Precious young life taken by gunshot

Freep ^

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Damon Quarker Jr. was curious about the world around him. The toddler liked talking to strangers, learning new words and exploring nooks in his eastside Detroit home.

Store guns in a gun safe, lock box or a locked cabinet or drawer.

Store the gun unloaded, with ammunition locked separately.

[Sangria]

I grew up with guns-lots of guns. They did not have to be locked up. My father told me if I handled them they would kill me, and if they didn't, he would kill me for touching them. I respected my Dad, and most of all, I had a great respect for guns and what they would do.

[r9etb]

Sad. Curious kids (i.e., all of them) and loaded guns don't mix, and should never be kept in the same house.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

The news just reported that this gun was in a laundry basket that the child tipped over.

[hunter112]

Yes, but you were old enough for basic reasoning. Putting a weapon within the reach of an 18 month old baby is absolutely irresponsible.

[Hildy]

Did you understand that when you were 1 1/2 years old? The fact is that if you have a gun and children, you have a responsibility. This Father was neglect and paid the ultimate price.

[SteveSenti]

I have a friend who grew up in Detroit that saw this kind of stuff happen every four or five months. It's amazing that it's still happening even 15 years later.

Didn't they pass a law that made the parently legally responsible for negligent homicide if the gun was left out for their infant to play with.

I remember him saying that most of these deaths were due to careless, negligent, and ignorant parents. These are easily preventable, but when you have crack heads having babies... what do you expect.

[The Obstinate Insomniac]

bang

[Joe Hadenuf]

Call the mayor, call the President, contact the United Nations. Lets demand we all get in line and turn in any firearms we may have. (Sarcasm)...

They have a toddler wandering around the bedrooms by itself, playing with loaded guns that are left out? Where TF are the parents? The grand parents? Who are these idiots? Why is the mayor of a major city involved? Jesh!

[ApesForEvolution]

First off, a 1 1/2 yr child should never, ever be able to come across a loaded handgun. Second, 'curious' children that are old enough to expect obedience from need to be trained. Do we move the busy roadway from in front of the house or teach children to stay out of it? You err on the part of lazy parenting with your statement. And, again, a 1 1/2 yr child should NEVER be allowed to come across a loaded gun. Loaded guns in the homes of responsible people have saved many, many innocent people from evil intruders. When your the window break or the door is kicked in, loading is the last thing you want to deal with.

[ApesForEvolution]

When your=when you hear (somehow)

[Joe Hadenuf]

Curious kids (i.e., all of them) and loaded guns don't mix, and should never be kept in the same house.

Huh? What about sharp knives, ladders, extension cords, razor blades, swimming pools?

[Joe Hadenuf]

Huh? What about sharp knives, ladders, extension cords, razor blades, swimming pools?

And drugs, medications, cigarette lighters, gasoline, the neighbors dog.......

[El Gato]

Notice how the story implies, but doesn't say since it probably wouldn't be true, that most of the 26 16 year old and unders with gunshot wounds in Detroit were similar to this case, that is "accidents" due to negligence. I'll wager that the majority of them were deliberate acts, and that most of the dead and injured were closer to 16 than to 2. Mostly gang bangers, or victims of gang bangers doing a "drive by". The latter category probably accounts for most of the younger victims as well. This kind of stupidity, that is leaving a loaded , and probably cocked, gun where a toddler can get it, is known to be extremely rare, even in a hotbed of stupidity like Detroit. (Little kids are unlikely to be able to manage a double action trigger pull, or be able to rack the slide on a semi-auto, so keeping a handgun with an empty chamber, the one under the hammer in the case of a revolver, is the best approach if there are little ones about, and not a bad idea even if there are not, since the gun is about as dangerous as a lump of steel in that condition, yet can be readed very quickly for action by an adult.)

[ApesForEvolution]

It's amazing, isn't it?

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

How weird is it that the mayor would go visit the family who is too stupid to not put a loaded gun in a laundry basket.

Do they keep a bevy of rattlesnakes in the bathtub as well?

[ApesForEvolution]

I like the "Gun Safety at Home" tips to the right of the text: Don't let children play with realistic toy guns.

Good bleeping grief...

[Blood of Tyrants]

Incorrect. Loaded guns belong in EVERY house for the protection of those within. They should be secured from little fingers, though. As soon as they are old enough, they should be taught to respect guns and the destructive force in them.

[ApesForEvolution]

"All are dangerous but only handguns are specifically designed to kill human beings (no other purpose)"

And turtles, coyotes, etc.