Quote:5-year-old Kentucky boy fatally shoots 2-year-old sister

(CNN) -- A Kentucky mother stepped outside of her home just for a few minutes, but it was long enough for her 5-year-old son to accidentally shoot his 2-year-old sister with the .22-caliber rifle he got for his birthday, state officials said.

Little Caroline Starks died Tuesday in Burkesville, in southern Kentucky, according to Cumberland County Coroner Gary White.

"The little Crickett rifle is a single-shot rifle and it has a child safety," White said of the weapon. "It's just a tragic situation."

Kids and guns: 'These are not isolated tragedies'

Starks' autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday, but the shooting has been ruled accidental, according to Kentucky State Police Public Affairs officer Billy Gregory.

"The mother was home at the time of the incident but she had stepped outside," Gregory said. "It's just one of those nightmares -- a quick thing that happens when you turn your back."

Gregory said young children in the area are often introduced to guns at an early age.

"In this part of the country, it's not uncommon for a 5-year-old to have a gun or for a parent to pass one down to their kid," he said.

The Crickett website features three different .22-caliber rifle models for kids, with shoulder stock colors ranging from pink to red, white and blue swirls. "My first rifle" is the company's slogan.

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.

George Carlin Wrote:I know that. Some people don't want you to mention certain things. Some people don't want you to say this, some people don't want you to say that. Some people think if you mention some things they might happen. Some people are really f'ucking stupid. Did you ever notice that, how many stupid people you run into during the day? Goddamn there's a lot of stupid bastards walking around. Carry a pad and pencil with you, you'll wind up with twenty or thirty names by the end of the day. Think about this; think about how stupid the average person is, and then realize that half of 'em are stupider than that.

Razmos Wrote:I am absolutely speechless after reading this. how have people in America not realized that guns are a bad idea?

CrazyForDex Wrote:People who are pro-guns keep make excuses for why we do not need more regulations or background checks for guns. I keep hearing things like: "This is all just an excuse to unarm the U.S. citizenry so the federal government can opress us" and "guns aren't harming people, it is stupid people with guns harming people."

While there may be some truth to the second argument, guns are clearly too abundant in this country and at the very least, people are using them way to irresponsibly.

Also the NRA has a ton of pull in Congress, which makes it nigh impossible to get regulations passed.

Razmos Wrote:Just looking at the comments in the link, some people are saying that giving children guns at the age of 5 "teaches them about gun safety".

How the hell does that work? give an armed and extremely dangerous weapon to a child with an active imagination and no self control, who can barely even think for themselves. If they HAVE to give their children guns they should at least wait until their child is old enough to understand before giving them such a powerful responsibility. A child shouldn't need to protect themselves, the parents should do that until the child is old enough to look after themselves.

the backwards dippomegranate mentality of some people just irritates me. People like this shouldn't be allowed to breed, never mind buy guns.

Razmos Wrote:Just looking at the comments in the link, some people are saying that giving children guns at the age of 5 "teaches them about gun safety".

How the hell does that work? give an armed and extremely dangerous weapon to a child with an active imagination and no self control, who can barely even think for themselves. If they HAVE to give their children guns they should at least wait until their child is old enough to understand before giving them such a powerful responsibility. A child shouldn't need to protect themselves, the parents should do that until the child is old enough to look after themselves.

the backwards dippomegranate mentality of some people just irritates me. People like this shouldn't be allowed to breed, never mind buy guns.

Also there is a difference between children knowing about guns and actually giving one to a child.

Curtiss Wrote:Whatever happened to demonstrations and keeping dangerous things out of reach from children? Educating children about drugs certainly doesn't involve giving them any so why the hell would anyone think that giving guns is a good idea in any way?

CrazyForDex Wrote:LOL DRUG SAFETY: "Here Johnny, try smoking this meth so you know how to be safe around it in the future."

Curtiss Wrote:Oh, the tragedy of it all. Kids would finally be interested in drug safety campaigns but for all the wrong reasons.

Razmos Wrote:Same reason kids are interested in sex education talks. free condoms

KhainiWest Wrote:My parents taught me the risks of a gun at an early age, you don't see me running around and shooting people. Though with these posts you guys are making me consider

Curtiss Wrote:Well, let's just say your parents sounded way more responsible about it and the article above gives reasonable doubt that this mother did the same.