A small 3-year-old child was able to get their hands on a loaded gun and shoot himself in a near-fatal accident.
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The child, living in Grand Rapids, Michigan, found the gun and pulled the trigger. The 3-year-old accidentally shot himself causing serious, but not life-threatening injuries. The shooting was reported to the Grand Rapids Police Department who rushed the child to hospital.
The owner of the firearm has cooperated with the police. Since the incident, the owner has been investigated for improper storage of the weapon. If the gun had been kept in a proper manner, the 3-year-old would not have been able to shoot himself.
If it is found that the firearm was stored incorrectly, the man could face charges and a hefty fine. According to Michigan state law, this could be punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. If the incorrect storage leads to injury or death, a longer sentence could be given.
Unsafe Gun Storage May Be How 3-Year-Old Were Able To Shoot Themselves
The event that led to the injury of the 3-year-old after they were able to shoot themselves is most likely from incorrect firearm storage. There are laws in place in Michigan that should prevent this from happening.
The Michigan firearm storage law states that guns are kept unloaded and locked with a locking device. Or, if it is reasonably known that a minor is likely to be present on the premises, stored in a locked box or container. These measures are in place to protect people from deadly weapons.
However, if these instructions have not been followed, the owner of the gun will be held responsible. The fact that the 3-year-old was able to get their hands on the gun and shoot it shows improper storage. It also shows a lack of responsibility for weapons around children. There should be no situation in which a child is able to get their hands on a loaded gun.
The situation surrounding the child and the gun are still being investigated. The owner of the firearm is complying with police investigations.
