ForumGarden

Are we going to have to start installing metal dtectors in day care?

This is why I am going to be a stay at home mom.

Boy, 8, Accidentally Shoots Girl, 7, at Md. Day Care

Tuesday, January 24, 2006



GERMANTOWN, Md. ” A 7-year-old girl was wounded early Tuesday at a day care center in Germantown, Md., when a gun brought in by another child accidentally went off, police said.

An 8-year-old boy who also goes to For Kids We Care in the suburban community north of Washington had the gun in a backpack. The boy was playing with the gun when it accidentally went off while still in the backpack, police said.

The girl, who was struck in the arm, was taken to Children's Hospital in Washington, D.C., Montgomery County police spokesman Derek Baliles said. Her injury was not considered life-threatening.

There were six children in the center at the time of the shooting, which occurred just about before 7 a.m. No one else was hurt.

Police said they do not know where the child got the gun.

Both children are from Germantown. Police did not release their names.

For Kids We Care Inc. operates two "medium-sized" day care centers in Germantown for infants, toddlers and preschoolers, according to its Web site.

"They don't know where the child got the gun." Geee, let me guess. The parent(s) should be strung up for this. I'm pro gun - but anti-stupidity = accessible guns in a household where there are minors.

I agree. Parents should always be held accountable for their minor children's actions.

This an obvious breakdown in parental responsibility.. sheesh.. I mean can you say stupidity with a capital "S".... leaving a loaded weapon where a youngster can get ahold of it.. not to mention teaching him not to touch it in the first place...

stupid stupid stupid stupid parents...

they are lucky it didn't end up worse..

freaking imbeciles...

How amazing that a loaded weapon would be left

where it was accessible to children

AND

that no adult knew that this weapon was missing,

is even worse.

good point, sojo. If I had a gun, I would know it was missing two minutes after it happened if there were children in my house.

Tombstone wrote: "They don't know where the child got the gun." Geee, let me guess. The parent(s) should be strung up for this. I'm pro gun - but anti-stupidity = accessible guns in a household where there are minors.


Maybe he found the gun at a friends house.

StupidCowboyTricks wrote: Maybe he found the gun at a friends house.


regardless the owner of said gun should be shot and wounded. Geeeze lock the guns up no matter who you are, kids or no kids. Seems guns are just way to easy for anyone to get their hands on. Sorry gang I love Canada's gun control.

minks wrote: regardless the owner of said gun should be shot and wounded. Geeeze lock the guns up no matter who you are, kids or no kids. Seems guns are just way to easy for anyone to get their hands on. Sorry gang I love Canada's gun control.


I love gun control too, but to nail it on somebody before the facts are in is not right.....maybe the child found it on the streets.

StupidCowboyTricks wrote: I love gun control too, but to nail it on somebody before the facts are in is not right.....maybe the child found it on the streets.


true enough, but the gun still had to belong to some one somewhere. Oh I am not blaming the child's parents..yet, no I am saying some one had to have ownership of this gun, and they are the grossly negligent party.

StupidCowboyTricks wrote: I love gun control too, but to nail it on somebody before the facts are in is not right.....maybe the child found it on the streets.
Parents are responsible for their children, or should be. That includes at friends houses, on the way to school, while in the classroom, or while hanging out at the mall.

Accountable wrote: Parents are responsible for their children, or should be. That includes at friends houses, on the way to school, while in the classroom, or while hanging out at the mall.


That can be, but thats not to say they knew anything about the gun does it?

StupidCowboyTricks wrote: That can be, but thats not to say they knew anything about the gun does it?
True. I'm not saying to put these parents under the jail. Accidents happen. This one was bad and could have been much worse.



If the little boy got the gun from home, we all agree I think.

If he got it from a friend's house, the parents should have been aware.

If he found it on the street (remember, he's 8) the parents should damn well have known.

If he found it in the teacher's purse ..... the parents should tear the teacher limb from limb, but not convicted of a crime by the child.

StupidCowboyTricks wrote: That can be, but thats not to say they knew anything about the gun does it?


Of course not but they could instill upon their children to not touch a gun, and tell an adult is they find one. Not much different than dirty needles, dead animals, pooh, anything kids should not handle. I don't think we are trying to hang this kids parents at all, but if kids are educated as well as owners of guns being more diligent maybe there would be less accidents like this one.

Wherever this child got the gun, it sure showed irresponsibility on an adults part. Owners of handguns should have gun locks on all their weapons, locked away securely and ammunition stored seperately from the gun, so things like this don't happen.

Lil~Basco wrote: Wherever this child got the gun, it sure showed irresponsibility on an adults part. Owners of handguns should have gun locks on all their weapons, locked away securely and ammunition stored seperately from the gun, so things like this don't happen.


All I'm saying that the gun could have been stolen and the person who stold it could have droped it. Yes you can tell a kid what he should or should'nt do....my dad had guns.....I didn't touch them.......but my older brother did.

(guns were broke down) it's just a thought.

StupidCowboyTricks wrote: All I'm saying that the gun could have been stolen and the person who stold it could have droped it. Yes you can tell a kid what he should or should'nt do....my dad had guns.....I didn't touch them.......but my older brother did.

(guns were broke down) it's just a thought.


good idea, store the guns broken down. I like that one. As well teach kids not to touch, and inform them of their dangers.

Tombstone wrote: I'm pro gun - but anti-stupidity
As am I. Unfortunately, we're surrounded by stupidity.

minks wrote: good idea, store the guns broken down. I like that one. As well teach kids not to touch, and inform them of their dangers.
A gun that is stored "broken down" is completely ineffective in home protection.

the kid's father has been arrested for A being a felon in possession of a gun, and B leaving it where the child had access.

Dad Arrested After Boy Brings Gun To Day Care, Shoots Girl





POSTED: 9:23 am EST January 24, 2006

UPDATED: 4:57 pm EST January 24, 2006



ROCKVILLE, Md. -- The father of the boy who allegedly shot a girl at a Maryland day-care center is under arrest.

John Lynwood Hall is charged with leaving a firearm in a location accessible by an unsupervised minor, as well as contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

According to police, the 8-year-old boy who brought the gun to day care is in their custody. He will undergo an evaluation and juvenile authorities will decide what to do with him.

Police said the father had the gun for several years and the boy retrieved it from an unsecured container in a closet of their Germantown, Md., home.

Police said the boy was playing with the gun in the backpack when it accidentally went off, wounding a 7-year-old girl at the For Kids We Care day-care center in Germantown.

Police said the boy did not take the gun out of the backpack.

The girl was struck in the arm. She was taken to Children's Hospital in Washington. Her injury is not considered life-threatening.

There were six children in the center at the time of the shooting, which occurred just about before 7 a.m. Tuesday. No one else was hurt.

Police have not released the child's condition and the said the shooting remains under investigation.

Thanks for the update LC!

BTS and I keep a loaded pistol in the bedroom UNTIL friends with children come over. We then take the bullets out and put them up very high and hidden in one closet and put the pistol between our mattress. I was taught gun safety at a very young age because my father was in the military BUT whever he came home - the bullets and the gun were not together (location changed all the time) AND the belt was kept very handy just in case we decided to ignore his rules on gun safety.

What a sad story.