THL

In IL firearm owners have to have a FOID card. I think it will be interesting to see in the next few days if these people did. I am also interested to know why on earth they would think it a good idea to keep a loaded gun where a 5 year old could easily find and use it.

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dalem

I don't know what an FOID card is, but why charge them? If he'd gotten to some cleaning products and drank them, would they get charged for that?

-dale

THL

In IL if you own firearms you are required to get a Firearm Owners ID card. You do not have to let the state know what you own, just that you do own. They do a check at that time to make sure that the person applying does not have felonies or other things on their record that prevents them from owning a gun...like if you held up a gas station with a gun, you are not allowed to legally buy one again.

The thing is that there is a law in IL (a Child Access Prevention law) that says that parents with guns ARE responsible for keeping those guns out of their kids hands (if the kids are under 14) and that the parents can (and apparently will) be charged with a crime if they dont.

Southie

They probably have child-proof latches on the cabinets so he can't get into the cleaning products. And outlet covers so he can't electrocute himself, and knob covers for the stove so he can't accidently turn it on. But why take extra precautions on a firearm!?

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THL

When I was a kid we had Mr Yuck stickers. He was a green guy with a yucky face and parents put those stickers on things that kids should not ingest. I wonder what ever happened to Mr Yuck?

dalem

That article doesn't give any clue as to where the gun was. Dresser drawer, I agree, not so hotso, but maybe it was in a locked box and the kid found the key, or something.

I basically believe absolutely nothing in regular media about gun-related incidents - they always paint private firearm ownership in the most negative light possible.

So maybe the parents are dicks, maybe not. I still don't like the idea of charging them with a crime.

-dale

gunnut

How did the kid discharge a handgun in the first place? It's a pretty complex procedure for a kid to know how to load a revolver let alone an auto pistol. Then there's the strength issue. I don't think a 5 year old can work the slide of an auto pistol to actually load it and fire it. Maybe a revolver. A 5 year old is strong enough to pull the trigger or co-ck the hammer.

I think the parents are negligent, but not more so than leaving Drano around or a screw driver near an uncovered electrical outlet.

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