Local news reports
Clay County authorities say a 56-year-old man is charged with endangering a child after his grandsons got hold of his shotgun last night and one of them was fatally shot. Danny Bowman is charged with abandoning or endangering a child resulting in death. According to an arrest affidavit, Bowman left his nine-year-old and 13-year-old grandsons in the care of his disabled wife while he went to go get beer. The affidavit states Bowman leaves his loaded 12-gauge shotgun in the house unsecured at all times. While he was gone, the 13-year-old says the boys took the gun outside and he tried to hand it off to the nine-year-old but the gun fell. The affidavit says when the 13-year-old tried to pick it up, a round fired, hitting the nine-year-old in the face and killing him.
He was a lawful gun owner doing what many lawful gun owners do, drinking beer and leaving a loaded shotgun accessible to kids at all times.
We've all heard the excuses, "there's nothing more useless than an unloaded gun." And what harm can a few brewskies do?
What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.
