Results: Parents Give a 5 yr old a Rifle for his Birthday and He Shoots His 2 Yr Old Sister But No Charges Laid

In recent news, a Kentucky mother gave her 5-yr-old son a .22 caliber rifle for his birthday. She left him unattended with the rifle and he fatally shot his baby sister. The mother believed that a "child safety" was all that was necessary to keep the child safe from accidentally firing the weapon which was kept unlocked in a "safe place." No charges were laid as the death was deemed an accident. Have you heard about this case?

The uncle of the victim said, "It's just tragic. It's something that you can't prepare for." Do you think this statement is accurate?

Kentucky police trooper said that, "It's just one of those nightmares, a quick thing that happens when you turn your back. In this part of the country, it's not uncommon for a 5-year-old to have a gun or for a parent to pass one down to their kid." Do you think the mother was irresponsible and should have charges brought against her?

The grandmother of the children said:"It was God's will. It was her time to go, I guess. I just know she's in heaven right now and I know she's in good hands with the Lord." Do you agree with her?

The rifle that was used was a "My First Rifle" Cricket rifle, designed and marketed as a toy for children. This is a gun designed specifically for children 4-10 years old and comes in hot pink for girls and a variety of other colors including a red, white and blue Their website says on the home page, "Quality Firearms For America's Youth." Do you think guns should be marketed for children at all?

"My First Rifle" by Cricket is a rifle that fires actual .22 caliber rounds. Just to give you a point of reference of what a .22 caliber round is capable of: Bobby Kennedy was assassinated by a gunman firing a .22 caliber bullet. Ronald Reagan and James Brady, along with a Secret Service Agent and a police officer, were also shot by .22 caliber bullets fired by assassin John Hinckley. Do you think there should be a law banning children under a certain age from being given a gun??

On firearm discussion forums, parents were enthusiastic about buying guns for their 3 and 4 year olds who loved hearing the gun go "bang". At what age do you think a child should be allowed to own their own gun?

Would you be shocked to discover that in only 5 months, in 2013, there were 11 deaths attributed to a child between the ages of 3 and 6 years old - one being another case of a 5 yr old shooting his 2 yr old sister after receiving his first gun as a gift? He was also from Kentucky.

Do you think Americans are too gun-crazy?