Four year old Shot and Killed by His Playmate
Attorney David Allen explains the difference in civil and criminal law when the father of a 4-year old is criminally prosecuted for child endangerment, and also sued by the parents of the dead child.
Posted on 08/01/2016, in Cases, Gun Control and tagged 4-year old shot and killed by 6-year old playmate, child endangerment, David Allen, wrongful death. Bookmark the permalink. 22 Comments.
We Hold These Truths To Be Self-Evident 
It keeps piling up. I’m as sure as the sun is up there this tragedy will not move these gun-lovers’ hearts. The death of 20 innocent children in Newtown didn’t…. so what do we expect from these people ?
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Ren,
You are so right. Sandy Hook didn’t change the minds of those who love their guns. Every Christmas I fall apart in tears thinking about those parents. Instead of opening Christmas presents, they were burying their children.
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Tough to hit “like” on something this tragic. We need a “read & appreciate” button.
We also need laws making it more complicated to buy guns in the first place, slowing down the impulsivity buyers at the very least. I’m not saying we ought to make it illegal to own a gun (tho’ I don’t choose to), but requiring some training on gun safety, etc. wouldn’t hurt anyone and might make a difference — like with driver’s ed. & a test to get a license to drive a car.
Nobody says, “Cars don’t kill people – people kill people!”
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMore dot com)
– ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder –
“It takes a village to transform a world!”
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Hi Madelyn!
“Cars don’t kill people – people kill people.”
ABSOLUTELY! This nation has demonstrated the damage done by guns. Other than for hunting, I want the ownership of guns made illegal. I know that’s not popular and the “well regulated Militia” folks will say it’s unconstitutional, but I think citizens killing citizens is also unconstitutional.
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Seems pretty clear that shooting us dead violates our rights to life-liberty-and the pursuit of happiness.
I would like to see a ban on the ever-increasing possession of assault weapons – but I’m not sure I would ever trust our government enough to ban guns completely.
The 2nd amendment supporters will never give up on the idea of “a citizen militia” in any case, and – AT THIS TIME – America is still a democracy.
To my mind, stiffer licensure laws are what’s needed – keeping guns out of the hands of the impulsive and angry, or irresponsible gun owners who don’t THINK about safety measures (or the consequences of lack of same).
This case has brought a vital issue to public awareness. Tragically. Thanks again for posting the video.
xx,
mgh
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Madelyn,
A ban on assault rifles is a good start. Maybe a ban on the bullets.
When the 2nd Amendment was written, I could see the idea of having citizens protect this country with their own weapons. Now, I can’t see citizens protecting themselves against the government nor invaders. The photos of what law enforcement looked like and what they used in Ferguson, MO should tell us that if it came to citizens versus the government, guns will do us no good. They could send a helicopter and wipe out a massive amount of citizens within minutes after tear-gassing. If that doesn’t work, just send in robots with bombs.
The idea of mandatory liability insurance for gun owners was introduced some years ago, but legislatures have been silent in recent years.
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Or drones. Scary times, these.
Good points all. I am with you on mandatory liability insurance for gun owners. (I’m stunned the money-grubbing insurance industry didn’t jump on that one and keep it active.) THEN, as with auto-insurance, voluntary classes of several types could reduce premiums.
xx,
mgh
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The gun nutzz will now take the same position that if everyone were armed, the victim could have defended himself…….I kid you not, it’s coming.
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Hey Racer,
In this case, the victim was 4-years old. The shooter was 6. Let’s consider what happened in Dallas when that nut decided to kill ARMED cops. ARMED. They had to resort to using a robot.
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I think it’s time for me to read Revelations again. What has happened to our world. For all the years my dad was a cop, there was never a day when any of his guns were accessible to anyone but him, or maybe an adult hell bent on finding and unlocking them. This is a lesson I learned. As a gun owner (all inherited and 1 historic) no one in this house even knows where they are locked up and the ammo is 50 feet away. Yeah…..the gun nuttz keep telling me an unloaded gun is worthless, but I could never handle the after effect of shooting someone. But…………………..that’s just me.
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Racer,
I’m with you. Once that trigger is pulled, bullets can’t be called back.
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I haven’t read the lawyer’s advice. I just believe in strict liability (legal term). There is no valid excuse for a 6 year old being able to have access to a loaded gun. The Dad of the 6 year old better have lots of homeowner’s insurance.
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Gronda,
Absolutely! Can you imagine what the 6-year old has to live with? I hope they get him counseling.
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Has to be absolutely devastating for everyone involved.
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That’s the truth, Two Sides.
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From a meme: “26 dead in Brussels: “Close the borders!!!” 26 dead in Sandy Hook: “Oh well that’s just how it is in America” 😥
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Mindyme,
Your comment reminded me of yesterday when I caught the end of an interview with a guy in prison in Germany who joined ISIS then escaped. What he said about ISIS recruiting in America is an eye-opener. He said because of social media, and America’s gun laws, that America is an easy target by radicalized individuals.
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So devastating, not just for the parents either. His playmate will be scarred for life… Deeply. Definitely the kind of case which warrants a review of gun laws and gun safety.
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Hey Kev! So true. I truly hope that the 6-year old gets counseling. Yes — the United States really does need a deep, heartfelt discussion on gun laws and safety. Bullets do not discriminate and once the trigger is pulled, the bullet cannot be called back. It’s guns owned by citizens that encourages other citizens to get guns to protect themselves, and the police have to worry about everyone having a gun, so draw their guns to protect themselves.
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There are no easy solutions, but something has to give.
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Kev,
There are times I think that America has let gun violence go on for so long, that there is no way of fixing things. It’s like a house that has so much wrong with it, it’s better to tear down and build a new one. But, how to do that when there are people who say they have a constitutional right to own the house? Maybe we need a historian to teach us how the wild, wild west was cleaned from gun violence and so we start from there.
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Maybe. 😊
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