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onehandle

(51,122 posts) Sun Apr 8, 2012, 08:27 AM Apr 2012

Phila. 4-year-old shoots himself [View all]

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

A 4-year-old Philadelphia boy was in critical condition and undergoing emergency surgery Saturday night after he found a gun under his mother's pillow and shot himself in the chest, police said.

The shooting happened about 6:55 p.m. in a bedroom of a house on the 6200 block of Cardiff Street in the Mayfair section in Northeast Philadelphia, police said. Authorities said the youngster shot himself once in the left side of the chest with a .38-caliber handgun.

It was not immediately clear who else, if anyone, was home at the time of the shooting. A police spokeswoman said late Saturday that detectives would interview the boy's mother.

"All we can tell is, it was accidental," 15th District police officer Chris Bennett said Saturday night.

Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/20120408_Phila__4-year-old_shoots_himself.html

139 replies

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Phila. 4-year-old shoots himself [View all] onehandle Apr 2012 OP

A Cautionary Tale K&R! MarianJack Apr 2012 #1

A gun under the pillow of mother's bed in a home with.. SamG Apr 2012 #2

Are you implying that in order to own a gun you need to be intelligent? Somewhere the NRA is... Walk away Apr 2012 #3

Should only be available to property owners. Or maybe some sort of intelligence test. nt Snake Alchemist Apr 2012 #55

Why property owners? JDPriestly Apr 2012 #84

land owners of course. nt Snake Alchemist Apr 2012 #89

LOL - PROPERTY OWNERS Skittles Apr 2012 #85

glad you picked up on that. nt Snake Alchemist Apr 2012 #88

Because "guns don't kill people" & "guns keep people safe" baldguy Apr 2012 #5

You can't legislate against "the stupid". geckosfeet Apr 2012 #9

But you can (potentially) legislate against the stupid owning guns. Crunchy Frog Apr 2012 #47

Maybe a writing test? nt Snake Alchemist Apr 2012 #54

The NRA would love guns to be licensed like cars hack89 Apr 2012 #77

In many states, gun owners ust be licensed. geckosfeet Apr 2012 #79

"many states"? I don't think so.... PavePusher Apr 2012 #94

Ok. For concealed carry you need a license. In my state you need a license to buy, own and fire geckosfeet Apr 2012 #96

If you can't pass a driving test you can't drive... Walk away Apr 2012 #59

how do you figure 90%? NutmegYankee Apr 2012 #60

Most gun owners are not college educated. As the level of education goes up.... Walk away Apr 2012 #98

"most gun owners are republicans?" Upton Apr 2012 #99

Most gun owners are republican. Thank you for providing a graph! nt Walk away Apr 2012 #119

Income goes up with highet education rrneck Apr 2012 #103

Wow, no bigotry there. PavePusher Apr 2012 #106

False comparison primavera Apr 2012 #109

It's also a Constitutional Right. n/t PavePusher Apr 2012 #117

So was slavery at one time. It doesn't make it right, moral or good for the country. nt Walk away Apr 2012 #121

Ensuring the right to efficient means of self-defense isn't "right, moral or good for the country"? PavePusher Apr 2012 #125

I get that you are incapable of understanding why guns are a problem. Walk away Apr 2012 #131

Funny, I don't see slavery in the Bill of Rights. NutmegYankee Apr 2012 #128

I never said Slavery was in the Bill of Rights. It is clearly in the body of the Constitution... Walk away Apr 2012 #134

At least you are refering to the correct mechanism for change. PavePusher Apr 2012 #135

You stated "so was slavery" in response to the statement "It's also a Constitutional right". NutmegYankee Apr 2012 #136

I am just stating facts. If you think the truth is racism then I'm betting you are a ... Walk away Apr 2012 #120

Seems to be false on the education front, as shown by the evidence in your post #123. PavePusher Apr 2012 #124

Tests on gun ownership would be quite easy to pass even for high school dropouts. NutmegYankee Apr 2012 #115

I did not say that ALL gun owners are stupid. For a supposedly intelligent... Walk away Apr 2012 #122

Your insinuation was obvious. PavePusher Apr 2012 #126

I am not walking back. I was not stating an opinion. Walk away Apr 2012 #133

Oh I read your post completely, and my reply was spot on. NutmegYankee Apr 2012 #127

Ahhhh, please see Vermont. Lots of liberal gun owners there. And in MA. geckosfeet Apr 2012 #118

I would counter that anecdotal comments are worthless. Maybe this will help. Walk away Apr 2012 #123

I would counter counter suggest, that reading comphrehension is in fact geckosfeet Apr 2012 #129

My post said nothing about gun safety. You were contesting my post. You are the one off topic. Walk away Apr 2012 #130

What percentage of the population can pass a drivers test? hack89 Apr 2012 #87

As long as the test applies equally across the board. Remmah2 Apr 2012 #112

Easy fix... Joseph8th Apr 2012 #4

Wouldn't even need to do that - TBF Apr 2012 #6

Hell, not even that much primavera Apr 2012 #21

... TBF Apr 2012 #22

According to US Code, every male between the ages of 17 and 45, automatically is. AtheistCrusader Apr 2012 #37

Fine primavera Apr 2012 #39

Nope. AtheistCrusader Apr 2012 #51

So your reference to the US Code is what? primavera Apr 2012 #65

It is one definition of Militia. AtheistCrusader Apr 2012 #75

You totally do not understand well regulated. NutmegYankee Apr 2012 #52

The phrase meant something different in the 18th century AlbertCat Apr 2012 #62

A flintlock is a firearm. A bolt action cartridge rifle is still a firearm. NutmegYankee Apr 2012 #63

And what was a "flint lock" in that time? Marengo Apr 2012 #132

Yes, it is very convenient... primavera Apr 2012 #64

Whereas you chose to discuss the current Supreme Court... NutmegYankee Apr 2012 #66

You mean... primavera Apr 2012 #67

Even a broken clock is right twice a day NutmegYankee Apr 2012 #68

Yep, and wrong the other 1438 minutes out of the day. primavera Apr 2012 #70

The odds are bad. NutmegYankee Apr 2012 #71

Lol! primavera Apr 2012 #74

A militia is a four year old boy with a gun he got from under his mom's pillow. Crunchy Frog Apr 2012 #49

IKR ... nt TBF Apr 2012 #76

Even easier. A writing or intelligence test for those that want a gun. nt Snake Alchemist Apr 2012 #56

Keep in mind that a lot of people write far better than they type. nt NutmegYankee Apr 2012 #57

Escaping into a pure fantasy may be easy hack89 Apr 2012 #91

Sad fightthegoodfightnow Apr 2012 #7

Guns don't kill children -- pillows kill children Hepburn Apr 2012 #8

An easily preventable tragedy. aikoaiko Apr 2012 #10

So if it's a "quick access" box... Hepburn Apr 2012 #11

They're safes with keypads krispos42 Apr 2012 #14

I have one of these BiggJawn Apr 2012 #16

Good question Hepburn. They have combinations. aikoaiko Apr 2012 #15

Mine had a key and a push-button combination krispos42 Apr 2012 #32

They have keypads like a safe obamanut2012 Apr 2012 #18

I agree. Gun ownership should be heavily regulated. nt onehandle Apr 2012 #19

And it is heavily regulated. Glad you agree. aikoaiko Apr 2012 #28

More ruined lives TheCowsCameHome Apr 2012 #12

I wonder how many people that would never have a gun in their house... krispos42 Apr 2012 #33

Lame comparison, TheCowsCameHome Apr 2012 #44

Not really. Drowning is a major killer of children. NutmegYankee Apr 2012 #53

children can choke on peanut butter too! provis99 Apr 2012 #48

They certainly can't compare with yours. krispos42 Apr 2012 #80

I wouldn't argue against owning a gun, but... ProfessionalLeftist Apr 2012 #13

My point exactly! The adult with the gun here... SamG Apr 2012 #17

Basic gun safety should be taught in public schools slackmaster Apr 2012 #20

....as if it would have made much difference here. TheCowsCameHome Apr 2012 #23

It couldn't hurt. I also believe every child should be taught how to swim. slackmaster Apr 2012 #24

Since most people do not wish to own a gun... primavera Apr 2012 #25

Because guns are common, even a person who doesn't own one is likely to encounter one at some point slackmaster Apr 2012 #26

Maybe we ought to teach kids guns are bad and don't touch like poison ivy or something. Hoyt Apr 2012 #27

Abstinance-only education? krispos42 Apr 2012 #35

Right wingers are behind most gun proliferation in this country. Some liberals hitch a ride for Hoyt Apr 2012 #38

Saturn's moon Iapetus has an equitorial ridge like a walnut. n/t krispos42 Apr 2012 #42

Polls show that 50% of Democrats own firearms. NutmegYankee Apr 2012 #61

I'd like to see the source for that claim primavera Apr 2012 #69

It's actually 40% of Democratic-leaning households. LAGC Apr 2012 #82

Okay, so that's households... primavera Apr 2012 #86

If they "loathed" they'd get rid of them. nt rrneck Apr 2012 #104

The NRA is a lying, right-wing organization, and its advocacy shouldn't be permitted here. DisgustipatedinCA Apr 2012 #113

I see your point primavera Apr 2012 #29

People change their minds about things over time. Today's kid who says he or she will never own... slackmaster Apr 2012 #34

And if/when they do change their minds... primavera Apr 2012 #43

You might live perfectly well, served 100% by light rail AtheistCrusader Apr 2012 #50

Oh, like kids always follow "the rules? - right? bread_and_roses Apr 2012 #81

"...absent adult supervision, they acted like the kids they were..." PavePusher Apr 2012 #95

I didn't say anything about giving guns to kids slackmaster Apr 2012 #100

I think both sides on the gun issue can agree on this gejohnston Apr 2012 #30

Makes you think ZHerolds73 Apr 2012 #105

sigh. barbtries Apr 2012 #31

Check out the sub-thread up above - small safes using combinations, petronius Apr 2012 #36

thanks barbtries Apr 2012 #83

How sad DesertRat Apr 2012 #40

I wonder why Turbineguy Apr 2012 #41

We obviously don't have enough guns in this country. Crunchy Frog Apr 2012 #45

Where's the proof that the kid shot himself? disndat Apr 2012 #46

Disgusting that this tragedy brings out the anti-gun nuts. Odin2005 Apr 2012 #58

So what are the gun nuts doing here? primavera Apr 2012 #72

Wow. What a bizarre post. Comrade Grumpy Apr 2012 #73

You forgot bathtub falls TheCowsCameHome Apr 2012 #78

Back, back into the dark corner of DU. nt onehandle Apr 2012 #90

Disgusting that it brings out the pro-gun nuts. Crunchy Frog Apr 2012 #92

Yes, it's disgusting that we're tired of seeing children being slaughtered with guns every day DisgustipatedinCA Apr 2012 #114

We had something similar happen here in Durham Alcibiades Apr 2012 #93

was he standing his ground? starfox172 Apr 2012 #97

What was "accidental"? leaving a loaded gun where a 4 year old could find it, or the 4 year old Devil_Fish Apr 2012 #101

Why would a mother sleep with a .38 under her pillow? Remmah2 Apr 2012 #102

Paranoia? primavera Apr 2012 #110

When there are kids in the house savalez Apr 2012 #107

A pistol under the pillow does you no good, either carry it or lock it up. ileus Apr 2012 #108

I've often thought the same thing primavera Apr 2012 #111

In a break in you will normally be alerted by noise. NutmegYankee Apr 2012 #116

Accidental? Broderick Apr 2012 #137

Any time a child gets access to a firearm, somebody should face criminal charges. onehandle Apr 2012 #138

And not a slap on the wrist either Broderick Apr 2012 #139