tennessee again: Toddler shoots himself in the head, police say

[spanone]

MANCHESTER, Tenn. (AP) — Police in Manchester say a 3-year-old toddler accidentally shot himself in the head with a relative’s gun, but was listed in stable condition at a Nashville hospital.

According to WSMV-TV, Police were called to a home on Woodcrest Drive around 7 p.m. on Saturday night. Detectives said that the child, who has not been identified, was at home with his mother and his aunt when his aunt pulled out a gun.

Police said the toddler got the weapon and shot himself in the head, and the bullet penetrated the skull and exited.

He was conscious as he was flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and was listed in stable condition, according to the TV station.

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20130310/NEWS/303100095/Toddler-shoots-himself-head-police-say

[Bay Boy]

1. Sad

parent should be punished.

[malaise]

2. Arrest the relative

If relatives left prescription drugs or household cleaning chemicals around and children were killed or injured they would face the consequences.

[spanone]

4. agree 100%

[2ndAmForComputers]

7. But prescription drugs and household cleaning chemicals are not Guns.

And therefore, not Holy.

[malaise]

21. Isn't that the truth?

[Arkansas Granny]

3. WTF! How did he get the gun? Someone needs to be held accountable.

I'm glad he wasn't killed.

[BlueStreak]

5. Where was the mythical "good baby with a gun" when we needed him?

because this was obviously a bad baby with a gun.

[Terra Alta]

6. Why did the aunt pull out the gun to begin with?

Especially around a three year old?

The aunt should be arrested. I hope the child will be okay.

[petronius]

20. That's a good question - and I can't think of any answer that should

prevent her being arrested and charged. Stupid stupid thing to do...

[AngryOldDem]

22. Because there is none.

Reckless disregard at the VERY least.

I can't think of any reason why any sane, thinking person would "pull out a gun" in front of a toddler. Under any circumstance.

[union_maid]

8. This is so scary

My great nephew, who is an adorable toddler, lives in TN. His father is very into guns. When I see headlines like this it just scares the hell out of me. I hope this child will be all right and I hope that my nephew's parents are taking careful note. They probably are. They're both doting parents, but...well, you know...it's just scary.

[pipoman]

19. Yes, guns are dangerous

but as with any danger we are surrounded by daily, we must keep the danger in context..For instance:

Consider the parents of an eight-year-old girl named, say, Molly. Her two best friends, Amy and Imani, each live nearby. Molly’s parents know that Amy’s parents keep a gun in their house, so they have forbidden Molly to play there. Instead, Molly spends a lot of time at Imani’s house, which has a swimming pool in the backyard. Molly’s parents feel good about having made such a smart choice to protect their daughter.

But according to the data, their choice isn’t smart at all. In a given year, there is one drowning of a child for every 11,000 residential pools in the United States. (In a country with 6 million pools, this means that roughly 550 children under the age of ten drown each year.) Meanwhile, there is 1 child killed by a gun for every 1 million-plus guns. (In a country with an estimated 200 million guns, this means that roughly 175 children under ten die each year from guns.) The likelihood of death by pool (1 in 11,000) versus death by gun (1 in 1 million-plus) isn’t even close: Molly is roughly 100 times more likely to die in a swimming accident at Imani’s house than in gunplay at Amy’s.

http://www.freakonomics.com/books/freakonomics/chapter-excerpts/chapter-5/

[union_maid]

23. Actually, I have no doubt that pools are very dangerous

Would not have one. Even if you have no kids it's an attractive nuisance and a big liability, even if you're careful. That said, my kids logged many hours of supervised fun playing in their grandparents' pool. I don't think that if their grandparents' had had guns instead it would have worked out nearly as well.

[pipoman]

24. Millions of kids/families participate in shooting sports and hunting with no ill effects...

statistically, guns are as safe or safer form of recreation as many other activities enjoyed by kids and families..skiing, ATVs, motorcycles, organized sports, equine, bicycling..all are dangerous and just as tragic when a kid is injured or dies. I and my kids have participated in many hours of supervised shooting and hunting with no ill effects. It isn't for everyone, but neither are many other activities with risks people participate in..

I grew up in a farming community which had a much higher gun ownership rate than the national average. Hunting and shooting sports were/are enjoyed by many. The school year was scheduled with the opening of deer season coinciding with teacher inservice, which was optional for teachers too. I was taught early about gun safety and everyone watched everyone else and safety was always the top concern. In my years growing up, I don't remember anyone I knew being shot. I carried my shotgun to school on the school bus for the firearms safety/trap shooting unit in physical education which always proceeded bird hunting season. Every kid had to participate in the firearms safety portion of the unit, parents could opt their kids out of the trap shooting part (though few if any did). My kids were introduced to gun safety and shooting early too...as they were to swimming..

My only point was that if you are worried about this, there are many other things which are equally dangerous which your relatives participate in too..

[jazzimov]

9. "tennessee again" - what is that supposed to mean, exactly?

This is a tragedy, and a tragic example of gun ownership.

But what do you mean about "Tennessee again". Please edit your OP to not reflect regionalism.

[spanone]

10. it is my home and the home of republican rule..guns in bars...guns in the trunk

the state is gun obsessed....

republican house

republican senate

republican governor.

tennessee again....


Tennessee Lawmakers Allow Guns In Bars
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/05/tennessee-lawmakers-allow_n_211710.html


Governor likely to OK Tennessee's "guns-in-trunks" bill
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/28/us-usa-guns-tennessee-idUSBRE91R1KL20130228

State Requirements

Rifles and Shotguns
Permit to purchase rifles and shotguns? No.
Registration of rifles and shotguns? No.
Licensing of owners of rifles and shotguns? No.
Permit to carry rifles and shotguns? No.
Handguns
Permit to purchase handgun? No.
Registration of handguns? No.
Licensing of owners of handguns? No.
Permit to carry handguns? Yes.

http://crime.about.com/od/gunlawsbystate/a/gunlaws_tn.htm

[jazzimov]

12. Thank you for adding this info.

It goes quite far to explain the mentality that created the environment of this horrible tragedy.

But I hope that you can understand that simply stating "TN again" without this added information caused me to think "regionalism". If you had included this info establishing the environment and the reason for your disgust, can you see the difference that might have made?

Again, thank you for this info!

[NBachers]

11. And an enormous amount of resources goes to make up for the criminal stupidity and neglect

How much did *just* the flight to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville cost?

How many people mobilized to save this poor baby's life?

What will it cost in surgery, medicine, reconstruction, therapy, and lost potential?

Who's going to pay, and who's going to prison?

[Union Scribe]

13. Some have suggested gun owners' insurance

which I think would help with that part of the problem.

[spanone]

17. my friends wife was life flighted from bon aqua tenn to nashville..$15,000.00...42 miles

[ThatPoetGuy]

14. Quick, gun lovers! Better hurry to take away this child's rights!

Gotta protect the gun manufacturers from the kids!

[Skittles]

15. FAIL on so many levels

disgusting

[asjr]

16. OMG I live in Manchester! I must turn on the news.

[SheilaT]

18. Another responsible gun owner.

Face it everyone, so long as the 2nd amendment is sacred, so long as the notion continues that guns make us safer, then these kinds of things will happen. Get over being shocked by it.