Girl recovering after shooting with grandma's gun

[Heat]

Girl recovering after shooting with grandma's gun
By KATRINA A. GOGGINS (Associated Press Writer)
From Associated Press
June 10, 2008 6:54 PM EDT
COLUMBIA, S.C. - A relative of a 4-year-old South Carolina girl who accidentally shot herself with her grandmother's handgun in a Sam's Club store said Tuesday the family expects the child to be out of the hospital by week's end.

Inease Williamson, the child's great-grandmother, said the little girl was recovering Tuesday after undergoing emergency surgery a day earlier. "My great-granddaughter is doing much better," she said.

She declined to released the child's name and police also have refused.

The child was riding in a shopping cart and playing with a cell phone, then grabbed the gun from her grandmother's purse and shot herself in the chest, Inease Williamson said.

Investigators planned to speak with the grandmother, Donna Hutto Williamson, on Thursday to decide whether criminal charges will be filed against her, said Columbia Police Department spokesman Brick Lewis.

Lewis said Tuesday the child's condition improved to stable condition following surgery Monday night, hours after she was hospitalized in critical condition.

Hospital officials would not release the girl's condition Tuesday.

Authorities said the 47-year-old Williamson, a South Carolina magistrate, has a permit to carry a concealed weapon. The Sam's Club store does not have a sign prohibiting guns inside.

Chief Magistrate Rodger Emerson Edmonds said it's common for magistrates to carry guns for protection.

"Sometimes some of the judges have to make deposits at the banks," he said. "The other reason is for self preservation to protect yourself because there are some crazies out there."

Sounds like some of the same reasons a private citizen would carry as well..

[Azrial]

Sad that the child was injured. It was foolish to let the child play in a purse that contained a pistol.

[S2rt]

This kind of crap really pisses me off. It's just negligent stupidity to allow a child access to a gun, much less a loaded one. At least the kid survived. In other cases they haven't. There is simply no excuse for this level of carelessness.

She should get some kind of punishment, but the cynic in me saw her title so I'll believe it when I see it.

[JohnnyV1966]

While its a shame a child was injured, I dont buy into the thinking that it should become a criminal matter. Too many things are being turned into criminal offenses today.

I ask all of you to think of where your dad kept his key to gun cabinent hidden? Children are curious by nature and will seek to find what interests them. As many of you know when you keep somthing a mystery or try to hide something from them it only heightens a childs curiosity.

While I dont like children having accidents with firearms I dont think compounding a tradgedy helps either. Although I am certain many in the legal community would like it. Nothing like another lawyers relief act.

Keep in mind the Antis have no sympathy as they dont think Children should live in a home where firearms are kept.

Have some balls, rather than cheering on those who hate freedom and compounding a tradgedy!!!

[S2rt]

Originally posted by JohnnyV1966
While its a shame a child was injured, I dont buy into the thinking that it should become a criminal matter. Too many things are being turned into criminal offenses today.

I ask all of you to think of where your dad kept his key to gun cabinent hidden? Children are curious by nature and will seek to find what interests them. As many of you know when you keep somthing a mystery or try to hide something from them it only heightens a childs curiosity.

While I dont like children having accidents with firearms I dont think compounding a tradgedy helps either. Although I am certain many in the legal community would like it. Nothing like another lawyers relief act.

Keep in mind the Antis have no sympathy as they dont think Children should live in a home where firearms are kept.

Have some balls, rather than cheering on those who hate freedom and compounding a tradgedy!!!


So you are saying that someone that negligently allows a child access to a loaded firearm has no personal responsibility at all to prevent that from happening? I don't buy it.

One of the biggest problems in this country is people refusing to take accountability for their actions. I expect adults to act with common sense and to take responsibility for what they do. I think that's better than telling folks that they be as careless as they want with any punishment when someone gets hurt. Sure, she's not as culpable as if she had done it on purpose, but that doesn't excuse her carelessness. To me it's kind of like the difference between murder and involuntary manslaughter. I don't think penalizing someone whose actions resulted in a child getting shot will lead to any great infringement of responsible people's right to bear arms. She's an idiot and should be chastised for it.

[xcpd69]

Sorry, but placing a purse containing a loaded firearm within reach of a child, IS gross negligence.

Now I don't know all the details, I'll admit, but I have seen litterally thousands of women with toddlers and purses at grocery stores over the years. Almost always, the toddler is seated in the handy cutout in the shelf at the top rear of the cart, facing the shopper. With the purse stashed next to the child.

IF YOU'RE CARRYING A FIREARM IN A PURSE, OR MURSE, KEEP THE DAMNED THING ON YOUR BODY. Especially when shopping with a child in a cart.

[GUMP MODE]" My Momma says 'Stupid is as stupid does.'."[/GUMP MODE]

[brunop]

Think she's been 'punished' enough at this point?

Accountability is important. Trying to force that as an argument onto a (you pick) stupid/negligent/criminally-manslaughter-bent grandma is a long stretch in my book.

She's lucky and/or blessed. She's also learned her lesson.

It may be a win-win if she gets 'community service' from the court, and has to do public speaking on how she almost killed her granddaughter because she wasn't careful enough.