Pennsylvania Boy Injured After Playing With Guns

HARRISBURG, Pa. — State police say 12-old-twins were playing with guns at their central Pennsylvania house while their parents were away when one of guns went off, critically injuring one of the boys.

The shooting occurred just before 6 p.m. Saturday in East Hanover Township.

State police say the twins were apparently playing with a .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol and a 357 magnum revolver when the pistol went off and hit one of the boys. The uninjured twin called 911.

Emergency responders transported the injured boy to Hershey Medical Center, where he is listed in critical condition.

State police were able to contact with the boys' parents and they came home. No further details were immediately released.

The shooting remains under investigation.

Comments

[jackbutler5555]

05:05 PM on 05/24/2011

Surely, the terrible consequences of the possible death of this child and the actual death of many children this happens to, there is no one here who wouldn't put the prevention of this violence as their top priority, even at the sacrifice of an interpretation of the Second Amendment which precludes any involvement  of the government in keeping and bearing arms.

[ScorpioTop]

04:58 AM on 05/21/2011

Another child maimed by gun use. The insanity continues. Gun proliferation is robbing us of life and liberty.

[eaglespark]

08:09 PM on 05/23/2011

You call this accident an example of "use"? Try "stupidity and abuse" --maybe we could outlaw those and save some lives? Your comment about "liberty" is beyond ironic, by the way.

[ScorpioTop]

05:52 PM on 07/13/2011

While 30,000 Americans are killed by gun use yearly there is no irony to be found in the pathetic situation we find ourselves in where kids can easily get their hands on guns, and use them. Gun use is not liberty.

[awlff]

11:14 PM on 05/16/2011

To emily u
Thank you for post.
I respect old jar heads posts and appreciate his respectful way of communication .He seems very knowledgeable and capable.
I am a Marine Corps vet.
My father was a D.I. and later a policeman
.My father taught me gun safety and marksmanship.
On Sunday night I watched 60 minutes.One of the stories was about a group of "militia type wannabes called THE SOVEREIGN CITIZENS.
They showed footage of one of the members shoot a policeman.
Then they showed footage of the dead officer's body.
It has deeply affected me,
To see what was my family's worst nightmare happen to someone else.
Having everyone have guns is not the answer.

[RevJimIII]

11:40 PM on 05/16/2011

The sovereign citizen group is small and extreme in their ideology, they do not represent the majority of law abiding gun owners in the U.S. The vast majority of guns owned here are not used in crime at all, and to punish millions of responsible people for the criminal actions of a few by enacting laws that ONLY the law abiding will follow is, in itself, a criminal act.
Removing freedoms in the name of perceived safety is a foolish endeavor.

[raggedsoldier]

12:15 AM on 05/17/2011

The poster "AndyWright68", who openly advocates "abolishing the cops", because he feels that they are inept and criminal, and because he feels that armed citizens such as himself are better able to enforce the law as they see fit, and who also boasts of his disregard for and defiance of the law as mandated by the US government, fits exactly the profile of a "sovereign citizen". He is, additionally, your "Friend" on this site, with whom you presumably communicate via any number of social networks. Do you, by merit of your "Friendship" with "AndyWright68", condone or encourage his beliefs?

[Acebass]

12:19 AM on 05/17/2011

You have a real twisted logic. It's not even worth worrying about because the more you post the more people see the truth and the more you turn people off.

[Acebass]

12:16 AM on 05/17/2011

Fanned and Faved

[DreamWeaver2nd]

11:06 PM on 05/16/2011

Posted: May 16
Updated: Today at 12:20 AM

Pa. boy, 12, shot by twin brother stable
The Associated Press


HARRISBURG — State police said 12-year-old boy shot by his twin brother as they were playing with guns is now in stable condition.

[Grumpy Man]

07:40 AM on 05/17/2011

Great to hear. I hope he has a full recovery.

Meanwhile, the brother who pulled the trigger is of a legally culpable age (at least in my state). I wonder if he'll face charges.

[raggedsoldier]

08:15 AM on 05/17/2011

That's how "Eddie Eagle" would want it.

[DreamWeaver2nd]

02:14 PM on 05/17/2011

Face charges? For an accident brought on because of an interest in guns, guns which are glorified by the NRA and the gun industry in our culture using video games and other "entertainment" media as marketing tools? I would like to know more about this story and what the twins' influences may have been. Culpability may not be limited to the family ...

[DreamWeaver2nd]

10:12 PM on 05/16/2011

The gun industry and the NRA plot to entice kids to have an interest in guns.

*Read Marion Hammer's statement below. She is the former NRA president who recently wrote the Florida bill to muzzle pediatricians from asking kids about gun safety and storage in their homes.


The gun industry campaign to attract children to the gun culture on several fronts -

Advertising in magazines aimed at youth, such as Boy's Life and the NRA's own youth magazine InSights.

Funding the National Rifle Association's Eddie Eagle program a marketing tool designed to put a friendly face on gun ownership disguised as a safety program.

Designing smaller, lighter versions of their firearms which are marketed as youth models.

Using public school wildlife management lessons to develop schoolchildren's interest in hunting and firearms.

At the NRA's 1996 Annual Meeting, then-President Marion Hammer outlined the NRA's agenda to "invest" in America's youth saying,

"It will be an old-fashioned wrestling match for the hearts and minds of our children, and we'd better engage our adversaries with no holds barred....If we do not successfully reach out to the next generation, then the freedom and liberty that we've lived for and that many of our ancestors have died for will not live beyond us."

http://www.vpc.org/studies/vidintr.htm

[EmilyU]

10:52 PM on 05/16/2011

Propaganda !

[schotts]

12:15 AM on 05/17/2011

BtW, is that 2TB hard drive air cooled and belt fed?

[enlightened45]

11:47 AM on 05/17/2011

True? or not?

[RevJimIII]

10:56 PM on 05/16/2011

You found out! The NRA makes the Illuminati look like amateurs! They have infiltrated every facet of society and plan an absolute takeover within the next 5 yrs...

Oh no, I have said too much.....    *poof*

[EmilyU]

11:30 PM on 05/16/2011

LOL!!!

[schotts]

12:17 AM on 05/17/2011

LOL

[Keith Jigleeottee]

08:24 PM on 05/16/2011

Hey some states still have common sense
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20110516/us-calif-concealed-weapons/

[schotts]

09:48 PM on 05/16/2011

I had at least 100 reasons to never live in California. Make it 101.

[RevJimIII]

10:13 PM on 05/16/2011

I was a prisoner of that State for way too long...

[David Carson]

02:07 AM on 05/17/2011

If AB144 passes--that judge is going to be overturned

[Acebass]

04:03 PM on 05/16/2011

Gun "enthusiasts" don't care about the body count, they don't care who gets shot as long as it's not them. All they care about is the sense of power that having a gun gives them. They wont listen to reason instead making up things, if need be, to defend their assumed right to own any firearm thats out there.
These people are whats wrong with this country and until we do something they will continue to add to the body count of innocent victims. By these people I'm not talking about the hunters or sportsman I'm talking about the ones who post here. As the line of responses proves there are some who should own a knife much less a gun.
Some day we'll come to our senses, maybe.

[JimInHouston]

04:43 PM on 05/16/2011

"Gun "enthusias­ts" don't care about the body count, they don't care who gets shot as long as it's not them. All they care about is the sense of power that having a gun gives them. They wont listen to reason instead making up things, if need be, to defend their assumed right to own any firearm thats out there."

Speaking of "making things up"...

"By these people I'm not talking about the hunters or sportsman I'm talking about the ones who post here. "

I guess you want to round us up and send us to Re-education Camps?

[Acebass]

05:09 PM on 05/16/2011

I rest my case...

[Keith Jigleeottee]

07:24 PM on 05/16/2011

Yeah you did prove his point....you're too paranoid for a gun.

[CelticMajic]

04:57 PM on 05/16/2011

Acebass, first thanks for your service from a fellow AF vet. Second, I believe you mischaracterize those who advocate for the 2nd amendment. Almost to a person they support holding those who misuse or abuse the right to bear arms very harshly and support proposals that targets criminals. By the same token, they find proposed laws that target the law abiding a breach of the second amendment. Third, May I ask what you think constitutes a violation of the 2nd amendment?

[Acebass]

05:40 PM on 05/16/2011

Let me clarify something. You have obviously read some of my responses so you know that at one time I had at least 4 fire arms in my possession. My interpretation of the constitution is the government has the right to regulate firearms. I don't fear our government because I have been active in it, I vote and I contact my elected officials to let them know how I feel, thats what a good citizen does.
Guns are unique, they are manufactured with one purpose, to fire a projectile and destroy whatever it hits whether its a target or a human being. Nothing else is manufactured to do that. That puts them in a class by them self and is the reason they should be regulated.
If you would listen to some here we are on the verge of anarchy but we're not, those are scare tactics. The same scare tactics that have led to the rush to arm anyone and everyone. There is no need to, crime happens and it would happen if we had guns or not but your being armed is not going to prevent it and it may just get some innocent people killed.
I am limited to my response but let me just say my interest is in getting guns away from criminals but every time we try the NRA is up in arms (no pun intended) The problem is not going to be solved by more guns but with commonsense.

[grimace71]

02:01 PM on 05/16/2011

Please Pennsylvania state police...please tell me you are going to charge these parents with child endangerment or firearms misconduct (at least).

I will be praying that this boy survives and recovers from his injuries. God forbid his life is lost, the parents would deserve negligent homicide charges too.

Never, never leave an unsecured, loaded firearm ANYWHERE!

[CelticMajic]

11:53 AM on 05/16/2011

While tragic and absolutely preventable, this CDC study puts this type of accident, whether resulting in injury or death, into context. http://www.cdc.gov/safechild/images/CDC-ChildhoodInjury.pdf (note, other includes many causes that are all less than 1% to include firearm accidents) .

[Keith Jigleeottee]

07:50 PM on 05/16/2011

Still too many kids getting shot....0% is acceptable.

[Rooster Coburn]

09:03 PM on 05/16/2011

And just how do propose to bring about that?

[CelticMajic]

08:14 AM on 05/17/2011

None are acceptable. Correct. And perhaps holding those who put children in danger accountable as opposed to infringing on the right of those that had absolutely nothing to do with the avoidable tragedy might be worth considering.

[Jacob Black]

11:03 AM on 05/16/2011

Seems these parents did a poor job of both securing their loaded firearms and teaching firearm safety to their children.

[enlightened45]

11:44 AM on 05/16/2011

Sure "seems" that way...JB.....

[Jacob Black]

12:08 PM on 05/16/2011

Am I missing something? Why the quote marks?

[enlightened45]

10:54 AM on 05/16/2011

Just a few months ago an autistic child in a nearby community found the "family" handgun and proceeded to shoot himself in the face, fatally. The family and community were devastated and will never recover from this tragedy. Was having an "unsecured" gun in the house worth the heartache, guilt, etc. for this large family and group of friends? By the way, they have become very active in the anti-gun proliferation groups since the incident.

[CelticMajic]

11:24 AM on 05/16/2011

e45, would you share the link of this tragedy with us?

[enlightened45]

11:37 AM on 05/16/2011

I DO have links for my reports......

http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Teen_killed_in_accidental_shooting_105682858.html

[Jacob Black]

11:37 AM on 05/16/2011

"Was having an "unsecured­" gun in the house worth the heartache, guilt, etc. for this large family and group of friends?"

I'm going to guess no. Having an unsecured, loaded firearm in a house with a developmentally disabled child is incredibly irresponsible.

[enlightened45]

01:44 PM on 05/16/2011

I will give your a "favorite" for that comment, JB....

[LibertarianJon]

09:47 AM on 05/16/2011

This is EXACTLY why Children who are going be around guns, should go through a training and education program as young as 10 to learn to respect them, and not to treat them like toys...

[ChiGuy]

10:16 AM on 05/16/2011

This is EXACTLY why people who want to own guns should have to not only go through a certification program before being permitted to buy a one, but should also be re-tested for proficiency and go through a background check every three or four years before their permit is renewed.

This is also EXACTLY the reason that ALL gun owners should be required by law (not just a recommendation) to have tamper-proof trigger locks on all weapons when there is even the possibility that there might be children anywhere near them.

[LibertarianJon]

10:23 AM on 05/16/2011

So wait... we should write MORE laws, hire more people to monitor these laws, because of 3% of gun owners are careless???

[CelticMajic]

10:34 AM on 05/16/2011

A very wise post below:

There are three very simple things which eliminate almost any chance of a child getting ahold of a firearm:

1) Educate: From a very young age teach children to not touch. Later they can begin to be taught basic safety rules, and from there begin to learn marksmansh­­ip.

2) Unload: Any firearm which is not under direct control of a responsibl­­e individual or secured should be unloaded with the ammo outside of the firearm.

3) Secure: Any firearm which is not under the direct control of a responsibl­­e adult should be secured. There are safes which allow for rapid access in the case of home defense, but still secure the firearm from children (and thieves).

[Acebass]

10:39 PM on 05/17/2011

Why stop at 10? Why not as soon as they are able to hold a gun. Hell we could just asign them pone at birth, I mean it is their right isn't it?

[nenitaB]

09:39 AM on 05/16/2011

It takes a responsible and stricter adult or parent to discipline their children about use of guns or firearms if they have it at home. This is rather serious matter to consider to avoid accidents that leads to regrets and guilt later. If parent's not sure of safety better lock it up to ensure they can't see or use it.

[PRR Fan]

09:38 AM on 05/16/2011

Cars kill far more children than guns and aren't Consitutionally protected either. Interesting that every local story about how a car wreck kills a child doesn't end up on HuffPo, maybe its because cars aren't used as tools by politicians. Maybe we should ban cars. Or at least some "reasonable" regulations. I propose dropping the speed limit to 15 mph on the highways and 5 mph everywhere else.

[ChiGuy]

10:18 AM on 05/16/2011

"...maybe its because cars aren't used as tools..."
_______________________________________

Maybe it's because cars were not designed with one function in mind, the killing of human beings, like 99% of handguns are.

[PRR Fan]

10:36 AM on 05/16/2011

You’re inferring a motive that doesn’t necessarily hold true. I own a handgun and carry it for self defense. I also carry insurance for my car, home, health and life. I didn’t buy that insurance with the hope of being in a car wreck or having a house fire or getting cancer or some other disease or of dying young. I got them because I recognize that sometimes bad things can happen. In the same manner, I recognize that there are people out there who will violate my rights and do me harm for something as simple as a few dollars or perhaps even their own amusement. I have never used any of my guns for anything but target and recreational shooting and I hope I never use them for anything but that. My motive is to defend myself and my family if I am ever put in a position to need to do so. If I can defend myself successfully by running, I’ll do it. If I can defend myself by saying I have a gun or showing the gun or firing a warning shot, I’ll do that. I view shooting another human being as an absolute last resort but it’s an ability I’d rather have than not as the consequences could be my own life ending.

[Grumpy Man]

11:42 AM on 05/16/2011

Tired cliche' - "...designed with one function in mind, the killing of human beings, like 99% of handguns..."

A complete misrepresentation of the truth. My handguns were designed to PROTECT human life. So far they've done a very good job at it with no humans harmed.

Think about the foolishness of the original statement here... If what was written is true then all police officers are carrying around firearms for the express purpose of killing someone. Strangely enough more than 95% of the police officers in the U.S retire without ever firing their gun at another human in the line of duty. Such a belief as shared by the OP would have to accept that armed police provide no deterrent to crime. Meanwhile, rule number one in Criminal Justice 101 @ your local university is: "High visibility (of police) is the greatest proven deterrent to crime."

[eaglespark]

03:18 AM on 05/16/2011

Some people seem to be unclear on state gun control laws. This is all available to read online if you are curious. Drinking with a gun in a bar? There is no law anywhere that allows you to do that, and no one is saying there should be. My Oregon concealed carry license only allows me to visit businesses that sell alcoholic beverages, not get drunk while carrying. If someone is going to carry concealed without a license and get drunk too, the law will not stop that, however. The same restriction applies to my driver's license, by the way-- no drinking and driving at the same time. People do that all across the country, 24/7, of course-- my point being that having laws does not prevent people from breaking them. In my state there is no "gunshow loophole", either. All sales at gunshows, private sales included, must involve a background check. This has no effect on what goes on out in the parking lot or anywhere else, of course. Seventeen states regulate private firearm sales at gun shows. Seven states require background checks on all gun sales at gun shows (California, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Oregon, New York, Illinois and Colorado).

[DreamWeaver2nd]

04:04 AM on 05/16/2011

Part of the insanity in our nation recently is gun laws that allow a person to go into a bar carry a gun. That person is not supposed to drink alcohol while in the bar carrying a gun ... That would be illegal.

[rikilii]

09:53 AM on 05/16/2011

One does not have to drink just because he's in a bar, no more than he has to drive home drunk simply because the bar has a parking lot.

And for the record, it's not illegal to drink and carry a firearm in PA, but I bet you can't find a single news story from the past 5 years where a person with a License to Carry shot anyone in a bar.

[raggedsoldier]

08:00 AM on 05/16/2011

Your assertion that "All sales at gunshows, private sales included, must involve a background check." is incorrect. I would have assumed that someone so evidently obsessed with guns would demonstrate greater familiarity with the laws pertaining to their sale and purchase.

[m1903a4]

10:11 AM on 05/16/2011

You failed to read the preceding sentence and ignored his previous response to you:

from eaglespark:
"You are wrong:
"Presently­, 17 states regulate private firearm sales at gun shows. Seven states require background checks on all gun sales at gun shows (Californi­a, Rhode Island, Connecticu­t, Oregon, New York, Illinois and Colorado)"
"I live in Oregon-- if you have any questions about our laws, you could look it up or just ask me. "

[rikilii]

05:34 PM on 05/16/2011

He's talking about Oregon.  This is also true for handguns in PA.