Washington has recently experienced a rash of shootings by child. On February 22, an 8 year old girl was critically injured when a gun in a classmate's backpack accidentally discharged. On March 12, the 7 year old daughter of a Marysville police officer died after a sibling shot her with a gun found in their parents' car. On March 14, a 3 year old boy died after he shot himself in the head at a Tacoma gas station.
In late January 2012, my 15 year old daughter, Kate, was involved in the first of this series of shootings by child. Kate and her 15 year old boyfriend were visiting a 14 year old boy whose parents were not at home. The kids were in the 14 year old's bedroom when he pulled out a gun from under his mattress. Moments later, the gun accidentally discharged. A bullet shattered the 14 year old's jaw, hit the upper bunk bed and disappeared into the ceiling.
Kate and her boyfriend did not desert their wounded pal. They telephoned 911 and the victim's mother. They stayed with the victim until the police and an ambulance arrived.
On March 15, 2012, we received a letter from the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney, Juvenile Felony Division. Charges have been filed against the 14 year old. He is being charged with reckless endangerment and unlawful possession of a firearm in the second d. We feel that the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney filed charges against Kate's friend in response to the other shootings by child.
Charges can be filed against Kate's friend because he is over 12. I am opposed to filing charges against him, especially felonies. I feel that a 14 year old is still a child. Teenagers don't make the best choices because their brains aren't fully developed. The incident was an accident -- the boy did not intentionally try to hurt himself or anyone else. He fractured his jaw, and his face will be scarred for life. He was hospitalized for almost a week and missed six weeks of school because of his injury. I'm also aware that some of his peers are teasing him about being stupid. I feel that this poor boy has suffered enough.
Kate does not know how or where her friend got the gun. It may have belonged to his parents. If it belonged to his parents, I feel that it was their responsibility to protect their son and others by keeping their guns locked up in a cabinet. Kate says that his parents did have a gun cabinet, but they didn't keep all of their guns in it. She saw the police confiscate the guns that were not locked up. Rather than blaming a 14 year old boy, the judge should punish his parents.
The Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney indicated that we could write a victim impact statement. Neither Kate nor her boyfriend was injured in the accident. They were merely witnesses. I'm very grateful that her 14 year old friend survived and that no one else was hurt or killed. This was a traumatic event for all of the kids involved. I plan to write a letter to the judge on the 14 year old's behalf, requesting that the victim be sent to counseling.
Kate's older sister has suggested that all the kids involved take a course in gun safety. She feels this will help them make wise decisions about weapons in the future. I would like to suggest this to the judge too.
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