Mar, Tulsa (10/16/2009 10:58:51 PM)

Poor little boy. Grandpa please lock away your guns!

I agree with Ex-Marine Viper.

THE REF, Broken Arrow (10/17/2009 12:46:22 AM)

gun safety 101 - dont leave loaded guns around 4 year old children!

wotko, Sapulpa (10/16/2009 2:06:35 PM)

Hopefully he was just another ignorant person with no respect for firearms and not actually trying to kill his little cousin.

FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (10/17/2009 3:48:58 PM)

A 16 year old boy should have known better. If adults have guns in the home, parents have a responsibility to teach all children gun safety. Any rifle should always be unloaded AND secured.

As for a weapons like hand guns, if they are for self defense, teach your children they are never to touch unless they are going to use it for self defense only. Take them to a gun range, teach them how to shoot and how dangerous a hand gun can be. But to never touch unless their life or a family members life is in imminent danger.

It was fortunate the rifle used was a .22. otherwise I fear we would be offering condolence instead of praying for the boys full recovery. A hard lesson to learn for the 16 year old and grand pa. Don't let this lesson go unheeded.

Justun, tulsa (10/16/2009 3:49:42 PM)

Ric, Broken Arrow (10/16/2009 2:30:00 PM)
I shot a bird out of the air with a .22 once.
Hey, I shot a rabbit on the run with a bow and arrow once too....It was an excellent shot too but it bounced off the pavement first...but still!!

Justun, tulsa (10/16/2009 3:52:04 PM)

Sorry!!! terrible tragedy....I shouldn't have been joking. Sorry.

Justun, tulsa (10/16/2009 4:08:37 PM)

I was pretty young when I was turned loose with a gun. I guess my parents just expected me to have common sense to use it wisely. Most of the time I did but being a kid, you just aren't that wise!

antgirl3, Broken Arrow (10/16/2009 2:40:20 PM)

There is no need to lock up the guns. I grew up with guns positioned throughout the house in case we needed them. All parents and grandparents have a responsibility to teacher children about gun safety. From a very young age, one thing that I was taught about guns was the following: Never pick up a gun unless you plan to use it. After you've picked it up it's to late to change your mind. Aim and shoot to kill or they'll kill you!

FS, Broken Arrow (10/17/2009 12:32:21 PM)

Once upon a time, children were raised with the notion that firearms were not toys. Someone else is always responsible for any individual's sheer stupidity.
"Why are all these guns loaded?", asks scooter2.

It's rather simple - guns are kept loaded because people realize someone breaking into their home intent on doing harm to one's family isn't likely to respond to the request to wait while the cops are called or to have a beer from the fridge while the homeowner loads his/her weapon.

droopy, wagoner (10/16/2009 4:24:06 PM)

viper, you sound quite santimonious today. Antgirl has about as good opinons as you do.

Ric, Broken Arrow (10/16/2009 2:30:00 PM)

I shot a bird out of the air with a .22 once.

Ric, Broken Arrow (10/16/2009 2:49:36 PM)

No, really aint missbehavin. It was an excellent shot with a .22.

Teaching gun safety and practicing gun safety is what is needed.

Another time while hunting rabbit, I had a rabbit run away from me and right angled turn dart through the tall grass. I just followed his speed through the grass and fired... Fried Rabbit for dinner.

aint missbehavin, no thanks (10/16/2009 2:41:59 PM)

Yeah yeah,Ric we all have.How sad about this.Im in agreement with 2ndjoyce.Please put them away from the children.Gun safety courses is a must for males or females at any age is a good thing.

Ryanoceros, Tulsa (10/16/2009 6:25:34 PM)

This is my nightmare, because I have a 4 & 9 yr old that spend the night at their grandparent's a couple times a month and grandpa has so many guns lying around he loses track of them. I have said something several times and continue to remind him to make sure they are all up and away, and also repeatedly tell my kids never to touch a gun...but you know kids, you were one once. So this story hits home hard.

Ryanoceros, Tulsa (10/19/2009 10:00:51 AM)

Any updates on the boy's condition?

Jack9, somewhere (10/17/2009 9:14:02 AM)

My guns are definitely not loaded, nor the gun my son carrys (licensed concealed weapon) into my house he always removes the clip and shows me it's unloaded. Thats the rules at my home. We have grandsons around the house. Same at my Dad's house. Rules set by parents. Parents of the 16 and 4 year old, hope you've learned your lesson (a very hard way to learn this one). Prays for the 4 years old speedy recovery. Hey 16 year old enough to know better.

Whoknew?, Tulsa (10/17/2009 1:18:35 PM)

I can't resist...Miss SmartA did you get your education before or after education when into the crapper?

2ndjoyce, BA (10/16/2009 2:08:57 PM)

Get a gun safe and/or put locks on all your guns. Please! Please! please, please...

2ndjoyce, BA (10/16/2009 3:45:15 PM)

No need to lock up the guns? I wonder if the grandparents agree with you today, antgirl3.

2ndjoyce, BA (10/16/2009 6:30:02 PM)

We bought a gun safe last year and gave our son money to buy one for his home as well. Our grandson is a very curious and imaginative little one and I cannot imagine our lives without him. Better to be safe than sorry.

Thunder196, Tulsa (10/16/2009 4:03:58 PM)

If you have a gun in the house, gun safety is a must. The 15 year old was old enough to have been taught you treat all guns as if they are loaded. You don't point them at anyone.
.
You can't lock up every gun. I use mine for protection, because I live in a rough area and live alone. The ones I don't use, have expensive locks on them so they are inoperable.

redbeard, Stillwater (10/16/2009 6:09:48 PM)

2ndjoyce is right. Lock those guns up if there are children around.

Young kids are so unpredictable and they don't realize the damage a bullet can do.I'd rather take my chances unarmed with a burglar than for some kid to get shot with my gun.

noise, (10/16/2009 6:44:54 PM)

It does not matter if you teach young people gun safety. They are curious idiots. In my experience, teaching them gun safety actually makes them overconfident about their ability to handle weapons. Then you know what happens.

Ex-Marine Viper, Sand Springs (10/16/2009 4:04:38 PM)

antgirl3...
Go back inside your trailer and shut-up. Your trailer park will be thankful and alot safer.
Gun safety should be taught...yes...but anyone under 16 should not have a weapon in ther hands without proper supervision and training.

luvsdatracin, Checotah (10/17/2009 8:26:17 AM)

Teaching children gun safety is just as important as teaching adults. We had guns in the open when I was growing up, but we were taught they are not toys and you do not play with them. Hope the lil boy will recover and the cousin will be so scared he will never play with a gun again!