Another Senseless And Tragic Firearm Incident
Celebratory gun fire is so wrong on so many levels, yet we experience it during every New Year’s Eve celebration. However as bad as it is, this next part of the story sheds light on even a greater issue when it comes to kids and guns. This tragedy took place right here in our own backyard on New Year’s Eve, a teen accidentally kills a friend and then takes his own life all because he wasn’t taught proper gun handling and safety.
A group of four teens had gathered at a “makeshift shed” in Lawrenceville on Monday afternoon when one of them produced a handgun and accidentally shot one of his friends killing him, according to the Gwinnett County Police. Two of the teens involved ran, but police believe the boy who fired the original shot stayed in the shed and called 911. Responding officers found one teen shot to death inside the shed and while investigating heard a single gunshot while attempting to locate witnesses and the party who had called 911. In other words, the teen had a negligent discharge which struck and killed his friend. He apparently became so distraught by what happened and maybe fearing what would happen to him – arrest and possibly jail. He decided his best option was to end his own life. A handgun loaded and in the hands of an untrained handler, two lives tragically ending long before they should have.
Is there a lesson to be learned here? I think so! We here at ACT Personal Defense believe and teach that every member of a household where there is a handgun, rifle or shotgun in the home should be trained in firearm safety. That’s why we teach parents to secure your firearms. While we don’t know how the teen got the firearm or from whom, reports state it’s likely that he took it from his parents, probably with the intention of firing a few celebratory shots to ring in the new year and then safely return it without his parents even knowing it was gone.
There’s a second lesson that might need exploration. Should firearm safety be taught in schools? We teach them every other subject matter under the sun. We teach them there is no God, prayer is wrong, how to be “Politically Correct” and that sex is okay as long as you are using safe sex techniques (whatever that means), not to use drugs, smoke, alcohol – my list can go on and on. Why not offer them firearm safety training through their school curriculum? Shouldn’t they give these kids the basic information to understand how to handle a firearm safely, even if they have no intentions of actually owning a firearm at any point in their lives. We taught firearm safety in schools a long time ago, didn’t we?
It’s all fine and good to talk about how children shouldn’t be able to get their hands on guns, but that falls apart in the face of when it actually occurs. Children of all ages often find themselves in the presence of a firearm, they sneak into a shed, as in the case of this tragedy, just like we all have snuck behind the proverbial barn to smoke a cigarette. While we can tell them to leave firearms alone and pray they listen, it’s far better to educate them on how dangerous firearms can be and how to handle one safely just in case they or their friends ever do so. It definitely, in my opinion, would reduce the likelihood of situations like this happening again. I sincerely doubt this young man who took his own life intended to shoot and kill his friend. But he did, because he didn’t obey two very simple rules of safety, always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction and keep your finger off the trigger. If either one of these rules had been religiously followed, neither of these young men would have died.
ACT Personal Defense wants to be on the cutting edge to help parents educate their children on this subject. It’s clear to me it’s not happening on a regular basis at home. Parents, we will help you train your children if you will allow us. Contact us today and we will help you, help them, by teaching your children how not to accidentally shoot themselves or their friends. Our course, Home Firearm Safety, can save your child’s life! Here is a special offer – pay for one, bring the whole immediate family for free with you! For more information contact us at ACT Personal Defense. Help us save another innocent child’s life!