Girl shot: 9-year-old boy in orange jail jumpsuit cries in court

[Scoundrel]

WtF??

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/23/10490178-girl-shot-9-year-old-boy-in-orange-jail-jumpsuit-cries-in-court

Why is the 9-year old boy in a jail jumpsuit?!

Why isn't whoever left that gun loaded and where the boy could access it in the jail jumpsuit?!

Someone, please explain to me how that boy can reasonably be expected to know how that gun works, and be responsible for that incident?

I mean, yes, that kid needs to go through some very strict disciplinary actions from his parents, and counseling (lots of that). But the adults who set the stage for this are a LOT more responsible for what happened than the kid is.

Someone please tell me this is not really happening.

[Ronnie]

I very much agree

[Scoundrel]

A friend of mine found some more info on this:

The kid's parents are both penal system cases. The kid lost the legal lottery long ago. And now his behavior problems - which at that tender age cannot be anything but a product of his upbringing - gave him another losing roll of the dice. Jailing his mom and/or dad for letting him get 'hold of that gun wouldn't even change the kid's address because his Uncle already takes care of him (after his grandma, who previously took care of him, passed away).

This is lose-lose-lose-lose (the fourth one is when you add in the victim and her family). We can only hope the victim recovers quickly and well (which would take some of the pressure off the system to get "justice" on the kid), the mom/parents receive the brunt of the punishment, the incident motivates the kid via fear to seek the straight path, he's smart enough to find it despite his probable socio-economic disadvantages*, he isn't abused or further ruined by his guards or the fellow juvie cases during whatever punishment he undergoes, and his Uncle isn't basically as awful as his parents only he hasn't been caught by the cops yet.

So, yeah, I'm not holding out much hope that he's not going to end up in jail again in several years, and then repeatedly after that. :'(

(* I assume any grade-schooler whose parents are both repeat jailbirds probably wasn't born on the right side of the tracks.)

[Russ]

The news report said the gun in the boy's backpack went off when he slammed down his back pack. That sure is unsettling that a gun would go off when the back pack the gun was in was slammed down.

I would be interested in knowing what brand of 45 caliber the boy's mom owned. Guns should not go off unless the trigger is pulled.

The story of how the gun discharged just does not add up. If the gun was manufactured by a known gun manufacturer there would be in place an internal safety to prevent a gun from discharging by a sudden impact to the gun. I would think the trigger would have been snagged on something in the back pack or someone pulled the trigger.

This is why I never pocket carry witout a holster that covers the trigger and I nevr put anything else including my hand in the gun pocket.

Stories like this freak people out into thinking guns have a mind of their own and without any logical reason (trigger pulled) will go bang.

Russ

[Ikeo74]

From the news link:
On Wednesday, the boy stowed the .45-caliber Heckler and Koch pistol at the bottom of his backpack. The safety was off and the gun was cocked.

There is the answer to what kind of gun was it.

[kb2wji]

^ I wonder how they knew that? Or maybe just wanted it to sound more sinister. Either way this story sucks. So sad for both families. It's too bad turd parents can still reproduce. The kids dont have a shot in hell.

[Russ]

From the news link:
On Wednesday, the boy stowed the .45-caliber Heckler and Koch pistol at the bottom of his backpack. The safety was off and the gun was cocked.

There is the answer to what kind of gun was it.


Now begins the blame game.

Was the gun cocked and safety off at the time the boy took it from his moms home or did the boy cock the gun before loading it into his back pack.

In my opinion mom is going to be charged for having a loaded gun unsecured but if the prosecutors can prove the gun was cocked and the safety off the case will be strengthen for locking mom up for reckless disregard of a deadly weapon.

This is why I have my two loaded handguns in a Gunvault on my night stand cabled to my bed frame and only my wife and I know the combo and the backup key is not on my key ring but hidden were only my wife an I know.

If a child gets their hands on one of my guns they broke my safe to access which could be possible (Gunvaults are nice for quick access but an ax or sledge hammer could provide access.

I am hopeful if something happened where a neighbor child or my own got their hands on my loaded gun that I could demonstrate I made efforts to secure my weapons in a reasonable safe manner.

Very sad the boy was born into a family of law breaking parents.
Mom and dad should be in the prison outfit not the boy.

Russ

[jocko]

my understand that the state this boy's mom lives in has a law that says she is not responnsible. It was a 1911 according to the photo posted. A terrible accident no less. Only he can be criminally charged not the mother...

[knkali]

A friend of mine found some more info on this:

The kid's parents are both penal system cases. The kid lost the legal lottery long ago. And now his behavior problems - which at that tender age cannot be anything but a product of his upbringing - gave him another losing roll of the dice. Jailing his mom and/or dad for letting him get 'hold of that gun wouldn't even change the kid's address because his Uncle already takes care of him (after his grandma, who previously took care of him, passed away).

This is lose-lose-lose-lose (the fourth one is when you add in the victim and her family). We can only hope the victim recovers quickly and well (which would take some of the pressure off the system to get "justice" on the kid), the mom/parents receive the brunt of the punishment, the incident motivates the kid via fear to seek the straight path, he's smart enough to find it despite his probable socio-economic disadvantages*, he isn't abused or further ruined by his guards or the fellow juvie cases during whatever punishment he undergoes, and his Uncle isn't basically as awful as his parents only he hasn't been caught by the cops yet.

So, yeah, I'm not holding out much hope that he's not going to end up in jail again in several years, and then repeatedly after that. :'(

(* I assume any grade-schooler whose parents are both repeat jailbirds probably wasn't born on the right side of the tracks.)

You said it. Everone lost on this. This kid has the world stacked against him. The jumpsuit is rediculous beyond words. Enough with the photo ops.

[jocko]

with no guidance, no doubt he will be bac ini prison eventually, hopefully not for murder, but he is not new to guns either. Hell who knows this might get him into a gang faster even, as he has a notch in his gun or knife now to. Kind of a badge of honor for some criminals. a shame but lets not forget the victim in this either. His reasoning for right and wrong might be debateable but he knew he should not take a gun to school, let alone he shouldnot have had access to a gun, so he has cupability and this little girl had betternot die or then maybe the hands of justice will be more tied. Nobody wins here.. course it is not a game either.

[Scoundrel]

You said it. Everone lost on this. This kid has the world stacked against him. The jumpsuit is rediculous beyond words. Enough with the photo ops.

I can understand the jumpsuit, actually. If they are trying to scare the kid by putting on a show, that's a good way to start. Jumpsuit, handcuffs, stern court proceedings, maybe put him in the juvenile slammer a few days (during a school break would be best). Might do him some good if he really needs a jolt and has no regard/understanding of the kind of trouble he's facing.

I just hope they don't hit him with something that has enduring consequences. Like for example any felony charge, anything that results in a removal of his gun rights, etc.

It is possible to scare the crap out of him and teach him a lesson without doing lasting harm.

[muggsy]

I can understand the jumpsuit, actually. If they are trying to scare the kid by putting on a show, that's a good way to start. Jumpsuit, handcuffs, stern court proceedings, maybe put him in the juvenile slammer a few days (during a school break would be best). Might do him some good if he really needs a jolt and has no regard/understanding of the kind of trouble he's facing.

I just hope they don't hit him with something that has enduring consequences. Like for example any felony charge, anything that results in a removal of his gun rights, etc.

It is possible to scare the crap out of him and teach him a lesson without doing lasting harm.

If the gun going off in the back pack and seeing a classmate shot didn't scare the crap out of him, I doubt that an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs will. It's obvious that the kid didn't understand how to handle a gun safely or the safety would have been engaged. The adults are responsible for the actions of a nine year old regardless of what the law states. I'll be interested in seeing how this plays out.

[Scoundrel]

Oh, I am sure the gun/girl scared him a lot - but it's a different kind of scared.

Loud noise + someone getting hurt = one thing.
Getting locked up in a concrete cell, losing your liberty, having to associate with the other shitheads in there = quite another.

Take it from someone who has been there.

[knkali]

He is 9 years old. His brain is not capable to understand this to any extent. 2 years ago he thought Santa Claus was real. If he is not hopeless he probably is now. To him guns are not held to the same level of comprehension that we have. Scoundrel, if you have walked this path then I will defer all of this to you because you know what the heck you are talking about. I am just going on what my gut tells me.

Adults need to think for their children because they cannot think for themselves at such a young age.

[shnev]

What's this? Santa, not real?

[jocko]

other than his age we don'[t really knw what was going on his mind . There are some people because of their upbringing that arejustdestined to be in jailo most of their life. Notr good but it is a fact. Life is not perfect for some it is a real bit-h. If this girl lives which Iheard she will, his punishment willbe minimal and maybe at best he will now be taken away from his mom and put in some other type of enviroment that might help him and then might not. Noboy wins here as we all know but this little girl also is a big loser to. I wonder whatit did to her tramitcaly down the road to. I wold not wantto be the prosecutor in this case as he is gonna get judged over what ever decision he makes, let alone the judge in this case. No one wants this kid to do hard time but u also can't pat him on the ass and say BAD BOY and let it end there... This kids mom is a looser so hwodo u expect any guidance on her part. a shame but she will not be punished over it for the law in her state protects her. So u sue her civilly and get what. a pound of cocaine for payment or sex for the next 5 years.. This kid will more than likely be back on the streets before this 9 year old girl is fully healed..