Within just the past week, Colorado has seen two terrible gun-related tragedies involving children. The worst part in all instances like these, is that they were wholly preventable. The first incident happened on December 23rd…
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57348063/cops-toddler-fired-shot-that-killed-5-year-old/
(CBS/AP) LAKEWOOD, Colo. – Lakewood police have arrested a man after a 5-year-old boy died in an accidental shooting, apparently at the hands of a 3-year-old child.
Police spokeswoman Bonnie Martin says the boy was found at an apartment complex with a gunshot wound to the chest Friday morning. He was transported to a hospital where he later died of his injuries.
Martin says it appears a 3-year-old fired the shot that killed the boy.
Police arrested a 23 year old man who was supposed to be watching the children. He has since admitted that the gun was his and that he left it by his bed.
The next incident happened just two days after Christmas:
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/30079971/detail.html
Authorities say a 5-year-old Colorado girl killed herself in an apparent accidental shooting Monday night after she found a handgun in her parents’ bedroom.
The girl, Ruth Joy Wilson, shot herself in the head at the family’s home in a remote part of northeast Fremont County, said Captain Don Pinover of the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office.
Not only are these horrible tragedies that will forever scar the surviving family members, they were both 100% preventable. It’s simple: If the gun is not on your person and under your control, it needs to be locked up. Period.
Two five-year-olds are dead within days of Christmas, all because two irresponsible gun owners couldn’t take 10 seconds to unload their guns. Tragic and stupid. If you own guns, lock ’em up when the kiddies are around.