As the debate on USA’s gun laws continues, a toddler accidentally kills dad with a real run. The two-year-old boy from Florida played with the gun before unintentionally shooting his father.
After the motor vehicle crashes, guns are the second-leading cause of death of children and teens in the United States. Owning a gun and having it at home is a huge responsibility, especially when there are children. It can be very dangerous for children and people living in the house.
As a firearm owner, you need to store your guns in a safe area of your home. It is essential to put it somewhere that is inaccessible to children and other unauthorised persons.
Meanwhile, The American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) advises that the safest home for a child is one without guns.
In this article, you’ll read:
- Toddler Accidentally Kills Dad With Real Gun
- The Responsibilities of Keeping Guns at Home
- Safe Ways to Store Your Firearms
Toddler Accidentally Kills Dad With Gun
On the 26th of May 2022, A 2-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed his father in Florida. The local authorities said that the child’s parents left a loaded gun unattended.
The child’s mother, Ms Marie Ayala, immediately called for help and alerted 911. When the police officers arrived at the home near Orlando, they found the victim’s wife providing CPR.
Mr Regie Mabry, the 26-year-old man, died shortly afterwards in the hospital. The law enforcement initially presumed that he had shot himself.
However, the eldest child of the couple’s three children later told the investigator about what happened. According to the Orange Country Sheriff John Mina, the eldest child said that his 2-year-old brother pulled the trigger.
Image source: iStock
The gun was inside the bag mo Regie Mabry left unsupervised on the floor. The court document said that the child came across it and shot his father in the back. The little boy accidentally shot his dad in the back while playing a video game on a computer. At that time, the whole family were in one room.
The Children Lost Both of Their Parents
Marie Ayala and Regie Mabry were on parole at the time after multiple offences of child neglect and drug use. Both of them did not properly secure their firearms which resulted in this unfortunate event.
Orange County Sheriff John Mina stated, “Gun owners that do not properly secure their firearms are just one split second away from one of these tragedies happening in their homes.”
With that said, you probably think the incident could’ve been prevented. If the couple kept their guns away from their kids. Because of this mistake, their children no longer have them around.
Moreover, US officials no longer consider these horrible incidents as rare. In truth, another 2-year-old kid found a gun that had been left in a Paw Patrol backpack in August 2021. The child fatally shot his mum in the head while she was on a video call meeting.
Image source: iStock
The most recent accident also comes as the country’s debate over gun regulations rages. This happens after several deadly mass shootings in a supermarket, hospital, primary school, and others.
“Now, these young children have effectively lost both of their parents,” said the sheriff. “Their father is dead. Their mother is in jail, and a young child has to live their life knowing that he shot his father.”
The Responsibilities of Keeping Guns at Home
There are a lot of families who are keeping guns in their homes. Unfortunately, guns are one of the leading of death and injuries among people, especially those in America.
If you choose to keep a gun at home, ensure that the firearm is placed in a safe area. It is also essential that all family members know the rules about handling guns.
Image source: iStock
Safe Ways to Store Your Firearms
If you own a gun at home, you need to remember these safety precautions:
- Keep the gun unloaded and locked up in a cabinet, safe, gun vault, or storage case.
- Always separate the gun from the bullets when at home.
- If you need the firearms for emergencies, you need to buy a gun lock.
- Make sure your kids cannot unlock or have access to the places where you keep firearms.
Teach Your Kids About the Danger of Guns
Whether you own a gun or not, you need to teach your children about its dangers. They also must know and understand why they must stay away from real firearms. Here are some rules you can talk to them about:
- Stop what they’re doing.
- Do not touch the gun or allow anyone else to, even if it looks like a toy.
- Leave the area where the gun is.
- Tell an adult right away.
The best way to prevent gun injuries is never to keep guns at home and avoid homes that do own guns. Keep the gun unloaded and locked up with bullets when you have one at home.
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