6-year-old in custody after shooting teacher in Virginia, police chief says it was no accident.

[Badenoch]

There actually is a law in Virginia that carries consequences to leaving a gun lying around where a child can find it.

https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/...tion18.2-56.2/

§ 18.2-56.2. Allowing access to firearms by children; penalty.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to recklessly leave a loaded, unsecured firearm in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of any child under the age of fourteen. Any person violating the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

But as is typical of American gun culture the penalty is a slap on the wrist. If convicted the owner of a gun that falls into the hands of a child in Virginia will still be able to own guns because it's only a misdemeanor offense. Were it a felony they'd lose the right to own guns for life.

[73hunter]

Evidently,the kid swiped his Mom's pistol from home. There's no secure firearm storage laws in that state. 'Merica.......my rights.

I guess you’re right, and I certainly understand the NRA’s stand on firearms rights, but I can’t imagine why they’d stand in the way of safe storage regulations. It just makes sense…..but maybe not to everyone

[trimmer21]

I guess you’re right, and I certainly understand the NRA’s stand on firearms rights, but I can’t imagine why they’d stand in the way of safe storage regulations. It just makes sense…..but maybe not to everyone

All the safe storage regulations in the world won't make this nonsense go away in America. In order for regulations to work,America needs a quantum shift in their firearms ownership mindset. The Second Amendment is so intrinsically entrenched in law,the NRA knows safe storage regs are useless. That's why they'll never back them.

[GuyJR]

I guess you’re right, and I certainly understand the NRA’s stand on firearms rights, but I can’t imagine why they’d stand in the way of safe storage regulations. It just makes sense…..but maybe not to everyone

Hard to enforce safe storage regulations in a society with daily carry. Most self defense firearms would be in perpetual use.

[hunter06]

Had way more to do with bad parenting than unsafe storage. I spent many months on my Grandparents farm in the states, and I knew where I could get my 410 and a few shells. My brother and I would often get up early and hunt raccoons and rabbits. We were raised with respect for authorities and firearm safety. Most old timers I know, that grew up around here had access to firearms at younger ages, but nobody would dream of shooting their teacher. Unfortunately now kids aren’t punished for disrespect to their authorities, so unfortunately these kind of things will continue to happen.

[73hunter]

Had way more to do with bad parenting than unsafe storage. I spent many months on my Grandparents farm in the states, and I knew where I could get my 410 and a few shells. My brother and I would often get up early and hunt raccoons and rabbits. We were raised with respect for authorities and firearm safety. Most old timers I know, that grew up around here had access to firearms at younger ages, but nobody would dream of shooting their teacher. Unfortunately now kids aren’t punished for disrespect to their authorities, so unfortunately these kind of things will continue to happen.

That’s a good post. Like you, I grew up with firearms (long guns) in the house and readily available, but I knew enough to keep my hands off them. I guess my point was that if you’re not going to do one, then you’d better do the other (parenting/safe storage)

It sure is a different world, and especially down there.

[finsfurfeathers]

That’s a good post. Like you, I grew up with firearms (long guns) in the house and readily available, but I knew enough to keep my hands off them. I guess my point was that if you’re not going to do one, then you’d better do the other (parenting/safe storage)

It sure is a different world, and especially down there.

Sadly don't think we're that far behind when you have a group of girls murdering a guy for his booze
https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=22658...NjkzNDE0&ntb=1

[johnjyb]

But, those 8 girls were not brought up in rural Canadian families with access to legal firearms with serial numbers either.
John

[FishHog]

Must admit, I'm rather surprised how many people believe more gun laws are the solution to the issues in the US. Its clear they haven't been an effective solution in canada and many other countries in the world, but apparently the media bias against the freedoms in the US have sadly sunk into many peoples brains here in Canada.

More laws have never made stupid people smarter, but they sure are the knee jerk reaction from Gov't when they don't know how to solve the real issues and they will buy them some more votes despite the cost.

[finsfurfeathers]

But, those 8 girls were not brought up in rural Canadian families with access to legal firearms with serial numbers either.
John

Has nothing to do with rural or urban, heck not even guns or no guns its about the breakdown in personal responsibility and consequences.
When society went from parental sparing the rod to using their words, teachers loosing their board of education for no child left behind, cops from cleaning up the streets to de-escalation, and courts from sentencing hard time to letting them off because of their socioeconomic situation it has brought us to this point.
Not saying it was prefect than as sure abuses occurred however the pendulum has swung to far to the other side to the point we're seeing abuse come from lack of personal responsibility.