When Toddlers Kill Selves with Guns in Florida, Guess Which Color Gun Owners Get Arrested?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

When Toddlers Kill Selves with Guns in Florida, Guess Which Color Gun Owners Get Arrested?

by Alec Kohut

"It's just one of those things that happens where everything happens the wrong way."

Just one of those things, is exactly what white Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said after the gun of Kevin Ahles was left in reach of his 2-year old son Kaleb, who grabbed the loaded gun, and killed himself on January 21, 2015.

Just one of those things.

Yet in neighboring Hillsborough County, when on May 7, 2013, 3-year old Jadarrius Speights grabbed his uncles gun and proceeded to kill himself, the white Sheriff David Gee had a different reaction. In that case it was not, one of those things, but culpable homicide, and Jeffery D. Walker was arrested.

You guessed it, the African-American was sent to jail.

Both held concealed weapon permits, both were negligent, and in both cases, that negligence led to the death of a child.

Yet in the land of Jeb "Stand Your Ground" Bush, George Zimmerman and Marissa Alexander, we all know which of these two negligent adults was charged for their crime.

While we fantasize about equal protection under the law, and debate the existence of white privilege, this story shines a light on the racism and injustice that still exists in South.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/02/05/1362570/-When-Toddlers-Kill-Selves-with-Guns-in-Florida-Guess-Which-Color-Gun-Owners-Get-Arrested

[decocker 7,198]

that's how things work in this country. just read this yesterday...http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/05/black-girls-suspended-6-times-more-often.html

got to keep them prisons filled.

[Teddy B 17,252]

In both cases these were needless deaths that were caused by careless gun owners. However, the definition of a "secured" handgun in the state of Florida is what appears to be the difference in these cases, not the color of the gun owners skin. In the first case of Kevin Ahles, the gun was considered to be "secured" in the glove compartment of their car, but in the case of Jeffery Walker, the gun was not considered to be secured because it was found in a backpack in the bedroom that the child shared with the gun owner. Also, the articles I read regarding the charges brought on Jeffrey walker were not "culpable homicide" as stated in the op story, it was "culpable negligence", which I believe is a much lesser charge.

[decocker 7,198]

In both cases these were needless deaths that were caused by careless gun owners. However, the definition of a "secured" handgun in the state of Florida is what appears to be the difference in these cases, not the color of the gun owners skin. In the first case of Kevin Ahles, the gun was considered to be "secured" in the glove compartment of their car, but in the case of Jeffery Walker, the gun was not considered to be secured because it was found in a backpack in the bedroom that the child shared with the gun owner. Also, the articles I read regarding the charges brought on Jeffrey walker were not "culpable homicide" as stated in the op story, it was "culpable negligence", which I believe is a much lesser charge.

to bad the white dude "secured" his kid in the car with the gun.

[Teddy B 17,252]

to bad the white dude "secured" his kid in the car with the gun.

It appears the kid was left in the car while the parents were loading the trunk with boxes. It's still negligence in my eyes, but I don't see how race really plays an issue other than one gun owner being white and the other being black. It appears to be the wording in the Florida law that defines a "secured handgun" that makes the difference here.

Here's the two stories I read, one on each shooting.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/01/23/kaleb-ahles-kevin-ahles-christina-nigro_n_6530396.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/08/florida-3-year-old-fatally-shoots-self_n_3237898.html

[lostinblue 1,989]

It appears the kid was left in the car while the parents were loading the trunk with boxes. It's still negligence in my eyes, but I don't see how race really plays an issue other than one gun owner being white and the other being black. It appears to be the wording in the Florida law that defines a "secured handgun" that makes the difference here.

Here's the two stories I read, one on each shooting.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/01/23/kaleb-ahles-kevin-ahles-christina-nigro_n_6530396.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/08/florida-3-year-old-fatally-shoots-self_n_3237898.html

It is always about race with some people on here

[Teddy B 17,252]

It is always about race with some people on here

[decocker 7,198]

It appears the kid was left in the car while the parents were loading the trunk with boxes. It's still negligence in my eyes, but I don't see how race really plays an issue other than one gun owner being white and the other being black. It appears to be the wording in the Florida law that defines a "secured handgun" that makes the difference here.

Here's the two stories I read, one on each shooting.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/01/23/kaleb-ahles-kevin-ahles-christina-nigro_n_6530396.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/08/florida-3-year-old-fatally-shoots-self_n_3237898.html

the race issue is backed up by numbers, by fact. race plays in sentencing.

Edited February 6, 2015 by val erie

[Teddy B 17,252]

the race issue is backed up by numbers, by fact. race plays in sentencing.

That would be a good line for another thread, but doesn't really fit with the op story.

[decocker 7,198]

That would be a good line for another thread, but doesn't really fit with the op story.

uh. yes it does.

[Teddy B 17,252]

uh. yes it does.

Ok

[Sousuke 1,214]

It is always about race with some people on here

Then what is the difference between the two stories other than race? They seem similar to me.

[decocker 7,198]

was there a lock on that dude's glovebox that the child picked to get to the gun? otherwise i don't consider a glove box secured. i consider the act of putting the child in the car (alone) with an unlocked glovebox containing the gun - the exact same level of negligence as leaving a bookbag in a room where a child could get to the gun.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Of course it's the police who decide whether or not a charge is warranted. It's not as though they sit there weighing legal arguments, that happens in court.

The issue is the discretion the police have in charging someone with a crime and how that discretion is applied.

Edited February 6, 2015 by Hail Ming!

[lostinblue 1,989]

Then what is the difference between the two stories other than race? They seem similar to me.

Florida state law requires gun owners to secure their weapons in the presence of children under 16, but they can only be charged if the minor brandishes it in public.

Cecilia Barreda of Pinellas County sheriff’s office said the pair would not be charged as the weapon was "secured" in the glove box.