Relative of teen shot and killed by friend speaks out on gun access (Utah)

[jpak]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705368102/Relative-of-teen-shot-and-killed-by-friend-speaks-out-on-gun-access.html

A plea from family and friends of a 14-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed Friday for parents to keep their guns locked up and out of reach of children.

"I still have a lot of questions, why'd it have to happen?" asked Jesse Lopez. "There's gotta be a solution to this problem."

Friday afternoon, 14-year-old Hugo Gomez-Mendez was at a friend's house after school. He and his 13-year-old friend reportedly found a loaded gun inside the home. Police say the two were "just playing around" with the weapon when it went off, striking and killing Mendez.

As of Saturday, police had not officially released the victim's name. But family members spoke out Saturday to raise awareness both for a memorial fund set up for Mendez and for keeping guns out of the hands of children.

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[Ramulux]

1. He needs to shut up

Doesn't he know its our god given right to leave guns laying around wherever we want? We all know they could just as easily have been playing with knives and accidentally stabbed one another. Guns dont kill people, stupid children kill people by not understanding proper gun control techniques as all human beings should.

[Common Sense Party]

2. No, curious children kill people with guns their stupid parents don't

secure.

No responsible gun owner does that.

[Katya Mullethov]

3. With guns they don't invest the time to educate them about

About like the pissing and moaning you hear when one of thier spawn drowns .

They are not born with the ability to swim, operate a firearm safely ,run a baler without setting it on fire , or rip lumber on a table saw . Someone must put down the water pipe , suck the Cheetoh® stains off their fingers , and GO OUTSIDE AND TEACH THEM .

[jpak]

5. Too bad the parent's doctor didn't ask about guns in the home

yup

[Common Sense Party]

9. And the end result of that would have been...?

The same.

Thanks for playing.

yeppers

[Straw Man]

6. I am Straw Man...

...and I do not endorse this message.

[TheWraith]

4. Yes, there is a solution. Charge the parents with reckless endangerment.

There's always going to be people who leave dangerous things lying around where their kids can get at them, but having real consequences if something bad happens will do more than a hundred laws regarding safe storage.

[DissedByBush]

7. It's a crime in most states already

Just because it's illegal doesn't mean people won't do it.

[TheWraith]

10. Yes, but you can never control that.

Short of implementing a police state, you have no way to know that someone is or isn't doing something stupid. But if someone knows that there's serious consequences for slipping up, say like losing your license for drunk driving, then on average more people will be careful.

[petronius]

8. And a bit of education in school about what to do when/if you find a gun

They could do it right after sex ed - it wouldn't take to long: "Wear a condom, and don't play with guns! I'm not kidding. Any questions? Good, now on to math..."

[DissedByBush]

11. Gun safety education was compulsory in my middle school n/t