I own a handgun! When my neices are visiting, I unload, disassemble and put it in a lock box. Kids are curious! They don't look for guns, they look for something to get into! That's just what they do.

Being a responsible parent and gun owner means keeping guns out of their reach and access!

Education is paramount! You have to assume that the other parents don't educate their kids about guns! You have to take prudent steps to make sure that an innocent child doesn't get access to your gun and cause such a tragic accident!

I couldn't live with myself if my neices were hurt or killed due to my neglect!

The gun did not injure this child, an accident did. The gun was there because of fear, which we all have a reason to have if you read or watch TV. It is terrible these children were injured because both are. The little boy who was shot-well, the injury itself is going to really change his life, physically and enotionally. But don't forget the child who shot him-he must be, and will continue to, torturing himself. How can you put a price on either child's innocence? You can't. Hiding a gun is crazy-education is the only option if you are going to have one. My father had guns, we knew what they were for and what they could do. We did not play with them. Probation, for any of them, is doing nothing, either way, to change this problem or help these kids. What I would like to see is the families, working together, educating other people, especially kids! Go to the schools and show them what can happen! Let them see the devastation it has caused. It may save countless lives.

"either way THIS CHILD SHOULD'VE NEVER known where this gun was. This is why I don't allow guns in my home. Kids might find it by accident or try to look for it and then something like this could happen."

Even from a young age the fear of guns was instilled in me. There was never a gun in my house, but if there was, I would know not to touch it. I still to this day don't like to touch guns unless necessary, and get antsy if someone around me is handling them. Kids should have the fear put into them, then they wouldn't play with them like toys.

Oh, and natural selection is at work here. Too bad the kid shot his friend and not himself.

Wilow, may your good luck with not needing a firearm to save your life continue forever. It can happen I hear. Dave