This undated photo shows Justin Thomas who was accidentally shot and killed by his 4-year-old son. (MyFoxPhoenix.com)Authorities in northern Arizona say a 4-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed his father at a Prescott Valley home. Prescott Valley police say the shooting occurred just after noon Friday.
The 35-year-old man, identified as Justin Stanfield Thomas, and his young son were visiting from Phoenix and were at a friend's house.
Police say the boy somehow found a gun in the home's living room and accidentally fired it and a bullet hit his father, who was rushed to a hospital where he died.
Thomas was an Iraq War veteran with US Army Special Forces and leaves behind two children.
Read the rest of it HERE
Comment:
This was not an accident; this was 100% preventable. This was weapons negligence, a good man is down because of it, and the owner of that firearm should be prosecuted.
I have guns in several rooms in my house. None of them are loaded, but they are always treated as if they are loaded. The gun I carry in my car is kept unloaded, on the premise why do I need to tote around a loaded weapon, when I am already behind the wheel of a weapon that has killed more people than the atom bomb? If EVER I need to dismount and engage a threat, there will be plenty of time to slap a mag into the weapon.
When I carry concealed - which is all the time - I follow the Israeli carry; empty chamber. If I perceive that the threat level has gone up a notch, I will jack a round in the chamber. Downtown Philadelphia, for example. This is the civilian equivalent of crossing the Line of Departure, when soldiers chamber a round into their weapons.
I keep the weapons in my house handy but the ammunition is under lock and key - with the exception of loaded magazines, which are kept hidden in high up locations where children cannot get to them.
Think, people.
- STORMBRINGER SENDS
Sad. And yes, 100% preventable. The NRA's "Eddie Eagle" program teaches kids NOT to touch any gun they may find. Of course the government-indoctrination unions (aka Teachers unions) oppose and vilify the program.
ReplyDeleteWhen my boys were young I taught them not to touch any of my guns. I worked to satisfy their curiousity about them while teaching them the danger by using knives and fire as examples.
We differ on carry philosophies. If I'm carrying it's Condition One.
Boat Guy
No kids visit here, so there is a con1 arm within reach throughout the hootch, car, and person.
ReplyDeletePrayers to the family.
I carry Israeli style to, for the same reasons you describe. I believe if you are in a situation that you don't have time to jack a round you really eff'd up on paying attention to your surroundings. Also heard to many confirmed stories of people being shot by unloaded or unsecured guns, including cops shooting other cops by accident.
ReplyDeletejust a personal opinion, from a civilian with no military or police background.
Sean you cant fix stupid, I started my six year olds gun safety training the first time she showed the slightest interest in firearms. And yeh I carry my 1911 with nothing up the pipe, I can get it out just as fast and I can carry a lot safer. The only weapon loaded in the house is my .357 mag S&W and it lives in the "safety box" above the bed.(LOCKED!!)
ReplyDeleteI wish people would stop saying they'll have enough time to jack a round in the chamber. It's not a time issue. It takes two hands to reliably chamber a round. That means you cannot be carrying a grocery bag, or a cell phone, or straight-arming the bad guy. If some dirtbag pulls a knife your girlfriend/spouse will grab your nearest arm and cling to it. Get comfortable with loaded carry, the gun will not go off unless you pull the trigger. If the holster covers the trigger, it is impossible for the gun to discharge.
ReplyDeleteAccidents like this SUCK because they're so easily preventable. Children should not have access, period.
I agree re one in the chamber. Seconds count... be ready. You can always take steps to secure your weapon when at home.
DeleteTaurus
Even though I follow " Israeli carry" too, I can say from experience the previous commenter is correct about women grabbing your arms at the first sign of trouble.
ReplyDelete