10-19-2015, 01:49 PM
More related news...
![[Image: boy-shoots-brother-2-e1445207678237.jpg]](http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/boy-shoots-brother-2-e1445207678237.jpg)
^ This Chicago dad, Michael Santiago - 25, is charged with felony child endangerment/death after his 6-year-old son accidentally shot his 3-year-old brother with Santiago's gun.
He reportedly had previous gang affiliations and had an illegally-purchased unsecured loaded gun in the home to protect his family. Ironically and predictably, he put his family in harm's way instead. His six-year-old son got a hold of the gun from atop the refrigerator and was playing cops and robbers with his 3-year-old brother. The older brother shot the younger one in the face and killed him.
In the United States, at least 2,694 children and teens died from guns in 2010, according to the juvenile advocacy group Children's Defense Fund. Having a gun in the home makes an accidental death four times more likely, according to the group's 2013 report.
I suspect that many of the kids had been told not to touch the guns unsupervised and been provided some safety training. But, they're kids and safety training in no way mitigates the need for gun locks or safe storage.
Anyway, I'm glad to see dad being charged in this case and hope to see more irresponsible gun owners facing charges when their children access and fire guns, even if the parents purchased the guns legally and have no previous criminal history.
![[Image: 70914036.JPG]](https://cdn-wac.emirates247.com/polopoly_fs/1.607210.1445226246!/image/70914036.JPG)
RIP Eian Santiago
Story: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local...story.html
^ This Chicago dad, Michael Santiago - 25, is charged with felony child endangerment/death after his 6-year-old son accidentally shot his 3-year-old brother with Santiago's gun.
He reportedly had previous gang affiliations and had an illegally-purchased unsecured loaded gun in the home to protect his family. Ironically and predictably, he put his family in harm's way instead. His six-year-old son got a hold of the gun from atop the refrigerator and was playing cops and robbers with his 3-year-old brother. The older brother shot the younger one in the face and killed him.
In the United States, at least 2,694 children and teens died from guns in 2010, according to the juvenile advocacy group Children's Defense Fund. Having a gun in the home makes an accidental death four times more likely, according to the group's 2013 report.
I suspect that many of the kids had been told not to touch the guns unsupervised and been provided some safety training. But, they're kids and safety training in no way mitigates the need for gun locks or safe storage.
Anyway, I'm glad to see dad being charged in this case and hope to see more irresponsible gun owners facing charges when their children access and fire guns, even if the parents purchased the guns legally and have no previous criminal history.
RIP Eian Santiago
Story: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local...story.html