In da ghetto... Das life, in da ghetto!!!

Actually Cobbs Creak isn't that bad...

I hope that they find out how the kid got his hands on the gun and that the adult responsible for the kid being able to get his hands on this weapon is prosecuted for endangering the welfare of minors and anything else they can think of to charge them with. This could have been far worse and we could be reading about one or more dead children instead of this relatively minor injury to one kid. The law needs to start holding adults responsible when they are careless with the security of weapons they own and impose harsh penalties to get the point across that these adults need to take more care. Cases like this demand a minimum prison sentence due to the potential for serious injury or death of children as a result of such carelessness.

They should charge his parents with neglect for not teaching him proper fire arm safety.

My gun is kept unloaded in a locked safe unless I'm going to the range to shoot at paper. There should never be a way for other than the gun owner to get their hands on the weapon.

Just how exactly is this national news? Guns aren't even a topic in this years elections.

trust_verify

GM Trust.

You know as well as I do that it's "national news" because NBC has an agenda and will ALWAYS make any incident involving a firearm "national news".

I wonder if NBC has armed guards in the lobby of their Corporate office? No, of course not. Only the Police and Military should have firearms. Yeah right!

So XD, that means you don't see the difference between security guards and a 10yo on a playground?

What is on everyone's mind.....where did the darn gun come from? Poor uninformative reporting.

They report "THE GUN". What, BB Gun, Pellet Gun, rubber band gun???

XDm9mm......I agree...ANY article that remotely gives a negative opinion to guns is immediately put up. Obviously they have an agenda....maybe their mother was scared by a squirtgun when she was pregnant.

Darwin.

When I was a kid, we had to watch a safety film about leaving blasting caps(!) and guns alone when we find them outside, and to go get an adult to call the police, and not to play with blasting caps and guns, period. Blasting caps would likely be found where roads are being built--I don't know if they're as plentiful as they seemed to be then. Staying away from strangers who were handing out candy was another topic, and probably explained why kids freaked out at shopping center Santas and elves.

There is a book called More Guns Less Crime by a pro gun guy. Hand guns have been selling like hotcakes these past few years. I wonder if the FBI stats will show that more guns = less crime. We shall see.

Who hasn't shot themselves in the hand?

Why is this news? We're about to elect the President of the United States tomorrow, and a fluff story about an outlier gets coverage?

davey-526272

In fact, per FBI crime statistics, while private firearms ownership HAS increased, the incidence of violent crime has DECREASED.

As yes, WE SEE the corollary relationship. Of course, in gun free zones, like Chicago, NYC the opposite is true. After the Heller decision in Washington DC, the police HAVE noted a reduction in violent crime against citizens. Of course, they haven't seen a corresponding drop in violent crime amongst the gang-bangers and drug dealers, but they don't necessarily adhere to the law now anyway do they?

not sure how this got national news. theres kids younger than him on the news everyday in philly shooting each other. a thumb wound aint that bad

After reading the passionate love of guns, shooting and killing in these comments and in gun magazines, I have concluded that many gun lovers are sexually lacking, so they substitute "spurting lead" for actual sex. The gun lovers' lust for power, their enjoyment of killing unarmed animals and calling it a "sport," and their desire to ensure they can quickly kill anyone is a sign of some really sick pathologies.

truth seeker-2078284
So XD, that means you don't see the difference between security guards and a 10yo on a playground?

Some of the ones I worked with the difference was you'd be safer if the 10 year had the gun.

trust_verify - The reason this is national news is because NBCSnooze has a very definite anti-gun aganda.

Notice how the reporter skimmed over the cops raising the BS flag on the kid?

They had to have some story to distract the voters from obama getting his butt kicked in the polls. But where is the story about the 4 Americans getting killed in Benghazi while obama looked on in the Situation Room? Americans die and obama goes on the stump the next day - real "presidential" of him. Then he tries to blow smoke up the whole world's @$$e$ with the youtube video.

KarlStevens-2597445

So am I to surmise you are a strict vegetarian? If not, please don't spout off about people hunting. At the least, they have the nerve to kill their food. They don't need unseen people in slaughter houses (nice name isn't it?) killing the animals whose meat shows up on grocery store shelves.

Oh, and WHY must you have fantasies about a firearms owners sexual activity? A little lacking in that department yourself so you feel it appropriate to denigrate others in a futile attempt at enhancing your own lack of stamina?

this is just sad... if they're going to have guns at the playground, they should teach the kids not to put their thumb in front of the muzzle when shooting.

Karl- I can understand the want to protect the helpless animal. Ironically hunters are more about helping save the earths wildlife then destroying it. We embrace it, we enjoy spending time in the woods and lakes. And alot of hunting turns up nothing. It is a chess game. These animals are not tied up helpless then shot, no they are in the wild with no fences or man-made barriers. Hunters have more respect for the game they take themselves then others that just buy it in a store.

the_thinker, go drink some more of fox's koolaid. It was a nice attempt at a smear campaign but much worse has been done under Reagan, like the 215 marines killed that was totally preventable under his watch in Beirut. Oh yeah, and he was warned about it.

Go back to your hole. Enjoy 4 more years of Obama while you have it. It could be much worse.

don't keep them where no kids will get to them.

Double negative. :) I'm a proud grammar nazi! I won't even go into the rest of your comment.

Also, the child could have got the gun from someone other than their parents.

Me? I don't like guns... I don't get the fascination.

Merlin, don't be ignorant. The article never stated where the child found the firearm and how he was able to get it primed and ready to fire. For all you know some drug dealer ditched it there or it was planted for illegal sale... It's happened here before.

Either way, by assuming it was his parents firearm you have jumped to conclusion. This is one of the worst qualities a human being could have.

Yes, ban handguns, that will total eliminate....wait...NO IT WONT. Are you kidding me. If this was the parent's handgun (and not a gun that was gang carried or gang related) then that parent should never be allowed to own a handgun or rifle or any firearm, ever. Safety courses are taught all of the time (I know because I teach them) and I personally have seen that society does NOT THINK that they need safety courses. then something like this happens.

The same goes for home invasions: no one thinks that they need home invasion protection or training...that is until it happens to them. Believe it or not, if you become the victim of a home invasion, you will always (yes ALWAYS) fear that it is going to happen again. It happens to most that have had their home burglarized as well. But society does not NEED the training? Well, keep thinking that one.

Buying a gun does not mean that you know how to use it properly. Watching a movie does not mean you know how to use it properly. Watching a video (youtube or instructional) does not mean that you know how to use it properly. Reading a book does not mean that you know how to properly use a firearm. Take a class, learn something. It is not as easy as it is assumed. Then practice practice, practice and when you think you are a pro....practice more.

CommonSense_not2Common

Excellent Post!!!!

Merlin- I think now the law is that the parents are held responsible. That might be dependent on the state though

Lesson learend,don't play with guns.Guns are not toys.We grew up around guns and that is what we were taught.

MJ1986 I get the fascination, it's putting a bloody big hole in a defenseless furry animal. Apparently it makes your dick grow bigger. And usually involves getting dressed in army fatigues, getting blind drunk and running through the forest yelling, screaming and blasting the crap out of anything stupid enough to move. Then you wake the next morning and find a live camel tied to the roof of the Toyota.

That sort of thing happened all the time where I grew up. I spent most hunting seasons indoors when I was at school, and I wasn't allowed to ride my bike away from the house. A hunters shot one of our dogs and a bull called Bananas, his Ute is still stuck in a tree near the front gate.

another dumb ass liberal with the i gotta protect the stupid from them selves attitude. and another @!$%#ty story from msn with no information, so everybody jumps to conclusions. if you ban guns there will still be millons of guns out there but then only the criminals would have them. that sounds great. i guess id be a criminal then, because im not giving up mine!!!

ValidViewpoint

Quit letting the NRA run the country.

If the NRA ran the country, Fast and Furious might never have happened.

@ValidViewpoint. I like how you have to use a screen name to try and convice anyone that reads it that you have an educated and worth-while comment. I had to "trip" over your comment to read others that actually had substance in their comments. I can see you are one of the "juice drinkers" that will be voting a certain way tomorrow. All I can say is: you are responsible for the past 4 years and because of your votes, the US is in the poor economic state that we are currently in. Hope you are proud but you dont see that do you? Of course not, because you drank the juice.

The 2nd amendment is there for all US citizens and shall not be infringed upon. People like you cry to ban guns and remove guns from households and then what? Then knife attacks against home invaders will go up and then you will cry to ban KNIVES. You will ban the NKA (national knife association) and have all of the knives removed from homes? Then fork incidents will go up. Then we would all have to eat with plastic sporks. that is unfair to those of us that are not stealing oxygen.

I would feel sad for you but I make it a point to not feel sorry for those that deliberately and blindly palce themselves into a situation that deliberately hurts others.....and an entire nation.

glock23-3282286" I'm so damned tired of all you people that, when confronted and you don't have a valid comment, or you feel threatened because someone doesn't agree with you or think the same way you do, you begin your rant by spewing out the "L" word. Not lesbian, LIBERAL! It just gets old. If you can't think of anything else to say, then don't say anything.

Glock23 probably has extremely tiny genitalia, so having a gun makes him feel it's compensating for that. Of course, the women are not fooled at all. So he posts here to give vent to his rage over never getting any.

Mymomdidnotraiseafool

Glock23 probably has extremely tiny genitalia,

Spend a lot of time pondering male genitalia, do you?

It's a disaster when our children are brandishing weapons in the streets, hence this example. Where is the freedom in being worried about the person having a weapon and the feeling that you, too, should have one i order to counter them? It's the 1800's all over again.

By the way, I assume this child was not the owner of the weapon...

@John B....

Glocks point was that if we ban handguns, that criminals will only have them... Then we'd be in worse shape.. How do you feel about that?

And why are you also against the constitution? (see where the Liberal comes from?)..

ValidViewpoint........<<<< idiot.......glock23-3282286...<<<< my hero

Pong, With spelling and punctuation like that you better watch out for MJ1986.

Thanks for the warning not a an author if someone has the free time to scrutinize my spelling and punctuation by all means let them.

your an idiot

Oh, the irony! Your write, pong. The kid was just exercising his second amendment write.

pong1984 said: "Yeah ban handguns your an idiot." First of all, learn the difference between 'your' and 'you're'. Using the right word might make YOU look less like an IDIOT.

Dubya could't get a sentence out without screwing up the words and 'they' made him president. 'They' are the idiots. Ban idiots not guns.

Ya'll best not be messin with da pong man bout his grammah!

Just locking a gun up and hiding it isn't the right answer. I picked up my first gun at 5yrs old. UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYES of my father (ex-marine) and uncles. His biggest worry was I would find one and not know how to handle it and be safe with it. USMC weapons saftey rules 1. Treat EVERY weapon as if it were loaded 2. Never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot 3. keep your finger straight and off the trigger until your ready to fire 4. Keep your weapon on safe until you intend to fire.

I have gone to weapons and hunter saftey courses since i was 6yrs old and now as a Marine myself, I carry a weapon daily. I have never had an ND. Keeping kids safe from guns is to teach them about how to handle guns.

His idiot parents or guardians, should have had it locked in a box, and out of sight of the kid.

Did I miss something or did the article say he brought it from home? I prefer to not jump to conclusions before I know all the facts, but maybe you know something the rest of us don't.

I am a huge gun supporter and strongly support the second amendment, but I agree with you. Everyone who wants to own a gun should be trained on the proper handling, firing, maintenance, carry laws, and proper storage for that particular weapon. Buying a fancy pistol for self defense doesn't do you any good if you don't know how to take it off safe.

Todd-651965

Thank you, like I said I think it’s the fairest solution to one facet of the problem, in a way it reminds me of driving, after all you cannot legally drive (well this is the case in the UK where I’m from) without first receiving the training, so why not just make it that you cannot legally buy and own a gun without undergoing the training too?

It's common sense to all of us. However, if you were to require safety training before purchasing a gun, the right wing would have a fit and say youre trying to infringe on our second amendment rights, the fee for the class would be called a "tax" and if you offered the class for free, you would be adding to the debt and wasting our tax dollars. Special interest groups on the right and left and their lobbyists are why we cannot find common sense solutions to problems in this country.

I don't doubt that Cappy, there are plenty of reasosn why s many people I know say American politics is crazy

@Cappy... and if there was mandatory drug testing for people collecting welfare checks (common sense to us all, then the left would say it's racist or somethign stupid like that... either way, there should be better controls on what the press publishes without all the answers such as this story (Did the kid find the gun at the playground? Did the kid take his parents firearm out of the house? Why was the gun loaded?.... etc..).

I'll take it one step further, Back East, welfare recipients should also be required to be on birth control, either permanently or with an IUD or Norplant. Why should you be allowed to continue to breed when you can't take care of the children you have without being on the dole? It could be paid for with tax dollars that we are going to eventually end up spending on more children anyway. And at a lower cost. Unfortunately, the ACLU would accuse you of infringing on their human rights, so we can't do that either.

Back East- Think about it now, all goverment workers must submit to random drug test. Welfare is just like they work for the gov but get paid without doing work. Why shouldn't they have to get drug tested? Why do people fight so hard for them? BECAUSE THEY WOULD POP! Most low-income families use some type of illegal durg to numb themselve to there worthless lives. And yes they should be be forced on to some type of birth control.

So NJK85, so low income families have worthless lives? Wow, aren't you a big fat jerk. Let me guess, you call yourself a religious republican too.

Excel- Welfare is abused by people who refuse to make a change and start to fix thier lives. Drugs are used to numb them to that fact. "A jerk" No I'm Just not sugar coating anything. And as for religion and my political affiliation. No I'm not religious. And I hate politics because of all the BS.

Johnny - see the article in comment #14 below by "The Lunatic" ... I think you'd enjoy it.

Thanks Homy. One of the best articles I've seen. My own contribution goes like this:

There seem to be two main arguments for American gun-ownership.

1) When you suffer an armed home invasion or a Columbine type attack, the cops are minutes not seconds away and

2) Only an armed populace can resist a government that wishes to impose a dictatorship.

The trouble with the first is that if you make it possible to arm the mad, the bad and the sad and flood the country with guns, you make it almost certain that any intruder in your home or school will be armed, therefore fulfilling the condition that made you want to be armed in the first place.

On the second, it is clear from Afghanistan, Libya and Syria that even a well-armed populace cannot stand up to the military without extra help. To be effective the armed populace (read right-wing militia) needs either to have:

(a) help from the military – this is called a coup in most countries

(b) someone outside to impose a no-fly zone – any suggestions for foreign governments who might be prepared to try to do this in the US?

(c) recourse to more than even the powerful weapons allowed in the US – just trot along to your local Walmart and pick up your suicide belt and SAM missile.

Who can doubt American exceptionalism?

Any country where a substantial part of the population:

a) denies evolution

b) doubts global warming

c) believes that mass gun ownership brings increased safety

d) maintains that talk of "second amendment remedies" is compatible with democracy

is exceptionally STUPID.

Johnny Marre

Please allow me to respond to your post item by item.

1) When you suffer an armed home invasion or a Columbine type attack, the cops are minutes not seconds away

Which situation would you prefer to be in.

A young mother ON THE PHONE with "911" for several MINUTES asking for help and guidance while someone was IN HER HOME. She ultimately shot the intruder as he entered the room she barricaded herself and infant in.

A doctor in Connecticut, who watched as his wife and daughter were brutalized by sadists, then set on fire while the police were down the street waiting for other officers to arrive in order to provide assistance. The doctor survived, but his wife and daughter perished.

Personally, I'll take the first scenario.

Only an armed populace can resist a government that wishes to impose a dictatorship.

You use Afghanistan as an example. Are you speaking of the approximately 10,000 to 20,000 Taliban and Al Quaeda that have had the US Military bogged down for approximately 10 years? The 10,000 to 20,000 that have had initially almost 250,000 TRAINED military, and now approximately 50,000 TRAINED military fighting a war of attrition. A war of attrition I might add that they are effectively winning? That Afghanistan? I won't delve into Lybia or Syria as they are similar. Of course we don't have (officially anyway) "boots on the ground" in either location.

You also speak of more powerful weapons. Do you honestly believe the military would use weapons similar to those used in other countries on their own people? There are approximately 80 million legal firearms owners in this country, that collectively own approximately 300 million firearms. Think about those numbers for a minute. 80 million Americans, as compared to a standing combat force of American troops totaling approximately 500,000. Then reacquaint yourself with the number of Taliban and Al Quaeda at approximately 20,000 that has those same forces at an effective stalemate.

And for your edification.

I fully endorse evolution.

I do not doubt "global warming", just the concept that we are at fault. Google Glacial and Inter-glacial periods. The piece of space flotsam we call "Earth" has gone through heating and cooling periods long before "man" walked the earth and will continue to do so long after man becomes just that much dust polluting the surface of the planet. But you can continue to believe that man can somehow control what has happened and will continue to happen if you so choose. Just don't ask me to believe your hypothesis.

I don't know about society in general, but I can assure you that I am able to provide a MUCH GREATER degree of safety and protection to my family, friends, neighbors even strangers and myself being armed. When others are as willing to respect me and what is mine and do not want to make what I have labored for theirs illegally, I'll consider giving up my firearms. But I doubt even then if I would as I also enjoy hunting.

The Second Amendment is the bedrock on which the other freedoms we enjoy is built. An armed populace are called citizens. An unarmed populace are called subjects. Personally, I prefer to be a citizen.

I won't call you STUPID, I'll be polite and just call you misinformed.

XDM9mm: The 2nd Amendment is an invitation to armed insurrection if you don't like the results obtained by democratic ballot. Under what circumstances may a group of citizens decide that they may turn to a 2nd Amendment remedy and how many do there need to be? If all 80 miilion gun owners are of the same opinion then the ballot box will work. So how many, why and when justifies the use of force?

May a single citizen take it into his head that the 2nd Amendment gives him the right to rid America of what he has been told is a "socialist" President? If not, why not?

The answer is that the military alone will decide whether such an insurrection is permissable, will aid it (effect a coup) and will purge the country of private arms immediately afterwards.

Johnny Marre

You have your view and I have mine.

And no, the 2nd Amendment is NOT an invitation to armed insurrection. It is meerly the means the people have to ensure a government does NOT become a despotic and tyrannical government that feels it can abridge the rights guaranteed the people by the the first ten amendmants to the US Constitution, more commonly referred to as the Bill of Rights.

I have proudly worn the uniform of this country. I took an oath to protect and defend the CONSTITUTION from all enemies, foreign AND domestic. This country we call the United States of America is the PEOPLE and the people are represented and protected by the Constitution. It is also the people that need to protect that document. And yes, I WILL rise up if necessary to protect it from the government if the government decides that those protections and rights are not ours any longer. Our founding fathers were willing to give all to give us what we enjoy today. I'm willing to give all to ensure those coming behind me can enjoy those same freedoms.

But, don't fear, we're not close to that yet. The 2nd Amendment ensures that.

The military will not tolerate violations of the Constitution.

"I Todd-651965 do solemnly swear that I will supportand defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same........"

As XD implied, our founding fathers included the 2nd Amendment into the Bill of Rights to ensure our government doesn't overstep its bounds. An example would be an administration's refusal to peacefully hand over power after losing an election. The American public would be expected to rise up and assist that transition. George Washington specifically refused the title of "King" for a reason, and having an armed population reinforces his wish.

Mr Marre.

Are you truly naive enough to believe that our elected representatives, with about a ten percent approval rating, represent the wishes of a majority of the population? The Second Amendment is a constant reminder to our elected officials that there is at least portion of the citizenry who will not be quietly led where ever they might choose to try to take us.

You also speak of more powerful weapons. Do you honestly believe the military would use weapons similar to those used in other countries on their own people?

ROFLMAO

What a sweet delusionist reality you inhabit. Should I waken you by suggesting you read some world history?

Nah.

I bet a rabid unicorn fired the gun, and then disappeared in a cloud of pink smoke, crossing the parallel universe divide into your bizarre world.

Have you considered the concept that it might have been tossed by a gang banger? Have you considered that the parents have absolutely NOTHING to do with this situation.

Damn, please provide your real name. I would be terrified if you were ever on a jury.

Ella- "Why was the child not given a gun safety course if he was going to be around guns?"

Its about time someone brings this very important point up.

NJK85

Not to disparage your comment, as it is something that I strongly believe in.

However, that is assuming the parents even knew anything about this particular firearm, or any firearm. They might very well be like my nephew. He will not even allow his children to have Nerf-Guns as he is adamant about firearms in his home. (But interestingly he enjoys shooting when he visits!)

Personally, I and my son have already taught his son and daughter about firearms and what they should do if they encounter one outside of their home. LEAVE IT ALONE... LEAVE THE AREA.... TELL AN ADULT.. ANY ADULT about it. Inside their home, they know to never touch any firearm without Dad or Pop-Pop with them and even then only after permission has been granted.

There is firearm ownership and firearm responsibility. We practice responsibility first.

XD- I have friends like your nephew and do everything I to sway their minds on gun saftey. They tell me "They dont need to know because we don't have guns in the house" or "I dont like guns." I tell them they are doing their children a injustice by not allowing them to learn how to properly handle a firearm if they come across one. Yes I agree that children should never handle a firearm with out an adult but, if a gun is found on a play ground and a kid see it a run to find a adult and is gone for 30 sec to a min. Another child cound come by and pick it up and hurt himself or someone else.

Virgle Merritt: what a stupid post. That was two seconds of my life I won't ever get back!

Karin from Pittsburgh

Sounds like you have potentially good idea there, of cause putting it into practice maybe difficult, you know what age is good to start learning? (I’d say high school years myself) is there an opt out for parents who think it’s un-ethical? That sort of thing: might also want to work on the wording of some of the rules, like “never point it at anything you don't intend on shooting, including oneself!” as we all know how impressionable kids are and you’d be less likely to generate opposition that way

@Karin from Pittsburgh that is a great idea.

Better yet....let's teach kids how to put condoms on guns.

No thanks.

Excellent article, everyone in America should read this. Seriously - well done.

Good artical, I think you make a great point about gun culture in America these days as plenty don't see to treat guns with the respect they deserve.

Move..

Easier said than done.

Patrick McManus blew up stuff and shot stuff all the time when he was a kid, and lived to be an adult who makes money writing about it. Check out "Never Sniff a Gift Fish."

I understand wanting to keep guns out of the wrong hands, but honestly, if you own a gun, what good does it do you if it's locked up where you can't get it when you need it? Teach kids proper gun safety early on.

Gun safes now can be opened in seconds and pretty much take tace of that issue. Or you can run the risk of hurting someone you care about. Risk managment.