full story here

Elma, WA - Six year old Jacob L. Banks, Elma, died at about 8:44 PM last night at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle from a gunshot wound he sustained at his home on August 10.

Investigators say the boy was shot in the head by his eight year old brother. The boys had apparently gained access to a .45 caliber pistol kept in the house as the children’s mother slept on the living room couch with her year old toddler.

Deputies and Paramedics were called to the Star Lake residence at about 11:30 AM on August 10. Deputies were initially told by the eight year old brother that the victim had been playing with the weapon and had accidentally shot himself. After investigators analyzed forensic evidence at the scene and interviewed the eight year old brother, they were able to conclude the shot actually had been fired by the victim’s brother.



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Very sad, and hits home to me; my boys are 10 and 8.

Thank Baby Jesus for the Second Amendment.

This happens far too often. A simple trigger lock would have prevented this. A loaded gun is too tempting for 6 and 8 year old boys.

No handguns anywhere, ever, would also have prevented this.

But, thank Baby Jesus for the Second Amendment.

It's fascinating to learn something new every day.
I thought we thanked James Madison.

*yawn*

I happen to support the Second Amendment. I also support trigger locks. I also support being smart enough to not have a loaded gun in the house with 6 and 8 year olds. I also support storing your ammo somewhere seperate from the gun. I also support making sure my 8 year old doesn't know where the key is. While the bullet did indeed kill this kid, simple precautions would have prevented it. Not having a gun at all is another, but unnecessary option.

What a tragedy. I can't even imagine.

Reminds me of a family holiday many years ago when our daughter was small and one of the family had left a gun in the dresser upstairs. Naturally, the kids found it and I had a long talk with the person about knowing the difference between "rights" and "judgment" and that they need to start exercising more of the latter.

Sure, the kids shouldn't have been in there, and no, they shouldn't have gotten it out and played with it, but none of that crap matter when that trigger goes off. Guns, like kitchen knives, drain cleaner, electrical outlets, etc., require added precaution and responsibility.

What an awful thing for that family. My condolences.

I can't imagine a worse tragedy. I can't even imagine how a family can cope with something like this.

Mike, I would never taken my children to that particular home ever again. How could you trust them not to do it again?

Stash pretty well summed up all that precautions that should have been taken. Sad. So sad.

what bugs me is the mom was napping...wrong. epic fail.

I would hazard a guess that there is more than a loaded gun that could have caused trauma and injury to boys of this age...it goes with the territory, when you have young children it is your job to see them through their childhood safely and that means constant supervision.

I am sorry for their loss, our loss...who knows what this young boy could have grown to be and contribute....it's really tragic and was very preventable.