ID - 2 year boy accidentally shoots and kills mother in walmart in ths US

[seattlechiquita]

Isn't it partly the normalisation of gun ownership in the USA that led to this woman thinking there was nothing wrong with packing heat in her handbag whilst visiting Walmart with 4 children in tow?

Yep. That and being a common idiot.

 

[nrdsb4]

There may be some suicides which might not have happened if a gun hadn't been present in the home. I'm sure there have been some. In fact, that was suspected in a suicide of a young man whose parents I was acquainted with (though not close friends). Some suicides do seem rather spontaneous, and probably are. But I don't know if we have any way of knowing if the numbers of those types of suicides are statistically significant, though of course they are very significant to the families of those persons.

 

[Donjeta]

Isn't it partly the normalisation of gun ownership in the USA that led to this woman thinking there was nothing wrong with packing heat in her handbag whilst visiting Walmart with 4 children in tow?

I imagine that in a culture where guns are just another item that automatically goes into your handbag every day with your keys, wallet and phone it's much easier to get so blasé and nonchalant about them that you leave loaded and unsecured firearms in the shopping cart where your toddler can take them, or anyone else really.

 

[Nova]

Agree.

So, can they charge her posthumously with negligent manslaughter or something similar? Or is her death sufficient punishment?

Very funny. But had someone else been killed by the toddler's shot, I think a manslaughter charge against the mother would be entirely appropriate. (Qualification: I do not know Idaho law re negligent homicide; I'm just thinking in terms of the law where I live.)

 

[MyBelle]

The child certainly did shoot the mother, how the child knew how to do so so effectively is my question, and you have to look at the parenting skills when a mother leaves her gun loaded and within easy reach of a child.

Passing judgment on a dead woman's parenting skills is not a way I wish to spend my time, thanks.

 

[MyBelle]

Isn't it partly the normalisation of gun ownership in the USA that led to this woman thinking there was nothing wrong with packing heat in her handbag whilst visiting Walmart with 4 children in tow?

What is the "normalisation" of gun ownership? I've never heard that term. The woman legally could carry a concealed weapon in the Walmart. I doubt she was the only person there that day with a concealed weapon.

 

[Mrs G Norris]

What is the "normalisation" of gun ownership? I've never heard that term. The woman legally could carry a concealed weapon in the Walmart. I doubt she was the only person there that day with a concealed weapon.

Yes, that's pretty much what I'm talking about.

 

[SStarr33]

It's always been normal to carry a gun.

 

[Paulette]

What are the grounds to sue the estate of a dead woman for owning a gun that killed her, not other shoppers?

Trauma to the employees & shoppers, the mess, the bother! She caused this to happen. Her estate should pay. I feel the same as a drunk that plows into someone's tree or house or child - they should pay a heavy price for their actions. It's the only way to teach them to behave differently.

I guess she felt her responsibility was toward herself & her safety by carrying the gun - but what about her duty to society? It could have been you that was shot in the head. So, you're buried & your family sues her. In 2 or 3 years she's all but forgotten the incident & your family is left to grieve forever.

Harsh, crippling consequences for people that don't think about the wider society should be imposed.

 

[LinasK]

It's always been normal to carry a gun.

Not to me!

 

[December]

Re: 'normalization of gun ownership'. I used to have a stalker. I had a gun during that time. He wasn't very focused on me, so moved along (THANK GOD). Also, I moved, so that helped.

I do not have a child. If a child ever came to my house, I unloaded the gun and hid it and its ammo in two separate, difficult to access places even though the child was never unsupervised anyway. The few times I carried my gun, I was not at all casual about it because I was fully aware it could kill someone. I never took it to Walmart, but if I had I would not have let go of my purse for even one second. I would have my money and keys in a totally separate location so I could pay and get into my car without opening the temporary gun safe.

Anything that can kill someone (and this is a long list of items including some things that are alive) MUST be handled carefully. I think some people forget that. If a person is busy and does not really, really need that thing then they should probably get rid of it (I guess a gun could be stored in a safe, if a person chose to do that). If a person chooses to keep the whatever it is, then they have to make safety in regard to it a very high priority I do not care if they are busy.

I do not think we have a 'normalization of gun culture', I think we have people not paying attention and not understanding that if you're not vigilant you MUST give something up. It is your choice what that is... it could be the lethal item or it could be some convenience you choose to sacrifice.

One thing is people DO steal purses out of carts. So, her decision to set her purse in her cart was a bad one even if the two year old hadn't been there.

I don't understand the hair triggers on these guns though. My gun was a Colt. Their triggers are stacked (it gets harder to pull the further back you pull it). I don't know if I two-year-old could have fired it.. I never let anyone younger than adult touch it. I thought Colts were pretty popular, but maybe not. You can get an action job, but my father advised me not to, so I didn't.

 

[LinasK]

Trauma to the employees & shoppers, the mess, the bother! She caused this to happen. Her estate should pay. I feel the same as a drunk that plows into someone's tree or house or child - they should pay a heavy price for their actions. It's the only way to teach them to behave differently.

I guess she felt her responsibility was toward herself & her safety by carrying the gun - but what about her duty to society? It could have been you that was shot in the head. So, you're buried & your family sues her. In 2 or 3 years she's all but forgotten the incident & your family is left to grieve forever.

Harsh, crippling consequences for people that don't think about the wider society should be imposed.

Yeah, Walmart should probably sue the family for the negative publicity alone! Aside from the mess and the trauma to other shoppers and employees!!

 

[Elley Mae]

It's always been normal to carry a gun.

It is to me!

 

[Elley Mae]

Re: 'normalization of gun ownership'. I used to have a stalker. I had a gun during that time. He wasn't very focused on me, so moved along (THANK GOD). Also, I moved, so that helped.

I do not have a child. If a child ever came to my house, I unloaded the gun and hid it and its ammo in two separate, difficult to access places even though the child was never unsupervised anyway. The few times I carried my gun, I was not at all casual about it because I was fully aware it could kill someone. I never took it to Walmart, but if I had I would not have let go of my purse for even one second. I would have my money and keys in a totally separate location so I could pay and get into my car without opening the temporary gun safe.

Anything that can kill someone (and this is a long list of items including some things that are alive) MUST be handled carefully. I think some people forget that. If a person is busy and does not really, really need that thing then they should probably get rid of it (I guess a gun could be stored in a safe, if a person chose to do that). If a person chooses to keep the whatever it is, then they have to make safety in regard to it a very high priority I do not care if they are busy.

I do not think we have a 'normalization of gun culture', I think we have people not paying attention and not understanding that if you're not vigilant you MUST give something up. It is your choice what that is... it could be the lethal item or it could be some convenience you choose to sacrifice.

One thing is people DO steal purses out of carts. So, her decision to set her purse in her cart was a bad one even if the two year old hadn't been there.

I don't understand the hair triggers on these guns though. My gun was a Colt. Their triggers are stacked (it gets harder to pull the further back you pull it). I don't know if I two-year-old could have fired it.. I never let anyone younger than adult touch it. I thought Colts were pretty popular, but maybe not. You can get an action job, but my father advised me not to, so I didn't.

JMO Your dad is smart, best not to alter a carry weapon.

 

[Elley Mae]

Yeah, Walmart should probably sue the family for the negative publicity alone! Aside from the mess and the trauma to other shoppers and employees!!

I haven't seen the negative publicity, do you have a link to this? Nor have I seen where customers have aired their grievances about firearms, have you?

 

[MyBelle]

Trauma to the employees & shoppers, the mess, the bother! She caused this to happen. Her estate should pay. I feel the same as a drunk that plows into someone's tree or house or child - they should pay a heavy price for their actions. It's the only way to teach them to behave differently.

I guess she felt her responsibility was toward herself & her safety by carrying the gun - but what about her duty to society? It could have been you that was shot in the head. So, you're buried & your family sues her. In 2 or 3 years she's all but forgotten the incident & your family is left to grieve forever.

Harsh, crippling consequences for people that don't think about the wider society should be imposed.

I didn't realize a harsh, crippling consequence beyond death was even possible but it is good to know society can recover more quickly from an emotional trauma if money exchanges hands.

 

[Donjeta]

It's not always the irresponsible person who dies.

 

[sonjay]

Yes it is!

I'm guessing that you're not part of "the gun culture."

I am. I happen to know from personal knowledge and experience that "the gun culture" does not encourage people to leave weapons where young children can get hold of them. In fact, "the gun culture" condemns that sort of irresponsibility even more than the anti-gun culture. "The gun culture" strongly encourages gun owners and CCW carriers to always be vigilant and alert and keep their firearms safe from the hands of young children.

 

[sonjay]

What is the "normalisation" of gun ownership? I've never heard that term. The woman legally could carry a concealed weapon in the Walmart. I doubt she was the only person there that day with a concealed weapon.

I think it's a code word used by people who want to ban guns and think all gun owners are murderous fiends just waiting for the time when they can kill someone.

 

[Donjeta]

I'm guessing that you're not part of "the gun culture."

I am. I happen to know from personal knowledge and experience that "the gun culture" does not encourage people to leave weapons where young children can get hold of them. In fact, "the gun culture" condemns that sort of irresponsibility even more than the anti-gun culture. "The gun culture" strongly encourages gun owners and CCW carriers to always be vigilant and alert and keep their firearms safe from the hands of young children.

It might be true for most but from where I stand it looks like some people who embrace the gun culture also have an awful lot of excuses if people are irresponsible with their guns and tragedy happens.