Babysitter Shot by Angry 4-Year-Old

I am sure that the older boy (babysitter) and the other 'teens' in the home had been teasing and tormenting the child. Yes, the parents should be held accountable, for allowing the sitter to have visitors. At least the parents had the gun in one place and the shells in another. By the way, since it occured at the Grandmother's home, whose gun was it? Who is responsible for that?
I am glad the child is getting counseling; I think the teen that was shot and his buddies also need it.

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The 4-year old is too young to pay and understand the consequences of this terribleble action. His parents should be liable. Think a second about this. If a minor is famous and makes money, his parents would be more than happy to manage and take decisions related to their child wealth. Why shouldn't they be responsible for their chid actions?

I can guess what is going on in this house. Kids are the product of their environment. They repeat after adults. They follow the footprints of somebody.

Hey! I am a teacher. I have seen a lot of unbelievable behaviors.

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The parents need to be held responsible for this. It's their job to teach the kids what guns are and what they can do.
I was 1 when I touched one of my Dad's guns (he's a cop), got my tail torn up and never touched it again. I didn't even touch one when I was a teenager still at home unless I was specifically asked to do so.
I will do the same with my little one. The gun is in the house, but put away with the safety on. Maybe this little boys parents should read some of these comments...

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To Teresa & those who think like her: Do you know how to READ? Then take the time to read about gun violence statistics. You will learn that the areas that are more favorable to gun ownership have the least amount of gun violence. The flip-side is the areas with the most stringent gun laws have the HIGHEST reports of gun violence.
Criminals ARE cowardice bullies and if their victims are unwilling to be victims the cowards will go to where their WORK is easier.

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Make him a poster child for the NRA!

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Teresa, and anyone else who agrees with her... The problem with your argument is that the guns are already here, have been here for a very long time, and number in the millions. Do you really think that the government would be able to get rid of them all? By the time the legislation is passed, there would be underground manufacturers ready to profit on the black market by making illegal firearms. The backlash would be worse than just letting us keep what our forefathers instituted in our Constitution a long time ago. You have a right to your opinion, but you should remember this, you wouldn't have your freedom today, if it weren't for the invertion of the gun.

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There has to be consequences for such a thing!. The parents should be charged for having a gun in the home where a child, or anyone else, could get it. The child needs some kind of counseling because evidently this type of response is customary in that home and behavoior modification is direly needed.

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and C) never assume that a 4yr old isn't soaking in every move you make. If he saw an adult load/shoot before...well. Crazy story, parents should take the blame.

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Unfortunately, there are to many kids who see/play violent games and the outcome isn't real. If you kill someone in a game, they just come back the next time- that doesn't portray real life to young impressionable children.Hopefully the gaming industry will wake up and do something- rating and not "allowing" anyone under 18 to purchase games is a joke, anyone can get the game that wants to. Parents should limit their violence intake when young children are around. I have many students whose parents play and allow them to play the violent games and watch violent shows. Wake up adults and don't act surprised when your child shoots up the school.

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I wonder what sort of life this child is headed to, if he falls into killer rages at four for minor slights. Whether or not someone taught him to shoot, or whether or not they hid the gun well enough, didn't anyone bother to explain that you don't just go around shooting people, that guns are serious? For pete's sake. I knew kids, growing up in a rural area, who had had guns and been hunting since they were about this kid age. They knew to not even POINT a gun at a human being, let alone fire it!

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Anyone who thinks this kid will grow up to be responsible member of society, even with counseling is a crackpot.

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I knew a kid like that and now he's a terror.

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Before anyone wants to jump down my throat, I just want to make it clear that while I am personally not comfortable owning a gun, I'm not saying that nobody should own one. My uncle, who had a young daughter at the time, had kept guns in his house for years without anything happening to her. This is also not meant to be sarcastic, these are legitimate questions. If someone owns a gun, and truly keeps it under lock and key, how do you make it immediately accessible in case of emergency (ie: intruder).
Also, there are a large number of people who are clearly not responsible gun owners. Too often you hear of kids shooting themselves or their friends while playing with guns, or kids taking them to school and shooting teachers and fellow students. Or an enraged person using it to kill their significant other. How do we fix this? How do we keep two young boys in Arkansas from stealing their grandparent's guns and killing 5 people at their school? Gun Safety classes will not make lazy, irresponsible people less so. I just don't see a good way of regulating how these guns are stored properly and kept out of the wrong hands.

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Just imprison the kid. he did it he deserves the consequences.

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As far as the 4-year old is concerned, it's not his fault. He should not even know where the gun is located, much less know how to open it up, load it, and use it. The parents/grandparents are responsible, or in this case irresponsible and are to blame. What if the babysitter had been killed, instead of just injured? Simple rule of thumb: If you own a gun, lock it up (trigger locks cost around $10 at most hardware stores). Keep ammunition in a different location, and keep guns and ammo out of the reach of children.

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I dont think this really has anything to do with guns. If a child is prone to violence, they will find a weapon of any kind to use. What is of concern is the lack of training and love these children get. They grow up to be the people on the road with road rage, and the murderers and rapists and seriel killers, thats the problem. As was stated above, its illegal to discipline any more, and when they do it, a lot go overboard and think beatings are the only way to discipline. Obviously this child was never taught or given any love, and he reacted like he has been taught. A 4 year old had to learn violence from somewhere. Really a sad world we live in.

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I agree with Wynell. The ridiculousness of politically correct behavior and totally irresponsible parenting plays a major role in incidents such as these. This 4 year old child could have killed the 18 year old babysitter and the other kids at the home. This child knew how to load and fire a gun! The parents are responsible for that. I don't believe for a moment that they weren't aware of that fact. And what is wrong with the child to believe that it's okay to shoot someone? Especially over an absurdly minor incident such as having his foot stepped on? This 4 year old isn't well. Actions such as this can mean worse behavior later on. They say that they don't know what to do with him? Well, after a thorough spanking, they should take him to a psychiatrist and do everything they can to help him NOW or we'll all hear about him again in the papers when he takes out a family.

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THe parents just should have showed him the guns and made the gun not seem as an aspect of power. the first time i shot a real gun, i dont mean a bb or pellet or paintball gun, but a .22 rifle i was about 6. Ive been shooting a lot ever since then, and im only 17. I even have my own guns in my room. None of them are loaded, and none of them have ever been used to hurt people. parents should show their kids guns and desensatise them to the fact that guns are tools, not a sourse of power. i know 10 year old kids in my 4-h shooting group who i would trust to walk around with a shotgun. heck, ive seen them walk around with a shotgun, shoot said shotgun, then put said shotgun back all in a proper way thats better then most adults do it. let your children understand guns are tools, not a sourse of power. They sell little 22 rifles great for a 8-12 year olds. they even come in the color pink for girls. the more often they are around guns in a SAFE SECURE area, the less likey they are to go off and shoot people. but parents now just think that guns are made for killing people, they arent. TEACH your kids. Find the nearest 4-h group that has shooting sports and get them into it. and make sure you know it yourself too.

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Kim,
To answer your question about an intruder, what I have is my keys to the locks with me at all times. Believe me, if an intruder is going to come into your home, they have a tendency to move slowly at first, because they do not want to be heard. Most times, if they realize there is someone home, they will take off. It only takes a few seconds to unlock and load the gun. If you have a shotgun, you don't even have to load it right away - just cock it once - when the intruder hears that sound, they will leave with a trail of %$&# behind them. Additionally, you can practice taking out the gun and loading it, because many times those situations happen at night, and it would be best to know what you are doing. In the Army, they have contests where soldiers will disassemble and reassemble their weapons with blindfolds on, to see who can do it the fastest. The point is, it is good to be prepared. I believe it is better to have a gun and not need it, than to need a gun and not have it.

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