Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Look out for those 2nd graders!

A 7 year old student showed up to school on monday with two loaded handguns in Baltimore County, Maryland. The guns were discovered when one fell out of the student's pocket during class. The teacher immediately took her students to the office and called the police. Upon searching the student's locker, the police found the second gun, which was also loaded. Police believe that the child had no intention of harming anyone, simply believing that the guns were toys. He was staying at his uncle's house, and most likely found the two guns there. While the child will not be charged with any crime, the uncle will likely face charges of child endangerment and leaving guns within a child's reach. While there will be no charges brought against the child, he will likely be expelled because that is the mandatory punishment for bringing a firearm to school. This story was extreemly suprising to me because I couldn't believe how irresponsible the uncle must have been to allow that to happen. This is a compelling argument against the "right to keep and bear arms" as decreed in the Constitution. Do you think that this type of occurance, along with many recent school shootings are enough cause to increase regulations on firearms? What do you think is a fair punishment for the uncle?

4 comments:

William Chen said...

There are so many possible scenarios for why that child was able to attain those guns. The uncle could have been careless about those loaded firearms and left them around in an unlocked drawer or something. In that case, the uncle should be charged with child endangerment because he knew that his nephew was there and yet he neglected the fact that he had to lock those guns up. However, if the uncle had locked up those firearms and the child intentionally broke into the it to steal those guns, then I think the kid should be in more trouble than the uncle. Whatever the circumstances are, this proves that there has to be more regulations on firearms. Some people just don't really care about what could happen if they leave their firearms lying around, even if its in their own house. If a 7 year old child can get his hands on two loaded guns, then how hard would it be for a potential killer to get his hands on his own 2 guns?

Kelsey said...

I think this incident is a perfect argument for more restrictions on guns and more gun control laws. GUNS SHOULD NOT BE ACCESSIBLE TO CHILDREN!! Whether it is because the parents (or uncle) left it out or the children found acces to it on his own, this nation needs to have enough regulation to make sure that kids cant get a hold on firearms. the government can make sure that every child does PE, the government can make sure no one under 21 can buy alcohol, the government can make sure kids under 16 dont drive a car....why cant the government get their act together and make sure the guns dont wind up in the hands of children???

On the subject of the Uncle: he should be punished severely. Granted it may have been a mistake that the guns were accessible, but that mistake could have caused many innocent people their lives. This was a serious mistake and should have serious consequences.

Anonymous said...

I feel that this is more of irresponsiblity by the Uncle. I feel that if you are a gun owner then you should keep them out of reach of kids. I know that is how my family has it. Stricter gun regulations might beable to help out, but just like Kelsey said about how the gov. is able to stop things from happening they still do. Lots of teenagers drink under the age and kids drive ecen when they dont have a license or its suspended. Also the Uncle should be heavily penalized for being so neglectent with his firearms and his nephew.

Garrick Li said...

It is obvious the uncle should be punished for neglect because his stupidity could have led to a huge tragedy at that elementary school. I agree with Kelsey, who says that stricter gun regulation is needed, but stricter gun laws won't stop idiots like this kid's uncle from being dumb. I remember a case where some parents were put in prison for a year because there was alcohol at their kids's house party. I believe the uncle's punishment should be at least 2 years. His punishment would have been more severe if someone was hurt.