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2-Year Old Accidentally Shot In Escambia County
May 9, 2020
A two-year old was accidentally shot in Escambia County Friday night.
The toddler was shot when a gun accidentally went off while the owner was cleaning it, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. It happened near Binnacle Place and Marlinspike Drive off Gulf Beach Highway.
The child was shot in the hip area and is expected to recover. No charges were filed.
Comments
27 Responses to “2-Year Old Accidentally Shot In Escambia County”
No charges filed? Child neglect . This person should not be allowed to own a gun
REGARDING:
“it’s not like there was an invisible weapon in his hand and it went off.”
The gun wasn’t invisible, but the chambered cartridge was out of sight until he thought to look — which he should have. That’s why the barrel should never be pointed at a person you don’t intend to kill, because you just MIGHT.
But common sense isn’t common.
And yes, it is much easier to check the chamber than it is to get a COVID-19 test if you are asymptomatic, since there are not enough tests available for everybody because our government leaders drug around and wouldn’t let others even start to make the tests for quite a while. But that’s like not being able to check the chamber…you know you might be infected, the gun might be loaded.
Stupidity is not a felony. Even if stupidity were a felony, too many of us have done stupid things to not realize it happens. I’m glad it didn’t kill the child. I spent much time with my two-year-old grandson today and it would tear me up if I hurt him (and there is no way to be absolutely sure neither of us is infected).
David for safe children in a dangerous world
(and apples and oranges are both fruit)
I’m throwing a flag on this one. I don’t believe anyone was cleaning a gun at all. Willing to bet someone was looking or showing the gun and it was fired. We shall see.
@David….I understand completely what you are saying but comparing the two are not the same thing at all..you can be asymptomatic with the covid19 and never know that you have it or that you are spreading it to other people ..not the same with a weapon…its not like there was an invisible weapon in his hand and it went off. He saw it. Felt it..so comparing the two is like comparing apples to oranges…just saying
@Alex an accident that could’ve ended with the 2 year old dead. If you dont have the common sense to unload your gun before you clean it you don’t deserve to own a gun period. People who text and drive and hit someone dont get away with no charges filed so that point is irrelevant.
REGARDING:
“it’s usually just a misdemeanor. I was really surprised. Seems like it should be a felony;”
Felonies are usually reserved for misdeeds with actual evil intent rather than just one-time carelessness. All the advice I have read here is good advice and I’ve given it as well. Always assume a gun is loaded even if you know for a fact that it isn’t. (Sometimes you’re wrong even though you’re sure.) Never point a gun at anything you don’t intend to kill. Always remember you might hit your target or miss it — you WILL do one or the other. Remember bullets go through and hit objects behind the target, miss and hit in front of the target, to either side of the target, above the target, below the target.
All that said, people forget or ignore advice. They don’t intend to do wrong, they just don’t always remember to do right.
Over what? 75,000? people have died of COVID-19 in this country so far. Most were infected by people who meant no harm, didn’t even realize they were “loaded guns.” They didn’t feel like they had COVID-19 since they never had it before. If you could track them down, you couldn’t reasonably charge them with felonies. Any halfway decent lawyer would point out to a jury of their peers that it was just luck that they had not done the same thing — or maybe they did but hadn’t been “caught.” Juries would acquit or hang up.
Same thing with careless/accidental shootings. Jurors might go for a lower charge but not a felony charge unless they were shown it was intent or repeated carelessness.
This is bad. No reason to make it worse.
David for better people
How do you clean a LOADED GUN? You cant…..
This was 100% preventable.
Let those whom have never had an accident of any kind judge this person. Goodness it’s a bad accident but we all make them.
If you aren’t handling a gun responsibly, then you don’t need one. Accidents can be prevented easily through having a brain and using it. The owner should face charges. Things like this are why we have so many trying to take away our gun rights, and the cops let them get away with it. Wow. It’s no accident.
Negligence yes.just remember it was an accident. he did not shoot his kid on purpose. do any of you ever use your cell phone while driving?
Pure stupidity!
I sure hope that person is required to re-take the gun safety course & the CC course if they have their permit. Even my 6yr old obviously knows gun safety better than that moron.
This person is an idiot…they should never again be able to own a weapon…this was completely avoidable…first as was previously stated you empty your weapon…second you empty your weapon…yes that is correct..DOUBLE CHECK. and why in the world would you even think of cleaning a weapon with children around anyway…praying for a speedy recovery for this poor, and now traumatized baby
I had a lot to say about this but it has already been said in comments below, soall the good folks with common sence have left me with nothing to say. I will say thank goodness good ole common sense is still alive and well, as evidenced in comments, or this would be the norm. Of course stupid is becoming more common place. And I thought I had nothing to say! Praying the child has a complete recovery.
No excuse for this irresponsibility, seize the firearms, forbid future ownership by making this a felony of stupidity.
I just Googled the normal charge for an accidental shooting in Florida, and what I found indicates it’s usually just a misdemeanor. I was really surprised. Seems like it should be a felony; which at least could lead to the shooter losing firearm privileges if convicted.
As Forrest Gump would say, :Stupid is as stupid does”.
Gun Safety 101 was completely forgotten here. 1st rule….always clear the gun before you do anything. And always double check that it is clear even if you THINK it’s not loaded! This was a completely avoidable.
Sam is 100% correct!
what normal person cleans a loaded gun? that is child neglect. and insane.
There’s no such thing as an accidental discharge…it’s a negligent discharge. The idiot cleaning the gun clearly didn’t unload…maybe took out the clip but left one in the chamber and finger in the trigger. Lucky they didn’t kill that poor child.
That is not an acceptable excuse!! This unfortunate “accident” occured due to pure negligence on the owner’s part. That level of negligence can only be accompanied by large doses of ignorance. Always always always check the chamber!!!
If the person handling the gun had followed ANY of the safety rules, this would not have happened.
Treat every weapon as if it were loaded.
Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you intend to fire.
Never point your weapon at anything you don’t intend to shoot.
Keep your weapon on safe until you intend to fire.
Someone needs a course in handling a weapon.
This is no accident. Negligence, pure and simple.
Ensuring your weapon is clear prior to cleaning should have been the first thing done.
WHY ARE YOU CLEANING A GUN:
A): While it’s loaded.
B): Around a child.
I’ve always thought that making sure a gun wasn’t loaded and the chamber was empty was the first step before cleaning? I’m sure who ever did it feels horrible, as they should, but they should also have the word stupid tattooed on their forehead so the rest of us get to be warned if we see him/her in public.