Many accidental child gun deaths not classified as accidents: report

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

The debate over gun control in America has, to this point, not included children's access to guns. But according to a front-page New York Times report ("Children and Guns: The Hidden Toll") published Sunday, accidental child gun deaths occur roughly twice as often as publicly reported.

More than half of 259 accidental firearm deaths of children aged 14 and younger reviewed by the Times were not recorded as accidents, the paper said, mostly because of inconsistencies in way such deaths are classified by authorities. Many are classified as homicides rather than accidents, the Times said, because most medical examiners and coroners "simply call any death in which one person shoots another a homicide."

The report argues that incorrect reporting of child gun deaths has contributed to the failure of "safe storage" laws opposed by the National Rifle Association, and curtailed development of "smart gun" technology to make the weapons childproof.

In nearly all of the child shooting deaths reviewed by the paper, the shooter was male, as were more than 80 percent of the victims — highlighting an "almost magnetic attraction of firearms among boys," the Times said. "Time and again, boys could not resist handling a gun, disregarding repeated warnings by adults and, sometimes, their own sense that they were doing something wrong."

http://news.yahoo.com/child-gun-deaths-accident-report-175046857.html

Edited September 29, 2013 by The Patriot

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Lucas Heagren with his father, Joshua, on Christmas 2011, holding a .22 rifle that was a present. The photograph was evidence in Mr. Heagren's negligent homicide trial after Lucas shot himself.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Kids ought to have guns to protect themselves from - uhm - guns. Wait, what?

[Darnell 8,478]

Kids oughta have parents to protect them from the guns.

Parents !! Go Parents ! Be a Parent ! Come on, I double-dawg-dare ya !

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hey, I hate child accidents with firearms, or anything elswe for that matter. Which is why I support and have supported education in our schools regarding firearms safety. The NRA has an award winning program called the "Eddie Eagle" program available FREE to your schools. Eddie Eagle volunteers will be glad to make appearances at your schools and teach the basic premise of firearms safety for children...

STOP! DON'T TOUCH! TELL AN ADULT!

This simple, non political premise has been taught to millions of young people. Per capita firearms accidents have fallen drastically in the past 100 years thank sto safety training and programs such as Eddie Eagle. Like car accidents, unwed births, and even AIDS...the key is in education. I am sure you willall agree that education to prevent accidents is important.

See if your school district would be interested Mine was. Our liberal/progressive Democrat Governor has expanded firearms education in our state's schools. Peter Shumlin is a firearms owner, collector, shooter and hunter and A+ rated by the NRA for his strong support of firearms owners rights and firearms safety. Thank you Gov. Shumlin!

http://eddieeagle.nra.org/

[spookyturtle 9,465]

And I'll add that irresponsible gun owners should get a bit of education about gun safety too. It starts with the gun owning parents and any gun owner who may have children in their homes. These accidents are due to irresponsible adults.

[himher 634]

And I'll add that irresponsible gun owners should get a bit of education about gun safety too. It starts with the gun owning parents and any gun owner who may have children in their homes. These accidents are due to irresponsible adults.

Well said spooks

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

And I'll add that irresponsible gun owners should get a bit of education about gun safety too. It starts with the gun owning parents and any gun owner who may have children in their homes. These accidents are due to irresponsible adults.

Well, that covers a majority of the gun addicts.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Well, that covers a majority of the gun addicts.

I honestly don't know who it covers, but it's an irresponsible parent that leaves a gun or any other dangerous thing laying around for a child to get there hands on. Lots of kids have been poisoned by drinking antifreeze that was left within their reach. There have been cases of antifreeze being stored in soda or oj bottles and the young child finds it on the garage floor and drinks it. Knives don't make good playthings either for toddlers. Common sense.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I honestly don't know who it covers, but it's an irresponsible parent that leaves a gun or any other dangerous thing laying around for a child to get there hands on. Lots of kids have been poisoned by drinking antifreeze that was left within their reach. There have been cases of antifreeze being stored in soda or oj bottles and the young child finds it on the garage floor and drinks it. Knives don't make good playthings either for toddlers. Common sense.

No, natural selection.

[himher 634]

Well, that covers a majority of the gun addicts.

Stats don't really support your point of view but being that it is you please feel free to continue to remain unconcerned about that.