3-Year-Old Shot by Intruder with Shotgun

An intruder broke into the home of a Kansas City, Mo., home and shot a 3-year-old boy.

The father, James Jenkins, is a principal at Satchel Paige Elementary School. Two other children and his wife were also home at the time but were not hurt. Police said the boy is expected to recover.

The parents said they intend to pray for their son and the intruder who shot him.

http://www.myfoxkc.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=4915836&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

I hope they get him counseling... (Sadly, nothing that countless thousands of little kids are not facing in Iraq)

and am confident they will do what is best for their child.

thankfully.

this kind of senseless tragedy would never happen

Let's not lose our perspective here. What's the life of one 3-year-old non-voter compared to the right of anybody who wants to to keep and bear arms?

Show of hands!


Anybody?



Anybody?



Bueller?



Bueller?

Yeah, if only we'd make gun ownership as illegal as burglary, this wouldn't have happened.

couldn't get their hands on an arsenal this wouldn't have happened. But it's too late for that . The gun nuts have won. They won a long time ago. This country is awash in guns, legal and illegal, and laws don't mean a thing. We decided collectively, as a society, long ago, that the right to keep and bear arms superceded any individuals right to life, and that includes all innocent victims of gun violence. So let's not bother with the crocodile tears every time there's a workplace or schoolyard massacre, or some little kid is accidentally killed by the loaded revolver in daddy's nightstand. We decided a long time ago that those losses were acceptable. Profits over people, donchaknow.

The kid who did this is a teenager who was kicked out of school by this principal several years ago. My friend works at this school and she said most of the teachers who have been there more than a few years remember this kid well.

:scared:

That's the way it is and it ain't gonna change.

I have personally been asked to provide a gun to someone who I knew was a convicted felon. I declined.

Maybe he was able to get a gun somewhere else at a later time. He could always manage to find illegal drugs on short notice.

If he could find illegal drugs (and who can't) he could find an illegal gun, just like the shooter in the story did. Legal or illegal is a moot point.

QED

And we decided that some deaths are acceptable in all areas of life. Otherwise we would all stay inside and never ride in a car, or fly in a plane, or ride a bike, or eat spinach (E.Coli don't you know), or have sex (could get AIDS), or do anything that might remotely cause our untimely demise.

Fact is that we, as a society, accept a lot of death. Look how many thousands of people die in cars every year, and yet we still keep making them and buying them.

(well, except maybe eating spinach) have a purpose other than killing, but why split hairs?

If the intruder is caught, it will be determined that he had a criminal record that disqualified him from possessing any kind of firearm; therefore his ownership of the shotgun was in fact as illegal as the break-in.

it doesn't count as a real shooting, and the kid isn't in real pain. Good to know.

Probably not licensed to carry the gun but what difference does that make? A 3 year old was hurt.

I guess he's just a dick.

that a young teenager can't buy a gun? England? In this country the only ones who can't buy guns are already dead.

You could have just checked my profile.

:eyes:

You live in California and don't think guns are available on every street corner? Okay, maybe not EVERY street corner, like in San Francisco where I live, or Oakland, where I work. Or LosAngeles, where I lived before this. Maybe there are places in CA where you have to actually walk around the corner. Maybe.

Or even marijuana.

Maybe there are places in CA where you have to actually walk around the corner.

I've lived here most of my life and never had anyone offer to sell me an illegal gun except one time in high school, and I think that guy was full of shit.

and offered to sell you an illegal gun you think they're hard to get? Where do you think the kid in the story got a gun? Wal-Mart?

I don't know where he got it, and would be very interested to find out.

Good work, Demobrat.

:yourock:

But then, of course, he's just the victim ,he doesn't count.

Another classical logical fallacy.

I already said he doesn't count.

There are many ways this event could have been prevented.

I will bet that the "intruder" has an impressive criminal record already.

There is no way this event could have been prevented. Anybody who wants a gun in this country can get one, legally or illegally, no problem. That's being the case, and it IS the case, there is going to be a certain amount of death and suffering, and there's nothing we can do about it. Except of course, pretend to be appalled when innocent people get hurt.

Like the ones that make it illegal for certain people to buy guns?

At the gun store? Forgetting about gun shows for the moment - if you wanted a gun and couldn't buy one legally what would you do? I know what I'd do. I'd go down to the local coffee shop and put an order in. Legal/illegal has no meaning when i t comes to guns. It's too late for that. Way too late. ANYBODY who wants a gun can get one easily. That's the world we live in. Too bad for the 3-year old, but then we already decided that gun company profits were more important.

bad for the 3-year old, but then we already decided that gun company profits were more important.

Let me see if I can state my point more clearly:

It is possible to reduce violent crime without infringing on the right of non-criminals to have firearms.

Gun manufacturers are not the large corporations who actually run things in this country. Nobody has ever, either consciously or unconsciously, made a choice to support them over the right of an innocent child to be safe. The two are not mutually exclusive.

"It is possible to reduce violent crime without infringing on the right of non-criminals to have firearms. ""

The time for that is long past. At this point there's nothing to be done but admit that the rights of gun manufacturers and owners supercede victim's rights and knock off the crocodile tears when innocent people get in the way of stray bullets.

But I maintain that the right to keep and bear arms does not flow from the interests of gun manufacturers, nor is it inconsistent with the right of innocent people not to be shot.

I'm sure that will be a great consolation to you, and won't attend the pity party, knowing that you're fine with it.

He shot himself. It was not fun for the family, I assure you. But none of us are reactionary enough to allow that tragic incident to run our entire lives, or change our political views on gun ownership. We knew that he had some problems with depression and had been treated for it. There was no way his death could have been prevented.

shot dead while buying gum at the local 7-11 you would have felt the same, of course. Because there's no difference at all between suicide and what happened to that 3-year old.

Please don't try to put words in my mouth. It's very uncivil of you.

if his death by gunshot had not been his choice, but the choice of some random shooter? Don't tell me let me guess - you would have blamed the shooter and not the gun. I'll keep that in mind when it happens to you. Oh and speaking of false arguments - suicide is a choice - the 3-year old didn't have one.

And perhaps the individual who provided him with a gun; certainly so if the transaction had been illegal.

Oh and speaking of false arguments - suicide is a choice - the 3-year old didn't have one.

No, but the asshole who decided to shoot him had a choice. I blame him, and perhaps the individual who provided him with a gun.

anybody who wants a gun in this country can get one, no problem. You're really fine with that ? In that case it really is a shame it wasn't you or a loved one in the place of that poor kid. Putting your life where your mouth is, so to speak.

Is not a true statement. For someone who cannot just go buy one legally, acquiring one poses some level of inconvenience just like any other illegal thing.

walking down to the local bar? Okay, maybe it's not as easy to get a gun as a pizza. But it's definitely easier than getting reservations at a good restaurant on Saturday night.

How's that?

Just out of curiosity.

- Improve the effectiveness of the National Instant Check System (NICS) by ensuring that all states consistently and promptly report disqualifying events like felony convictions and mental health adjudications,

- Actively disarm people who have been made the subject of a restraining order for domestic violence,

- Make NICS available to unlicensed individuals and holders of Curio and Relic collector's licenses (like me) who have used guns that they wish to sell to other unlicensed individuals,

- Prosecute people who fail NICS checks (because they have already put fraudulent information on the federal paperwork),

- Tough sentences for people who commit violent crimes in general,

- Sentence enhancements for people who criminally misuse firearms,

These are some things that actually could be done without infringing on the right to keep and bear arms.

of gun manufacturers, of course.

Gun manufacturers provide jobs for many people. They produce things that people need and/or want. Reducing their profits would not make anyone safer.

I think my suggestions would make people safer. Isn't that what any "gun" discussion should really be about?

So does Blackwater. There is no difference between them and the manufacturer of the gun used on that kid. They are all war profiteers.

:nuke:

Jobs are jobs. It's either okay to profit from violent death or it's not.

Obviously.

And who gets to decide?

It's decided by our laws and courts, and each individual's sense of right and wrong.

Tragedies happen. Kids die while swimming. Kids die swallowing toys. Kids die riding their bikes. Kids die from falling off jungle gyms. The fact that a child dies senselessly does not mean we ban all activities that could result in death.

Firearm death is one of the RAREST causes of death for children. You would do better to advocate the banning of swimming and bike riding. It would save more lives.

I forget.

But if your concern is really the children, then you should want to keep them safe by banning all activities that could kill them.

And guns do have a purpose. Defending oneself against an attacker is a legitimate and moral thing.

Oh, and there's that pesky right to bear arms thingie too. I don't think there's a constitutional right to ride bikes is there?

I already said that the right to keep and bear arms supercedes individual right to life. Thanks for agreeing.

The right to keep and bear arms and the individual right to life are not incompatible.

and his family.

:hi:

BTW - Are you implying that I don't care about the trauma that child has experienced?

The kid got shot. You claim that that fact has nothing to do with the availability of guns. I'd like to see you explain that to him and his parents. I'm sure it would be quite comforting.

The kid got shot. You claim that that fact has nothing to do with the availability of guns.

You fail. I made no such claim.

that the next innocent victim of gun violence I read about is you. Since you're fine with it, and all.

that the next innocent victim of gun violence I read about is you.

It's sad to see someone who has so little concern for a fellow Democrat and fellow human being. You must be a miserable person. I pity you.

Since you're fine with it, and all.

Another Straw Man. You fail.

If it makes you feel good.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules_detailed.html

Note in particular the first sentence of the first paragraph under the heading "Content".

to be the next innocent victim of gun violence? That surprises me, considering. I thought you'd be proud.

I don't like your tone.

I'm SOOOOOO bummed!

"Well, once again I really hope that the next innocent victim of gun violence I read about is you." - Demobrat, 11/14/2007

My current one was aimed at a gun-grabber who got banned from DU for chronic bad behavior.

to make sure I follow in their footsteps. Can't have people who don't like guns around. Next thing you know they'll be accusing you of overcompensating.

Please respect my right to choose to have them in mine.

They deserve to be shot. You lost the argument a long time ago, now you've proven that you're asshole.

deserve to be shot WAY more than that innocent three year old did. Too bad bullets aren't more discerning.

constitutional rights, Kill em all!!!!

innocent 3 year olds who have no choice in the matter.

So do writers who abuse hyperbole.

You completely distort the argument by turning it into what would comfort the parents. No one disagrees that this is a senseless, ugly, awful thing that everyone feels bad about. But the fact that a tragedy happens, the fact that people feel sympathy, does not automatically lead to your conclusion about guns. So the idea of what would comfort the parents is a total non-factor in discussing public policy and the constutionality of gun ownership.

Statistically speaking, guns are one of the safest things around in terms of causing death to children. I know -- you'll say "tell the parents that. I'm sure it will comfort them."

Look at the CDC statistics on accidental deaths.

Was it not a robber? Do they know nothing else about the intruder or their motives?

He had been kicked out of school by this principal a few years ago.

so he shoots the guy's son.

Jesus Christ.

What kind of asshole shoots a three-year old?

some guy hopped the fence and was coming into the house through the sliding glass door on the patio. my daughter woke up from the sound of the fence and was walking from her room through the living room (with the sliding glass door). my wife heard our daughter talking to someone, and when she rounded the corner she saw the guy standing half-inside the door.

scared the hell out of me. this story scares the hell out of me all over again.

Have you considered a guard dog?

That would mess me up bigtime.

Decent burglars wait until a home is unoccupied before breaking in, and they don't generally carry weapons.

... intruder and in my mind I finish it with " I pray the intruder eats his own shotgun".

How could you shoot a 3 year old?


But then I think he should turn himself in and deal with the justice system.

Fucking asshole. :grr:

In America, this kind of event is newsworthy. In Iraq, it's just another Tuesday. :shrug:

'Nuff said.

and American kids. Who TF are you to compare the two? Who gave you the monopoly on suffering? Who needs you to give perspective?

In Tidewater Virginia, 3 young men broke into a home, guns blazing, wounded a grandmother and killed a one year old infant.