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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums7 Year Old, Craig Allen Loughrey Killed Outside Of A Gun Shop
Craig Allen Loughrey was buckling himself into a safety seat at the time he was shot.
AP reports:
A 7-year-old boy had been buckling himself into his safety seat in the back of his father's truck when he was shot to death after a handgun accidentally went off as his father got in the front seat, police said Sunday.
In the parking lot of a gun store in western Pennsylvania, a man's handgun went off while he was holding it as he got into his truck and the shot killed his 7-year-old son, Craig Allen Loughrey.
According to state police, Joseph V. Loughrey, 44, of Sharpsville, was getting into the truck when the 9 mm handgun discharged, wounding the young boy in the chest and Craig died on the scene.
http://globalgrind.com/news/he-has-name-7-seven-year-old-craig-allen-loughrey-killed-shot-outside-gun-shop-store-by-father-details
MichiganVote
(21,086 posts)ileus
(15,396 posts)Always keep your PSD in a proper holster, or unloaded if you're not carrying it.
MrModerate
(9,753 posts)Or a landfill if you really want to address the problem.
msongs
(67,336 posts)CTyankee
(63,881 posts)would his child be alive today?
ileus
(15,396 posts)If it's out of the safe it should be on your side. IF it's further than arms reach away it's useless to the owner and becomes a potential weapon to be used against you. Or god forbid some child comes in contact with it.
CTyankee
(63,881 posts)but we have seen this happen again and again. This coulda been avoided, he shoulda kept it safe, and then it woulda been OK and the child would be alive. But that didn't happen, did it, and in reality, it is more than likely NOT the case.
Also, if there was a strongly enforced law AGAINST carrying a gun, he might have been deterred from getting stopped by law enforcement, had the gun taken away immediately, and saving the child's life.
As it is, this man's "freedom" to have and carry a loaded gun has cost him the life of his child. Perhaps you can stop and think about what liberty and freedom means in this very real context. In that spirit, I ask you to pause and think harder about your position.
morningfog
(18,115 posts)AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)Logical
(22,457 posts)atreides1
(16,063 posts)Was there even a round in the chamber? My gun is in my home and I don't have a round chambered!
The life of a seven year old boy cut short by an idiot father...it's not only those with mental problems that we have to be worried about, we have to be worried about people like this man...
JohnnyRingo
(18,614 posts)I live very near there, and from what I've read, he took the gun to the shop to sell it. He removed the magazine, but there was a round still in the chamber. When he showed it to the dealer he outright refused it on sight, and the dad took his son back to the car. After he buckled the boy into the car seat (safety first), he was placing the pistol in the center console with his finger obviously on the trigger. Clearly it was an accident, and taking the popular position here, and partly blame the gun, even though the dad broke every rule of gun safety. I don't want to raise anyone's ire that I'm an apologist for the NRA spouting their rhetoric... I'm absolutely not, so read my explanation:
The dad obviously knew nothing about guns because he failed to clear the chamber after removing the mag, so we know he was clueless about the first rule of safe gun handling. After it sat unused for some time, he decided he needed the money more than the false sense of protection he was receiving from something he wasn't familiar with, and he took it to a local dealer.
I know the gun was a piece of imported crap that we used to call "Saturday Night Specials" because there was no safety to prevent the gun from firing when the magazine is removed. Further it apparently didn't have a grip safety to ensure it was held properly in hand before it could fire. All quality firearms have multiple safeties to prevent accidents like this. Companies like S&W or Colt don't want a reputation for making guns that accidentally go off when mishandled.
The other reason I know it was a deadly piece of scrap metal was that the dealer didn't even want to touch the gun before sending him away. He knew on first sight there was no money to be made, and opted not to check it out any closer. Had the dealer examined the gun, he would have instinctively ejected the chambered round as a matter of habit, and this unfortunate accident would never have happened.
Although every shooting accident is ultimately the owner's responsibility, this was a confluence of unfortunate events caused by someone who bought something he was completely uneducated about, and he's paid dearly for his poor judgment. He could have had a deadly accident if he assumed anyone can operate chain saws or a nail gun without learning how to safely operate them, or decided he could fix his own natural gas leak when he knew nothing about plumbing. Some people are walking accidents about to happen.
The police here agree with me that it was an unfortunate accident and didn't charge him. They made a statement the following week that he'd been punished enough for his ignorance, and incarcerating him for something he didn't intend would serve no purpose, nor would it enhance public safety. I'm sure as well that he will never own another firearm, and that's good. There are regular gun give backs where police offer a pizza for just such a firearm that was invloved in this death. I really wish he'd done that instead of trying to recoup his expense.
I'm deeply sorry for their loss.
TheMadMonk
(6,187 posts)Round in chamber. Safety off. Finger near trigger.
There'd be no question of him doing jail time if a BBQ lit with petrol exploded in his kid's face. But guns and cars: "Oh noes, that would be wrong to punish him when he's already suffered so much."
JohnnyRingo
(18,614 posts)But the police here agree it was an accident unworthy of prosecution.
Guns (or chain saws) in the hands children or the incompetent are indeed deadly, but what purpose would be served by sending this man to Lucasville? Would it teach him a lesson you fear he may not have already learned?
TheMadMonk
(6,187 posts)...that gun safety is never to be forgotten for a second. That allowing them to fall into the hands of (or put holes through) children is not on.
I shall assume Lucasville is a max or supermax, and no, I would not send him there. But to a low or medium security facility that might well be a different thing.
JI7
(89,235 posts)Arkansas Granny
(31,504 posts)cut short by an irresponsible father.
RIP, sweet boy.
Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)Unbelievable. I hope he is charged.
shireen
(8,333 posts)unbelievably irresponsible and stupid. Poor kid.
orpupilofnature57
(15,472 posts)libdem4life
(13,877 posts)Tx4obama
(36,974 posts)Older post here from Dec 10th with photos: http://sync.democraticunderground.com/10021954670
Post from Dec 8th here: http://upload.democraticunderground.com/10021949175
I'm glad to know that isn't a new one.
TheCowsCameHome
(40,167 posts)from you-know-where will say this is a story from a few weeks ago, and has already been posted.
To which I say - Fuck Off.
A lovely little boy died, for no good reason.
indepat
(20,899 posts)with guns. Aren't we so much safer with the masses packing heat and accidentally discharging those damned thingys with astounding frequency?
lunasun
(21,646 posts)Also, some say to arm the teachers and at a party 2nite someone questioned maybe an older teacher and one hinkey young kid who could get it away from her before the teach could use it or as in this case if someone shoots accidentally and that includes school security
Just talking about would all teachers be forced to comply. We thought this could happen in the future because we also talked about someone's co -worker who had a kid & was upset because the kid joined a junior tea party group and was going to meetings.
I did not know that groups like that existed !!!
The people at the party-we all used to think the future was so bright we'd have to wear shades now there is so much unanticipated gray and this story takes it a shade darker
sad
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)his child?
Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)So sad.
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)Dad needs to be charged with criminally negligent homicide. Losing his son is terrible, but gross gun negligence needs to have consequences with teeth. Otherwise, this sort of completely avoidable tragedy will continue. AND. IT. NEEDS. TO. STOP.
Initech
(100,023 posts)adieu
(1,009 posts)I can't imagine that the father intended to kill his son. It was just plain recklessness and when someone doesn't care to be responsible with a very deadly device, things like this happens. This is why guns should be treated with lots of regulation.
Catherine Vincent
(34,486 posts)caseymoz
(5,763 posts)Last edited Mon Dec 24, 2012, 07:47 PM - Edit history (1)
They're three times as likely to die of a gunshot than a person who doesn't own a gun.
That's how effective guns are at protecting people.
1ProudAtheist
(346 posts)The most absurd words in the english language when used in conjunction with one another
quakerboy
(13,915 posts)The boy coulda at least shot back if he'd been armed.
Bitter sarcasm, just in case it wasnt obvious for anyone reading.
SummerSnow
(12,608 posts)He would of course blame the child for not praying
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)360 degrees of possibilities in 3 dimensions, and it happened to be perfectly oriented to hit him?
And it 'went off'?
Bullshit. Somehow, the trigger was pulled. Firearms are extensively drop-tested by the manufacturer these days.
Dad was negligent. This weapon was somehow pointed at the kid. The trigger was somehow pulled.
He needs to answer for that in court.
RetroLounge
(37,250 posts)Well, at least the kid's funeral will be well-attended by the other members of the father's well-regulated militia.
What? He's not part of one? How can that be?
Well, when he can't hug his kid, at least he can hug his gun.
sad...
RL
JI7
(89,235 posts)how do we know that isn't to blame ?
tblue
(16,350 posts)I read this when it happened a couple weeks ago, I think. Still makes me want to barf. Why the hell was it loaded?! Why did he take his kid to run that errand?
JohnnyRingo
(18,614 posts)He was doing what many here suggest, and getting rid of it. The gun shop wanted nothing to do with it because it was a dangerous piece of crap and sent him on his way.
Dad knew nothing about guns obviously, because clearing the chamber after removing the magazine is second nature to any experienced gun owner. I wish he had taken it to a gun buy back program where the police give a pizza coupon for guns like this, because that's all this cheap knock-off was worth.
Quality sidearms have multiple safeties that prevent discharge when the magazine is removed or if the gun isn't properly held in the hand. This guy is an example of someone who shouldn't have had a gun. Maybe not a power saw either.
Pretzel_Warrior
(8,361 posts)The technical gun talk about how this guy clearly didn't obsess about gun enough otherwise he'd be able to dissassemble and reassemble the handgun blind folded. Oh, and just as blame worthy was the FACT that he was trying to SELL his gun.
You fools don't want to admit probability and statistics. This was just one more case of guns taking lives--not saving lives.