I don’t remember when I got my first real gun, but it was long after I was 5 years old. In the news Wednesday a Kentucky mother suffered an unbelievable tragedy when she stepped outside of her home for just for a few minutes and in that time her 5-year-old son apparently retrieved his “Little Crickett” single-shot 22 rifle and accidentally shot his 2-year-old sister. The 5 year-old-boy got the rifle for his 5th birthday. The 2-year-old girl, Caroline Starks, died in Burkesville, in southern Kentucky.  Her autopsy is scheduled, but the shooting has been ruled accidental.

According to CNN.com:

 Caroline Starks' death comes in the wake of two other incidents in recent months involving young children shooting others. In early April, a 4-year-old boy in Tennessee shot and killed a 48-year-old woman, and just days later, 6-year-old Brandon Holt was killed in New Jersey after being shot in the head by his 4-year-old playmate.

The Crickett website markets different rifle models to kids with a slogan of "My first rifle”.  I'm all for responsible gun ownership, but should a kid who is barely potty trained be given a gun?

 

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