Police officer's daughter kills self with gun

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Southwest/01/29/tx.girl.shot.ap/index.html

Police officer's daughter accidentally kills self with revolver

Wednesday, January 29, 2003 Posted: 4:55 PM EST (2155 GMT)
HOUSTON, Texas (AP) -- A Houston police officer's 7-year-old daughter found a revolver in a bedroom of her home and accidentally shot herself to death, authorities said.

Dovie Caroline Hill fired the weapon into her head Monday while her 13-year-old sister was babysitting her and three siblings, police said. The child died at a hospital.

Two loaded revolvers and an unloaded rifle were found in the bedroom, police said.

The guns "were not secured," Deer Park police Lt. Omar G. Akmal said.

The girl's father, 39-year-old Glen Forrest Hill, who has worked for the Houston Police Department for nearly 20 years, was at a second job at the time of the shooting. The whereabouts of the mother, Terri Lynn Hill, at the time were unknown.

Akmal said the case will be referred to county prosecutors.

While this is clearly a tragedy, it is also rock-solid evidence that the police exemption on PRNJ's "smart" gun law must be removed.

After all, if the life of even one child could be saved...

- pdmoderator

 

[TallPine]

Dovie Caroline Hill fired the weapon into her head Monday while her 13-year-old sister was babysitting her and three siblings, police said. The child died at a hospital.

Oh yeah ... ? Where does a seven year old learn to do that? How does a seven year old have the strength to pull the double action trigger on a revolver?

I think there's more to it ....

 

[Blackhawk]

Police are just like everybody else. They need specific training, and so do their kids.

 

[10-Ring]

My son lost a classmate in kindergarten when the child found his grandmother's revolver. Tragic accidents happen, that's why it's so important to secure all firearms if kids are going to be in the house w/ them.

 

[Diesle]

Very sad. Highlights the need to stay vigilant and use best practices at all times...

Diesle

 

[J Miller]

It saddens me everytime I hear of a child killing him/her self with a parants gun. Always the article plays it up to be the parants fault. Well, it is. But not to the extent that the parant should be procecuted.
This officer will punish himself worse every day of the rest of his life more than any procecuter ever could. And so will his wife.
If guns are to remain loaded, mine were when I had kids, put an external locking door set on the bedroom door.
I did. And it saved my stepsons butts once. (A long story.)
All guns were kept in my bedroom. When we left the house the door was kept locked. No problems.
It is still very sad to read these reports.

 

[tyme]

Bad gun storage. Bad "baby sitter" (older sister). A 7-year-old child and 13-year-old teenager both ignorant of gun safety. If it wasn't an accident, then there was also a suicidal or homicidal person in the house at the time.

What else do you need for a disaster?

 

[DeltaElite]

Either my guns are on me or locked up.
Seems some people learn that lesson by losing their child.

I pray for the family.

 

[rock jock]

Tallpine,

We're taling about a 7 year old, not a 2 year old. Kids at that age are plenty strong enough to pull a 12-lb DA trigger.

 

[45R]

 

[Diesle]

out of respect, perhaps we could not argue about trigger weights and crap...

Prayers to this family.

Diesle

 

[PATH]

I will keep that poor little baby in my thoughts and in my prayers. I can't imagine the pain that her father is going through right now. It is truly a tragedy.

 

[ajacobs]

a 13 year old should not be in charge of 4 other kids for any length of time. That is just to many.

 

[KMKeller]

The only weapon in my house that's not locked up tight is the one in my pocket.

 

[Yohan]

Ack, I thought it was the cop-

*note to self* read post next time

My apoligies

 

[DeltaElite]

Yohan,
My remarks retracted. It did seem out of character for you, sorry to jump your back.

 

[Kahr carrier]

Thats heart breaking , It wasnt the baby sitters fault, it was her dads for not securing his weapons. Unfortunatly she paid the price and he will have to live with it the rest of his life.

 

[Duke of Lawnchair]

Darwinism at work?

Classy, very classy.

*RETRACTED*

 

[Frohickey]

The trouble is that every SINGLE time one of these things happen, the gun grabbers are out in force looking for more common sense gun legislation, be it for mandatory child safety locks and safe access laws, and other sorts of gun legislation.

Its not like all of us are married, or have kids, and such. But now, I have to pony up an addition $20 for a California-approved trigger lock, or some such B.S.

If I were in the dad's shoes, I would world-proof my kids first. That means, little Janey does not go into Mom and Dad's room unless Mom or Dad was at home. Little Janey will also know not to touch Dad's toys, or little Janey will get to play with Dad's pingpong paddle too.

 

[Diesle]

"Darwinism at work?"

A--wipe'ism at work?

________edit_________
Ummm, retracted... My appologies for the language.


Diesle

 

[Betty]

Poking fun of the death of a child is not the High Road.

Calling other members "bleepwipes" is also not the High Road.

 

[Yohan]

Sorry about the mispost!
Sometimes, I deserve to be slapped- Hope you guys can understand

 

[Kahr carrier]

No sweat.

 

[Duke of Lawnchair]

Yohan,

Honest mistake.

I retracted my comment made earlier. However, if anyone's gonna say it, I'll leave it up there as a pre-emptive strike!

Jim

 

[DeltaElite]

I edited mine also. I too have made a similar mispost, but not in a thread as sensitive as one involving a childs death.

Take care,
DE