“...and kept in a corner.”
Really. The idiot parents (who now have been horribly punished for their idiocy) left the gun around for the kid to PLAY with. Because that’s what you do with a real gun, right? Play with it? Instead of respecting it as a tool and a weapon?
I have twin six-year-olds and while they have never found a lethal weapon to use, both have left SCARS on each other over the years. We recently gave them a metal Little League bat, but they’re only allowed to use it under adult supervision because I know it would be only a matter of time until Cain or Abel decides to have a come-to-Jesus moment with brother. By themselves, they get to use the plastic bat.
Kids need freedom, but until they’re ready for the next step of freedom, they need supervision.
yes, their scope of reality isnt able to see a long term big picture to immediate impulse actions. or understand ramifications and consequences. they are still immortal naive small universe beings.