2-year-old boy shoots and kills his mother

[Beemer-mark]

I find this hard to believe, or at least understand. The woman had a concealed gun permit and while shopping the 2 year old reached into her purse and pulled the trigger, killing her.

The part I find hard to believe is what was she carrying? A 1911 load w/o a safety and a hair trigger? No two year could pull the trigger on a double action or even on most single actions.

 

[ralph7]

The kid might have played with toy guns and knew how to cock and fire one.

 

[Beemer-mark]

OK, here's one from two weeks ago -
Philadelphia woman pleads guilty after two-year-old fatally shoots his sister | US news | The Guardian

A two year old climbs up, picks up a 357, cocks it and shoots his sister.

It's not about knowing how to do it (though that's another puzzle); every two year old I've known or seen doesn't have the strength to cock a gun or pull a trigger. I don't think their stubby little fingers could even managed cocking a revolver.

 

[ralph7]

Looks like there's at least two of them that could and did.

 

[radar1972]

Looks like there's at least two of them that could and did.

Exactly!! While raising my four kids, I learned to never, repeat never, underestimate what a two year old is capable of doing.

 

[Protected One]

ALWAYS use a holster! Here's why.

This story just broke today, and illustrates another hazard of off-body carry, no holster, and general carelessness.

2-year-old accidentally kills his mom in Wal-Mart

 

[Grayfox]

I have always urged my lady friends NOT to carry in their purse. The purse is what the thief is after. If he gets the purse, not only does he have your money and credit cards, but he also has your ID with your home address, your keys and your gun.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

In my experience, two year olds learn faster than teenagers. Locking up your weapons when not carried and using a safety or empty chamber when carried are required when your children are around. You cannot hide a gun in your house, or on your person from a two year, any more than you can hide a steak from your dog.

 

[federali]

Complacency Kills

That's the danger of getting too comfortable around firearms: complacency sets in. Nothing bad has ever happened, therefore, nothing bad ever will happen.

It's also the same in dangerous professions. Talk to track maintenance people at the railroads or rapid transit systems. It's not the new guys on the job that let down their guard and are introduced to the bottom side of a train but mostly the guys doing it for ten years or more.

 

[shouldazagged]

Tragic and unnecessary death.

A firearms instructor asked a woman friend of mine, "Will you have your purse in your hand or on your shoulder all the time?" The lady had to admit that was most unlikely.

I know there are purses designed for concealed carry, and one of those might have saved this young mother's life. A holster might have done the same thing.

I still don't really trust any form of off-body carry for men or women, if for no other reason than speed of deployment of the gun.

 

[Bill_inBouse]

OP? can you send a link telling that the firearm was a 1911? without a safety and a hair trigger.
What I see is:

"She had a concealed weapons permit. Miller said the young boy was left in a shopping cart, reached into his mother's purse and grabbed a small-caliber handgun, which discharged one time."

A tragic accident for sure. A two year old can not with any understanding purposely shoot and kill anyone IMHO.

 

[Irn-Bru]

It was an accident that should have been avoided. Sooner or later something like a lipstick was going to get jammed in the trigger guard and something bad would happen.

 

[Shooting Padre]

We who have and carry weapons have a huge burden of responsibility for the safety of all around us. I really get upset at those who poo poo those who do safety check on the gun videos. I do not mind being reminded of gun safety ever, however many times. I like it fresh in the front of my mind, especially as I grow older. I'm sure that anyone who has been responsible for another being hurt or killed by their negligence
has paid for that mistake many time over in their own minds and hearts. I'd much rather have the weight of being safe on my shoulders than the weight of guilt.

 

[rwsmith]

It's good to hear about boo boos......

I do not mind being reminded of gun safety ever, however many times. I like it fresh in the front of my mind, especially as I grow older.

I'm glad to hear about others mistakes and willingly admit my own. It reminds me how a person that is usually responsible and practicing safety can glitch for just a moment and a moment is all it takes.

 

[GatorFarmer]

The are any number of striker fired handguns with an easy to pull trigger. A Jimenez comes readily to mind. I actually have one, surprisingly works fine. But the safety is easily swiped off and the trigger pull light. If one was carried with a round in the chamber, I could see it happening.

However, extraordinary bad luck must have been a factor for the child to hit anything and for the wound to be fatal on top of that. Most handgun wounds, 80 odd percent, are not fatal.

 

[vito]

So far the news articles I have seen on this have not stated the specific handgun involved, nor whether or not the gun was holstered. The victim was grossly negligent but her death is still a tragedy. I wonder how the child had access to the purse in the first place. I guess she kept her purse in the shopping cart seat along with the toddler. If this is the case she really was unbelievably careless. Off body carry increases the risk dramatically for a negligent discharge but I guess this is the way many women who carry think they are avoiding the problem of "dressing for the gun". This incident will undoubtedly give support to those who believe that average citizens are not qualified to carry a firearm and that only the "trained" police should be given this authority.

 

[RaginRog]

I have 18 month old twins that can pick up heavy objects weighing half their body weight. It's amazing the things little kids can get into. The 2 year old may have been closer to 3 as well.

 

[PA Guns & Ammo]

This is not an accident, more like negligence. Still sad though now that the kid will not have a mother when growing up.

James

 

[Eaglestroker]

So far the news articles I have seen on this have not stated the specific handgun involved, nor whether or not the gun was holstered. The victim was grossly negligent but her death is still a tragedy. I wonder how the child had access to the purse in the first place. I guess she kept her purse in the shopping cart seat along with the toddler. If this is the case she really was unbelievably careless. Off body carry increases the risk dramatically for a negligent discharge but I guess this is the way many women who carry think they are avoiding the problem of "dressing for the gun". This incident will undoubtedly give support to those who believe that average citizens are not qualified to carry a firearm and that only the "trained" police should be given this authority.

The news report this morning I caught said that it was in a custom concealed carry purse she'd just received for Christmas. Spoke about her being a young engineer with a promising future.

Prayers for the family during these trying times.

 

[The Big D]

Though I am not aware of the specific details of this incident, my thoughts, alone, would get me sent to ban camp if the mods could read my mind. I shall therefore withhold further...

Be safe.