Source: Tennessee 3-year-old Shoots Himself With Handgun That Was Left Out

Yesterday, I came across the above story. As the title basically explains, a three-year-old boy from Tennessee shot himself with a gun that was left out. According to the article, the boy’s aunt left the gun out while she tended to her own son, her nephew got to it and he fatally shot himself in the head.

Let’s get the obvious question out of the way: Who leaves a gun within reach of a child?!?!

Good. Now, the only thing I know about the guns is that they’re deadly and I’d prefer to stay a thousand feet away from one. I don’t like guns because they’re used to kill. Yes, I know that’s what they’re for and that’s precisely why I don’t like them. Besides stories like this, I’m personally against hunting, which is part of the reason I’m considering being a vegetarian when I can finally support myself.

That said, I don’t think guns should be illegal. My only reason would be that I dislike them and that’s not right. However, from the little knowledge I have, the right to own a gun has come under fire due to the Sandy Hook tragedy in Connecticut that happened in December (a story that spread so fast, my friend all the way in the United Kingdom heard about it!). There are people who want to outright ban owning guns – something the UK did in 1996, apparently due to a primary school shooting that occurred that year and they haven’t had another school shooting since – and people who just want stricter regulations, the latter of which is my view.

Unfortunately, tragedies like this and others are going to happen and I don’t think taking away a right because some people are stupid (call me judgmental and whatnot) is the answer. People are killed by: vehicles, knives, heavy objects falling on them, prescription and over-the-counter medication, falling from extreme heights, alcoholism, abuse of illegal drugs, etc. Out of all those things, only one is against the law and people still get ahold of them anyway. That doesn’t mean it should be legal, of course. My point is everything cannot be banned.

Something else I want to point out is that, while I was browsing a forum, some people suggested the story could be false. Not because they believe tragedies like this don’t occur, but because it’s questionable how a small child could have the strength to pull the trigger. I have no idea how heavy a gun or the its trigger could be, but some stated that they themselves aren’t strong enough to even cock a certain gun, let alone fire it. If an adult can’t cock a gun, I also find it odd how a three-year-old could fire one, let alone fire it at his skull. As much as I’d hate to think someone might have shot this child, it’s possible. Of course, the idea of that raises more questions.

All I can say for now is I hope this woman will be more cautious of where she leaves her gun and teach her son to never go near it.