A small boy shoots his teacher in US

It’s said that it was a deliberate act, shelflife.

Not the child's fault just a devastating incident for child and teacher. Will America ever learn!!!??? I despair.

Good to see that the police were doing their job GagaJo, had a database of expiry dates and ran checks. That’s evidence of our strict firearms law in practice. My husband gets the odd unannounced visit to ensure that his guns are in the locked steel cabinet, bolted to the wall, as they always are - with ammo stored separately.

Fleurpepper

Fully aware Callistemon. Replying to the post about a kid in the USA pulling out a gun from under the bed. The day that happened near me in the UK, will always be etched in my memory. Students of mine, but also neighbours and at school with my kids.

The big difference was that she had no idea the gun was loaded, and no intention whatsoever to hurt a friend.

My GD didn't have any idea if it was loaded neither did DD she just asked her quietly to put it down. Then went home and asked her DH how to tell if a gun was loaded. Then phoned and asked her friend why it was there for the children to get their hands on.
Aggressive things do happen in our schools I agree with you Fleaurpepper. I have twice seen as a teacher sharp scissors used as a weapon, once against a teacher and once against other children in the class. Luckily the incidences are rare.

Whereas, a friend who has a shotgun licence, with guns in a locked gun cupboard, had a visit from the police a few years ago the day after her licence had expired. She'd forgotten to renew it.

Guns were confiscated and only returned once she'd renewed her licence.

An excellent reason to avoid visiting America! Awful gun culture. It’ll be interesting to see more of the child’s home background.
We used to play with toy guns as children, but that’s what they were - just toys. Same with cigarette sweets - it didn’t encourage me to smoke when I grew up.

So even a 6 yr old is capable of doing what he did.
He's probably watched a lot of movies, TV news, etc by that age.
I remember a boy aged about 4 coming to play at my house. He asked if he could play with a gun ( a toy gun) I said there were noneand he proceeded to go around my house collecting toy guns. There was a water pistol, Action Man had one, the cowboy outfit in the dressing up box etc
My own DS were at school.

Incidentally that boy now in his 30s makes sets for Bond films now.

Fully aware Callistemon. Replying to the post about a kid in the USA pulling out a gun from under the bed. The day that happened near me in the UK, will always be etched in my memory. Students of mine, but also neighbours and at school with my kids.

The big difference was that she had no idea the gun was loaded, and no intention whatsoever to hurt a friend.

Firearms police at UK airports are highly visible and have been for many years.. they are highly trained and am glad they are there ..

Fleurpepper

Well that can also happen in the UK, sadly. But not to that extent.

One of my secondary school student, aged 13 at the time- shot another kid her age when playing in her parents' bedroom, with the gun found under the bed. The father had convictions for badger baiting and poaching/lamping. But it is indeed VERY rare, thank goodness.

You might be surprised and relieved to learn that England and Wales come way down the list of number of guns held per person, Fleurpepper.
Surprisingly, Scotland is above them on the list, as is N Ireland but all are fewer proportionately than most European countries.

Well that can also happen in the UK, sadly. But not to that extent.

One of my secondary school student, aged 13 at the time- shot another kid her age when playing in her parents' bedroom, with the gun found under the bed. The father had convictions for badger baiting and poaching/lamping. But it is indeed VERY rare, thank goodness.

Oldwoman70

Like others I wonder how a 6 year old has access to a gun. Being in the UK I am not conversant with gun laws in US but I thought they had to kept in a locked cabinet.

I hope the teacher makes a full recovery. The child obviously has serious issues and I hope he receives the help he needs.

Probably by opening his mum's glove box or handbag. When she wasn't looking or in a shop.
My DD lived in the States and was horrified where she saw guns.
She went to find her DD who was playing hide and seek in a friend's house when she said it was Hometime GD came out from under a bed with a gun.

9.02.19

Fleurpepper

Callistemon21

CHICAGO (AP) — Most U.S. adults want to see gun laws made stricter

What was the date of that poll?

Opinion polls may vary.

Even if polls vary- is it right that all those who want Gun Laws changed, 'don't care and it's their choice' if they are shot at, or their kids, etc?

Who said that??

The USA is the only country in the developed world that has such lax gun laws - well no gun laws it would seem to us. The solution is obvious to most of us that strict, tight gun controls are the only way to reduce the number of gun related tragedies but the gun lobbies are far too powerful and money is all that counts it seems. This child is not the first or last child to have shot someone, sadly. What we see and hear on the news is only the tip of the iceberg of what goes on. That poor teacher and, yes, that poor child. When we the country wake up to the problem?

Sorry but it does- the OP is about a young child- not police.

Fleurpepper / my comment about police carrying guns at airports was in response to Grammaretto who understandably doesn’t want to see armed police. Discussing whether armed police in the UK is necessary in any environment isnt detracting from the OP.

I don’t think that’s what MOnica said at all.

Callistemon21

^CHICAGO (AP) — Most U.S. adults want to see gun laws made stricter^

What was the date of that poll?

Opinion polls may vary.

Even if polls vary- is it right that all those who want Gun Laws changed, 'don't care and it's their choice' if they are shot at, or their kids, etc?

The US is unlikely to pass any legislation banning guns. There are people who regard it as a civil right, and who would not surrender their weapons.
The 6 year old may well have been taught to shoot. He may have been hunting, or his parents might believe there are physical dangers and he needs to be able to protect himself.

It's tragic and both have my sympathy

Because my DGS is 5. He is still learning to correctly hold a pencil



Primary school children here, aged 6, are hoping to get their pen licence.

That little boy must have been taught how to use a gun and it must have just been lying around at home for him to access it.

Unfortunately, there are some families in the US who genuinely believe that their children should be trained to use a gun from a very early age.

Because my DGS is 5. He is still learning to correctly hold a pencil. Gagajo this is the first thing that crossed my mind this morning. I still can’t imagine a small child, even if he was big for his age, being able to fire even what the Americans call “a girl gun” - a small automatic hand gun - without being aware of the correct stance, and how to control the recoil, without having been trained to do it. You can’t just pick it up and shoot it with one hand like they do in the Wild West. It beggars belief!

Sorry Fleurpepper, but the results of polls depend on what questions are asked, and of whom. No poll is going to question every adult in the US. As has already been said, the NRA is a powerful and influential body.

CHICAGO (AP) — Most U.S. adults want to see gun laws made stricter

What was the date of that poll?

Opinion polls may vary.