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A big part of the problem comes from underestimating the ingenuity and capability of the child.

I swear at age 2, one of my granddaughters could've climbed straight up the wall & across the ceiling if it had ever occurred to her!

Once, we found her on top of a 6-foot bookcase. We never figured out for sure how she got there.

Not very much information. Did they test the mother's hands for powder? Gun left in a house with a child, safety off, cocked and one in the chamber? or the 2 year old, took the safety off, chambered a round and pulled the trigger with the gun pointing at his chest. It seems these "accidents" occur, it always happen when there is only one other person in the house.

Another terrible event. But was it bad parenting, criminal gun management or murder. Sorry I just don't buy that the first "accidental" shot is always so accurate and usually fatal.

Dragonfighter wrote:And what punishment would you impose that could possibly exceed what she is suffering now?

Not securing weapons around children is one of my pet peeves (just read my signature if you have any doubts). But short of other important information, my first reaction would be that they have already been 'punished'.

Second to the survival and condition of the child, the next best possible outcome is that everyone involved and everyone reading the story learn something from this.

This is why I've always locked all of my weapons when I lived with anyone under the age of 18... I'd rather take a bullet if someone robbed my house than have the guilt of an innocent on my hands.

YMMV

I really do (as my signature states) think this should be the 5th rule. Why do the rules for gun safety end when the gun is no longer in our hands? Safe gun storage should be stressed just as much as safe gun handling.