LAPD officer shot today...by his son

[50 Shooter]

I have to agree with Sawdust, a little equal treatment.

It is tragic what happened but you have to agree that this guy is an idiot for not having the pistol in a secure spot. I bet he threw the pistol on the bench seat and as he went around a corner the pistol slid over to his kid. The kid picked up "daddy's" gun to play with it and BANG.

Just more fuel for the anti's here in Kali.

 

[Car Knocker]

The only bright spot that I can see in this mess is that the person who was negligent was the one who got injured, rather than someone driving along, walking down the street or sitting in their home.

 

[Matt King]

Carelessness like this, makes me wonder how much common sense this guy has. I'm not sure if I would want him on my local Police Department.

 

[The Good]

But I gotta ask:

Will this guy be charged with leaving his weapon unsecured in such a way as to allow a minor access?

yah he was already punished in the form of a bullet in his back. i think he learned his lesson

 

[made2cut]

I'm happier that the kid didn't turn the gun on himself. Little kids often turn the gun around and use their thumbs to pull the trigger. My brother did that with my Uncle's revolver when he was about 3. The bullet narrowly missed the top of his head leaving powder burns on his face.

 

[ArmedBear]

Keep in mind that the kid should have been secured in a car seat. That pistol had to have been awfully close for him to get a hold of it.

Exactly. Not should have but was legally required to be.

In fact, the cop who got shot has probably ticketed people for not having their kids in car seats.

This is in the California vehicle code:

Children must be secured in an appropriate child passenger restraint (safety seat or booster seat) until they are at least 6 years old or weigh at least 60 pounds.

http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/boosterseats.html

The level of negligence here is truly ASTOUNDING.

 

[50 Freak]

Damn back seat drivers.

Seriously though, someone brought up a good point. Will this LE be charged under CA's laws for leaving a loaded gun in a space available to minors.

 

[vynx]

I doubt that this guy wil receive any further punishment.

Now can we use this case as precident that anyone else should be let off also? Probably not.

 

[Imaginos]

Kids Know

I was putting away my 4 5/8" Ruger SBH one day and my 3yo daughter asked to see it. I checked the cylinder, and handed it to her as she was sitting on the floor. She took the pistol in both hands and set the frame down on her leg. She steadied the gun with her right hand and reached up with the left and cranked back that hammer like a pro. She looked at me and said, "Just like The Duke!"

That was the day she started learning the 4 Rules and how to check to make sure guns are unloaded. She will be 5 in November.
She:
1) can recite the 4 Rules
2) can tell you if you are breaking a Rule, and which one
3) knows how to check the cylinder on single action and double action revolvers
4) can also name the major parts of the revolver and muzzle loading rifles.

She will start learing the anatomy of the bottom feeder when her hands get strong enough to clear the weapon safely.

She knows that when we leave the house, I wear a gun. She knows why this is necessary, and thinks it is perfectly normal.

When a gun is not on my body, it is in the locker. No exceptions.
Kids observe, and they can understand a lot. If you are not careful about what they watch on TV and at the movies, they can learn dangerous habits very quickly.

Is my girl safe around guns?
I think she is as safe as a four year old can be, and that is not safe enough for me to have a lapse in judgement like this unfortunate officer.

For all of his pain, suffering, and potential legal troubles, he got off lucky. His boy is alive. Things could have turned out so much worse.

 

[Punkermonkey]

Bear - What do you bet the kid was not in a car seat and just climbing around the back seat!


ps.- I laugh every time I read your quote.

 

[Prof]

Equal treatment: in our area of California, there is a county Sheriff's deputy on trial as we speak for leaving his service weapon unsecured in his home. His 4 year-old son picked it up and accidentally shot and killed a neighbor's 7-year old child. He will probably get 3 years if the legal "experts" following the case are correct, plus his career in law enforcement is definitely over no matter how the trial turns out. I'm sure that he is truly remorseful and would give anything to undo the damage one careless act caused. It's a good reminder to all of us to secure our firearms and always follow the safety rules -always.

 

[Flintlock Tom]

Someone is going to get shot...

If this father took this mandatory quiz, I bet his answer would be the same as mine.


1. Because of your lapse in judgement someone is going to get shot, should it be...

A. Your son

B. An innocent bystander

C. You

 

[Ferrari308]

Equal treatment: in our area of California, there is a county Sheriff's deputy on trial as we speak for leaving his service weapon unsecured in his home. His 4 year-old son picked it up and accidentally shot and killed a neighbor's 7-year old child. He will probably get 3 years if the legal "experts" following the case are correct, plus his career in law enforcement is definitely over no matter how the trial turns out. I'm sure that he is truly remorseful and would give anything to undo the damage one careless act caused. It's a good reminder to all of us to secure our firearms and always follow the safety rules -always.

I believe we have to look at the intent. There is no way I would send that police officer to jail for a mistake he made and regrets. What good will it do to lock up a public servant who made one careless and stupid oversight. There have been times I've had memory slips, when I could not remember where I put my car keys or forgot to return a phone call. My best guess is this police officer simply forgot to put away his gun. It is tragic. But I would not vote to lock him up.

 

[choochboost]

There have been times I've had memory slips, when I could not remember where I put my car keys

Guns are not car keys. You're not allowed to forget where you put them.

 

[Ferrari308]

Guns are not car keys. You're not allowed to forget where you put them.

We can't legislate against stupidity. It does not work.

 

[Otherguy Overby]

Ferrari308:
I believe we have to look at the intent. There is no way I would send that police officer to jail for a mistake he made and regrets. What good will it do to lock up a public servant who made one careless and stupid oversight. There have been times I've had memory slips, when I could not remember where I put my car keys or forgot to return a phone call. My best guess is this police officer simply forgot to put away his gun. It is tragic. But I would not vote to lock him up.

He's a California cop, he committed a crime. He should get no special favors. He should spend a year or two in jail after getting convicted for said crime. Just like any regular citizen would. He's a felon now and should be rump roast for other felons. Of course, he should also lose all his cop priviledges...

Remember, if he's the only one professional enough, he should be held to higher standards. Let's put it this way, if he gets off, he may be out stomping on your kittens soon after with governmental immunity.

 

[choochboost]

We can't legislate against stupidity. It does not work.

So you're drawing a distinction between losing your keys and losing track of your guns then. One is stupid. I guess we agree.

 

[Ferrari308]

He's a California cop, he committed a crime. He should get no special favors. He should spend a year or two in jail after getting convicted for said crime. Just like any regular citizen would. He's a felon now and should be rump roast for other felons. Of course, he should also lose all his cop priviledges...

Remember, if he's the only one professional enough, he should be held to higher standards. Let's put it this way, if he gets off, he may be out stomping on your kittens soon after with governmental immunity.

I don't believe leaving a gun unlocked should be a crime. You can not expect people to ALWAYS be mistake free and have their gun under lock and key. Even the best amoung us will make an error once.

How many people here are willing to admit they've put a firearm down on a kitchen table, or living room table, and walked over to pick up a ringing phone. How many people keep a firearm next to the bed while they sleep? I'm sure many people here have had less than perfect records locking a gun in a safe when not being used.

And this police officer is NOT like other felons. Other felons try to steal or hurt people, they intend to cause harm. This police officer is not a murderer, bank robber, or someone with a blackend heart.

Is this police officer more guilty than someone who builds a swimming pool in the back yard, then does not put up a fence and the neighbors child walks in and drowns? Is this police officer more guilty than someone who leaves their keys in a running car, and a child does something which causes the car to kill another person? Both those events have happened and been reported in my local paper, but no charges were filed. They are just as tragic, stupid, and innocent mistakes.

My point is accidents happen, and this was not intentional. He should not go to jail any more than the taxpayers should pay $40,000 per year to keep him locked up. Lets remember that jails are for keeping society safe. Locking up this grieving police officer won't help anyone.

 

[Otherguy Overby]

I don't believe leaving a gun unlocked should be a crime. You can not expect people to ALWAYS be mistake free and have their gun under lock and key. Even the best amoung us will make an error once.?

It is in California. They accept no excuses from citizens. They have "safe" storage laws there. Also, for most people there having a loaded handgun in their car can be either a misdemeanor or a felony. Prosecutor's choice. A handgun tossed on a seat where a child can get to is definitely a felony for a normal citizen.

How many people here are willing to admit they've put a firearm down on a kitchen table, or living room table, and walked over to pick up a ringing phone. How many people keep a firearm next to the bed while they sleep? I'm sure many people here have had less than perfect records locking a gun in a safe when not being used.

Again, in California, it is a crime if children are around. Not only that, if a child obtains and then fires the gun injuring someone, or someone steals the gun, it is a felony for the gun owner.

And this police officer is NOT like other felons. Other felons try to steal or hurt people, they intend to cause harm. This police officer is not a murderer, bank robber, or someone with a blackend heart.

OIC, because he's a cop he has special priviledges and immunities.

Is this police officer more guilty than someone who builds a swimming pool in the back yard, then does not put up a fence and the neighbors child walks in and drowns? Is this police officer more guilty than someone who leaves their keys in a running car, and a child does something which causes the car to kill another person? Both those events have happened and been reported in my local paper, but no charges were filed. They are just as tragic, stupid, and innocent mistakes.

Of course they are mistakes. Normal people get prosecuted for them. Cops generally don't. Not even when they happen to stomp on kittens when making their mistakes.

My point is accidents happen, and this was not intentional. He should not go to jail any more than the taxpayers should pay $40,000 per year to keep him locked up. Lets remember that jails are for keeping society safe. Locking up this grieving police officer won't help anyone.

Yes, accidents happen, normal people get proscuted and convicted for them.

For society it probably would be cheaper to lock this bozo up rather than inflict him on the public. It's for his children.

 

[50 Freak]

I believe we have to look at the intent. There is no way I would send that police officer to jail for a mistake he made and regrets. What good will it do to lock up a public servant who made one careless and stupid oversight.

I agree. Now apply this to everyone and I don't think anyone here would have a problem.

If it was Joe Average that was in the place of this LE's, he'd have the book thrown at him if he survived. Same should apply to the LE. We as Americans should have no "special" treatment for our people. POLITICIANS UNFORTUNATELY DO NOT BELIEVE IN THIS. as they are "above" the law.