I am extremely angry at the parents. All the talk of responsible gun owners. Last week a drug dealers 4 yo son killed himself with his illegal gun. Seems not to matter whether the gun is legal or illegal when it is not secured properly!!!!!!!

4-year-old son of Michigan sheriff's deputy accidentally shoots and kills himself


By Miranda Leitsinger, Staff Writer, NBC News

The four-year-old boy of a sheriff’s deputy in northern Michigan accidentally shot and killed himself with a handgun at the family’s home over the weekend, state police said Monday.

Authorities believe Michael Easter was playing with the firearm when he shot himself one time on Saturday in Liberty Township, said First Lt. Michael Krumm of the state police. Police have sent evidence to a forensic lab for analysis but don’t think there was any criminal intent at play.

“At this point there is nothing that’s leading us to believe that this is anything more than a tragic accident,” Krumm said.

The handgun was believed to be registered to the boy’s father, Mark Easter, Krumm said, adding that he had yet to receive confirmation. But it was not Easter’s service weapon, he said.

Easter was on his way to work when his wife called and told him what happened, Jackson County Sheriff Steve Rand told mlive.com. The boy was pronounced dead at a local medical center.

“This just serves as a reminder that we need to be vigilant when it comes to keeping our children safe,” Rand said.

Cammy Rose, the cousin of Easter’s wife, told NBC affiliate wilx.com: “Mark's a good guy. I know this wasn't intentional."

"My heart is broken for my cousin," she said. "He was definitely taken from this world too early."

A week ago, a 4-year-old Houston boy fatally shot himself with his father's stolen handgun while his dad slept.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03 ... mself?lite

Yep. You are just as dead whether you are shot with a registered/legal or illegal gun.

So sad. I can't believe that a member of law enforcement didn't have his gun secured. Of all people, he's probably seen what can happen...........

he has the rest of his life to think about this mistake. hopefully he will do something with the knowledge and pain that comes from that.

That doesn't do his 4 yo one iota of good!!!! I hate to be nasty here, but the kid was the victim. The parents may be suffering horrendously but THEY caused this child's death.

Something like this should rate manslaughter charges.

true, kat. i wasn't trying to downplay that- just stating the facts. there is nothing that can be done to save that child now. BUT, there are things this guy could do to help save OTHER kids. that was what i was saying.

I understand that, and I would file manslaughter charges.

I am sure everyone is clammoring for that for the illegal gun, drug dealer guy.

The last year that I have data on is 2008 and 88 kids under the age of five died by gun. 60 from ages 5-9. 228 from 10-14. 2,5871 from ages 15-19. Most deaths of children are categorized as homicide and not suicide (unlike adults),

Over 116,000 kids and teens were killed by guns since 1979.

Sad stats,

http://issuu.com/cdfweb/docs/protect-ch ... eNumber=11

A while back a kid came running into my house, wanting to know where my service revolver was...he didn't say why he wanted it...I told him I sold it. He yelled "WHY?" I looked at him and said, "I sold it with this moment in mind." No regrets.

The NRA has heard about this. Wayne LaPierre thinks the solution is to give all four year olds guns.

Or life-threatening pop tarts.

A few years ago a friend in the secret service left his service weapon in a bag on a high shelf while he slept. His three year old son got it and shot himself in the stomach. The boy survived, but there was much turmoil and grief among family and friends for the several days following this tragedy.
As the child of a law enforcement officer whose family friends were all law enforcement officers, it was my experience that their weapons were not locked up in the home. My father would not dream of locking up his weapon where he could not reach it when he needed it. I'm not defending it. Just acknowledging that it is at least among the people I have have known, commonplace.

The lesson here is that ALL guns should be locked up and/or secure from children. I have an 8 yr old son and there is NO WAY he can get to any of my weapons.