Young girl finds gun under pillow in Detroit, kills self

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Young girl finds gun under pillow in Detroit, kills self

Updated 4:43 pm, Wednesday, May 11, 2016

DETROIT (AP) — Police say a young Detroit girl who found a gun under her grandmother's pillow accidentally shot herself and died.

Police say the girl was 4 years old, but relatives at the scene said Mariah Davis was 5.

Sgt. Michael Woody says officers responded to the home around midnight Tuesday. The girl's grandparents were elsewhere in the house at the time of the shooting. Two other children weren't injured.

Assistant Police Chief Steve Dolunt says guns should be unloaded or secured with a child lock. He says Mariah's death is "sad and tragic" and could have been prevented.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Young-girl-finds-gun-under-pillow-in-Detroit-7461308.php

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[center]

Mariah Davis [/center]

[Octafish]

1. Detroiters are encouraged to arm themselves by the DPD Chief

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/aug/17/police-guns-detroit-crime-race-cost-issues

It's like the wild, wild west.

That poor child is a victim of things her family cannot control. It's not just crime and drugs. There are very few jobs. For too many good people, there is even less hope.

[Akicita]

3. That poor girl is the victim of a very stupid grandmother. Period.

Leaving a loaded gun accessible to a 5 yr old? Give me a break.

[Octafish]

9. That, too.

Grandma should not have kept a weapon were a child could get it.

You ever been to Detroit, Akicita? The reason I ask is many, if not most, Detroiters live in fear. It often takes about a half an hour for police to respond to a 911 call. There are many single parent homes, targets for all manner of criminals.

Only about 15% of the kids who enter kindergarten continue through to graduate high school. As adults, drugs offer a way to make a dollar and a means to forget their problems.

Rather than working to build the community through invested resources and capital, Gov. Snyder and President Obama let the city go bankrupt. They sided with Wall Street. That was not the fault of Detroiters living large.

I've lived in Detroit and the metro region most of my adult life. For all intents and purposes, it is a prison without walls. I find that such a city can exist in the wealthiest times in human history to be wrong. The way people must live, and the way that beautiful child died, is uncivilized.

[Dont call me Shirley]

11. Detroit sounds like the Gaza of the United States. Snyder is creating Aparthied.

[elljay]

15. Except Gaza gets plenty of aid

but chooses to use it to build tunnels and rockets instead of housing and feeding their people while Detroit gets nothing. Oh, wait, they're not at all alike.

[Octafish]

18. Wrong. Power in both considers some human life inferior.

UN Chief: Gaza Destruction 'Beyond Description,' Worse Than Last War

Fifteen trucks carrying cement, 10 carrying iron and 50 carrying gravel enter the Strip.

Barak Ravid and Jack Khoury
Haaretz, Oct 14, 2014

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, in order to see for himself the extent of the damage caused there during the 50-day war with Israel to receive a report on preparations being made to begin reconstruction.

Ban also visited Israeli communities near the border with Gaza, and toured a Hamas tunnel uncovered by Israel during the fighting. 
During his visit to the Strip, Ban lamented the vast destruction in Gaza as he visited the area on Tuesday for the first time since the war, calling the situation "beyond description" and urging a speedy reconstruction effort.

He also announced that Israel was permitting a first truckload of construction materials to enter the enclave, which has been blockaded by Israel and Egypt since before the conflict.

In a short visit under tight security, Ban toured areas that were heavily bombarded by Israel during the 50-day war, in which more than 2,100 Palestinians, most of them civilians, were killed. Sixty-seven Israeli soldiers and six civilians in Israel also died at the hands of Hamas rockets and other attacks.

"I am here with a heavy heart," Ban told a news conference. "The destruction which I have seen coming here is beyond description," he added, calling it much worse than what he had witnessed after the last war in 2008-9.

He also called on Israel and the Palestinians to return to the negotiating table to find a solution to the crucial issues, warning that violence would otherwise return to the region. 

CONTINUED...

http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.620698

The similarities are startling.

[elljay]

20. yes, please do support the racist bigots of Hamas

A group with a racist ideology that promotes killing Jews (not Israelis but all Jews) who misuse their international funds on weapons, hide rockets in schools and mosques knowing that they will be attacked, use children to dig tunnels causing many to die is nothing at all like the poor people of Detroit. Israel definitely overdoes the response, but your analogy is lacking. I condemn all bigotry, including that of Islamists whose faith teaches discrimination against other faiths and who act on that racist belief.

[Octafish]

23. Please don't call Mossad.

My friends at Teknion would never forgive me.

[Dont call me Shirley]

52. So sad communitites of people are treated with such utter comtempt.

[yeoman6987]

38. Detroit was horrible before Snyder.

The whole city needs a reboot and start over. It will take a huge effort.

[FrodosPet]

51. Snyder is an mega ass, but this predates him by decades

Problems with violence in Detroit go back to the 19th Century. It had a couple decades of relative prosperity early in the 20th Century, and WWII production was prosperous, but things have been sliding downhill since the factories started closing in the 1950s.

[MadDAsHell]

21. What is it about Detroit though?

There are other areas, like Applachia, that are even poorer yet have nowhere near the violent crime rates. What's the difference?

[Octafish]

24. Pollution may have something to do with it.

It isn't just Flint: Scientists find alarming deterioration in DNA of the urban poor

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/08/poverty-race-ethnicity-dna-telomeres_n_7228530.html

Love, community and understanding between people who are familiar also may play roles.

[hack89]

49. Population density plain and simple. nt

[Akicita]

2. No different than if the grandma had left her pills out and the little girl thought

they were candy. The grandma is an idiot for leaving a loaded gun accessible to a 5 yr old child. She should be charged, although the death of her granddaughter is probably punishing her more than any court could.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

6. Pills can have child-proof caps.

Guns can have child-proof trigger locks.

The family's pastor was on local television, said that the family had received threats.

Damned if you do, ...

[Akicita]

7. Correct. They may have needed a loaded gun ready to go due to the threats but should have kept the

Gun out of reach of the children. That's just common sense.

[mdbl]

4. If she's has any feeling

She's completely despondent.

[Sancho]

5. People Control, Not Gun Control

This is my generic response to gun threads where people are shot and killed by the dumb or criminal possession of guns. For the record, I grew up in the South and on military bases. I was taught about firearms as a child, and I grew up hunting, was a member of the NRA, and I still own guns. In the 70’s, I dropped out of the NRA because they become more radical and less interested in safety and training. Some personal experiences where people I know were involved in shootings caused me to realize that anyone could obtain and posses a gun no matter how illogical it was for them to have a gun. Also, easy access to more powerful guns, guns in the hands of children, and guns that weren’t secured are out of control in our society. As such, here’s what I now think ought to be the requirements to possess a gun. I’m not debating the legal language, I just think it’s the reasonable way to stop the shootings. Notice, none of this restricts the type of guns sold. This is aimed at the people who shoot others, because it’s clear that they should never have had a gun.

1.) Anyone in possession of a gun (whether they own it or not) should have a regularly renewed license. If you want to call it a permit, certificate, or something else that's fine.
2.) To get a license, you should have a background check, and be examined by a professional for emotional and mental stability appropriate for gun possession. It might be appropriate to require that examination to be accompanied by references from family, friends, employers, etc. This check is not to subject you to a mental health diagnosis, just check on your superficial and apparent gun-worthyness.
3.) To get the license, you should be required to take a safety course and pass a test appropriate to the type of gun you want to use.
4.) To get a license, you should be over 21. Under 21, you could only use a gun under direct supervision of a licensed person and after obtaining a learner’s license. Your license might be restricted if you have children or criminals or other unsafe people living in your home. (If you want to argue 18 or 25 or some other age, fine. 21 makes sense to me.)
5.) If you possess a gun, you would have to carry a liability insurance policy specifically for gun ownership - and likely you would have to provide proof of appropriate storage, security, and whatever statistical reasons that emerge that would drive the costs and ability to get insurance.
6.) You could not purchase a gun or ammunition without a license, and purchases would have a waiting period.
7.) If you possess a gun without a license, you go to jail, the gun is impounded, and a judge will have to let you go (just like a DUI).
8.) No one should carry an unsecured gun (except in a locked case, unloaded) when outside of home. Guns should be secure when transporting to a shooting event without demonstrating a special need. Their license should indicate training and special carry circumstances beyond recreational shooting (security guard, etc.). If you are carrying your gun while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you lose your gun and license.
9.) If you buy, sell, give away, or inherit a gun, your license information should be recorded.
10.) If you accidentally discharge your gun, commit a crime, get referred by a mental health professional, are served a restraining order, etc., you should lose your license and guns until reinstated by a serious relicensing process.

Most of you know that a license is no big deal. Besides a driver’s license you need a license to fish, operate a boat, or many other activities. I realize these differ by state, but that is not a reason to let anyone without a bit of sense pack a semiautomatic weapon in public, on the roads, and in schools. I think we need to make it much harder for some people to have guns.

[Akicita]

8. You could make all the same requirements to regulate speech since speech is often times used to hurt

others. Unfortunately both are specifically protected in our Bill of Rights. Although some restrictions are allowed, your proposed requirements go way past the "shall not be infringed" requirement for arms and the "no law abridging the freedom of" requirement if you tried to apply your requirements to speech.

[COLGATE4]

34. Which of those proposed regulations 'infringe on the freedom to keep and bear arms"?

[Akicita]

36. All of them to some extent. Just like they would all infringe on the freedom of speech if they were

applied to that.

[COLGATE4]

37. No constitutional rights are absolute. They all can be regulated to some degree, even speech.

Gun ownership is an area where resrictions and regulations have regularly been upheld by courts at all levels, include the USSCt. I don't believe that, with the exception of the very last item that any of these rules would be found to be unconstitutional.

[Akicita]

39. I agree that constitutional rights can be regulated to some extent. We can agree to disagree that

those proposed regulations would pass constitutional muster.

[Ikonoklast]

10. All unconstitutional.

I don't need a license to vote, or go to the church of my choice, or to criticize elected officials.

[LiberalLovinLug]

14. None of which can kill someone...easily

even a small girl can use one to disastrous results.

A vehicle operator is required to carry a license. Because a vehicle is also something that can be used to harm or kill. And a mentally or physically incapable person also would have a hard time getting a driving license. That makes sense. Or do believe no one should have to apply for a drivers license either?

[Ikonoklast]

16. You have no right to drive a motor vehicle under the Constitution.

The states can regulate drivers as they see fit.



They cannot pass laws that infringe on constitutional rights.



Would you be ok with needing a license to practice your religion?

[MillennialDem]

17. Driving (travel) is a constitutional RIGHT. It was part of the articles of confederation, it was not

put in the constitution because it's so fundamental as to not require enumeration, is recognized by the UN, and has been recognized as part of the 9th amendment by courts.

[NutmegYankee]

25. Operating a motor vehicle is not part of right to travel.

[MillennialDem]

26. Sure it is. Otherwise we're limited to muskets and printing presses.

[NutmegYankee]

27. No. You can walk or ride in a car, take a bus, use a horse, etc.

Operation of heavy equipment is not covered. That's left to the states. If you really think you can drive without a license, why not fly a plane without one?

[MillennialDem]

28. I didn't say you couldn't do it without a license. I just said the government can't

arbitrarily limit your right to obtain a license.

You have a constitutional right to vote, but that can be removed because you are a convicted felon. You have a right to drive and obtain a license, but your license can be removed if you are habitual traffic offender.

[NutmegYankee]

29. Due process rules prevent discrimination in handing them out

But an attempt to say that you have a right to drive will fail in court. Every state makes it clear that it is a privilege.

[MillennialDem]

30. So a state government can just pass a law that says "no licenses will be granted in this

state" or the feds can say "all driver's licenses are hereby invalid"

BULLSHIT that would pass muster.

[NutmegYankee]

31. In theory a state can.

[MillennialDem]

32. It's never been done to that extent, and I think if it was done it would fail in court

[NutmegYankee]

33. I guess we would have to see.

It hasn't been done because the legislature wants to get reelected.

[beevul]

22. No.

A vehicle operator is required to carry a license. Because a vehicle is also something that can be used to harm or kill.

Only in public. No license is required to simply own a vehicle or to use it on private property. And, we also have a form of licensed carry in most states.

So that argument is a road to nowhere.

Or do believe no one should have to apply for a drivers license either?

What you call "a drivers license", is in fact a license to drive ONLY in public, not a license to own and operate a vehicle in general.

[COLGATE4]

35. I don't believe that any of those, with the possible exception of the last one

would be found to be unconstitutional.

[Ikonoklast]

40. Most of those proposals have already been found to be an infringement of individual rights.

Some states and localities have tried many different variations of some of those proposals already, and have been ruled against at the federal level.


Most recently, the McDonald vs City of Chicago along with the Heller decision covered most of what was proposed as not passing constitutional muster.

[COLGATE4]

41. Really? How about some cites to cases where these have been

found to infringe individual rights?

[Ikonoklast]

45. Read the decisions.

I assume you are being deliberately obtuse, Google is your friend.

[COLGATE4]

46. Actually, I have read the decisions and they do not support your

contention. That's why I asked you to cite to some cases that have held as you suggest.

[One_Life_To_Give]

19. Sounds like Massachusetts

Although we don't have the Liability Insurance requirement. A FireArms ID (FID) Card is required before one can purchase FireArms. Background Check and Safety Traininng are required to have an FID Card Issued.

Does it solve all the problems? No there is still plenty of room for improvement. However when selling a FireArm it is easy to check if the individual is allowed to posses such.

[Taitertots]

47. The silly part is that you actually think these policies would reduce gun crime

The net effect of your policies would be:
No reduction / trivial reduction in violent crime.
A republican majority in the government.

So I have to ask...
Why do you want policies that will only yield negative outcomes?

[Dont call me Shirley]

12. Mariah...

Beautiful Innocent Child

Died to young from a "civilization" which deifies guns and violence.

[jalan48]

13. Sad for the whole family.

[Coventina]

42. The only thing that can stop a BAD pillow with a gun.....

Is a GOOD pillow with a gun!!!!

[ileus]

43. A firearm can't save lives in the wrong hands.

Please if you have a personal safety device (personal defense firearm) either keep it on your hip, or lock it up.

[ScreamingMeemie]

50. You mean a gun. If you have a gun...

[smirkymonkey]

44. Poor little girl.

God, I hate guns!

[leftyladyfrommo]

48. That is so sad.

Such a beautiful little person.