After 2-year-old girl shoots self, man becomes first person charged under Michigan's gun storage law

MicroWave@lemmy.world to News@lemmy.world – 659 points – After 2-year-old girl shoots self, man becomes first person charged under Michigan's gun storage law
apnews.com

A Michigan man whose 2-year-old daughter shot herself in the head with his revolver last week pleaded not guilty after becoming the first person charged under the state’s new law requiring safe storage of guns.

Michael Tolbert, 44, of Flint, was arraigned Monday on nine felony charges including single counts of first-degree child abuse and violation of Michigan’s gun storage law, said John Potbury, Genesee County’s deputy chief assistant prosecuting attorney.

Tolbert’s daughter remained hospitalized Wednesday in critical condition from the Feb. 14 shooting, Potbury said. The youngster shot herself the day after Michigan’s new safe storage gun law took effect.

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I do not understand how a parent can be so irresponsible as to leave a gun easily accessible in a house with children. Kids are really really resourceful. Its bit like keeping a hyper intelligent racoon inside with a drive to kill itself through curiosity. Guy definitely deserves charges

Because a gun lock is liberal and gay and if you use one you basically are announcing to the world you just bought Beyoncé tickets.

Man how fucked is this timeline that I had to scratch my head a bit over whether this was a sincere response or a caricature of a particular US demographic?

I wrote the goddamn thing and even then I was like holy shit that almost comes off sincere

The sad thing is, in this timeline it isn't out of place among the whackadoo things they've said.

The hillbillies think Taylor Swift is part of a conspiracy to prevent electing their chosen dictator of all things. That's where they are now. It isn't like what you wrote is too far ahead on the road of crazy; more like it's barely visible on the rearview.

A few weeks ago, a stud football player was being called gay by Conservatives because he had the audacity to date a woman over the age of 30.

This is where we are as society. It's fascinating.

That at least I think came astroturfed from the billionaire think tanks who've been throwing anything they can at the wall to try to discredit Swift, who's dangerous because she encourages voting. They know there's nothing to really attack her on (except on stuff like using a jet too much and having expensive tickets, but those things can't be criticized from the right), so they're just barfing out anything they can.

"You wouldn't wear a condom on your man weapon would ya? Why would you safely secure your firearm? Murica! Fuck yeah!" - probably some dumbass

Know when you see a conservative meme and think, "Fuck they're dumb. Nobody talks or thinks that way."

That's you. Right now.

Know when you see an ate-the-onion meme and think, "Fuck they're dumb. Nobody would fall for that."

That's you. Right now.

It doesn't take much to understand it. He's from Flint. If you know the area, there's a lot of reciprocal violence. He has previous offenses. It's hard to get out. He probably knows plenty of people who've had loaded guns around their kids and nothing ever happened.

Yes, he deserves the charges, but like, this isn't some gentrified place. As a society, we really aren't helping folks in depressed urban areas to get better lives either.

I do not understand how a parent can be so irresponsible as to keep a weapon designed only to maim or kill in their house with their children.

The farther you get from America, the more woefully absurd it sounds. But, right in the middle of America, it's a very different place.

And at this point in time, gun fetishism has gone meta-static and is afflicting many different states.

And it's not the possession of guns alone: I've seen the exposé where Switzerland's gun culture is compared, and questions are asked about how they can have one gun per adult and still suffer an almost non-existent rate of accidents and murders. A lot of it resembles the 1950s where kids would be part of a school .22 target rifle team, store their guns and ammo on the premises and still no one got hurt.

I really think it's the worship of guns, where Meal Team 6 tries to emulate cowboys of old, and fails on every level.

Honestly I just think it's irresponsible people. No proof but I have a hunch that Americans tend to be more laid-back with things like firearms than people in Switzerland might be. We used to be more careful but we got far too comfortable with them.

I'm American and I can confirm. All the people I know who are really into guns treat them like toys. They may spout off the "3 rules" but it pretty much stops there. The whole attitude they have is just gross to me and so different from how I was raised to treat firearms.

I mean you can make the same argument about items like a bow and arrow, crossbows, and swords. There are valid reasons to have weapons in the house however they should be locked up so that they aren't accessible normally.

What are valid reasons to keep something designed to maim and kill in your home?

Target practice. Inherited heirlooms. Defense while camping. People find them cool. People keep guns for the same reason people keep swords. I understand that it is a tool designed for killing but at the end of the day it is still a tool. Don't get me wrong I'm still all for gun control but I do understand why people would want to keep a gun in their home. You don't have to agree with it but you shouldn't punish people who responsibly own firearms.

That's the problem. I don't think it's possible to be responsible and own a firearm.

I wouldn't keep a tiger in my house. I don't care if dad bequeathed it to me, or I totally have a lock on the door, or it's ok, I've done a tiger training course. Why invite the risk? Because I really fucking like tigers? Fuck everyone else, I like tigers.

Okay that's interesting thought. See the difference in your example is that a tiger is a sentient being but you have no control over. If I got bequeathed a tiger I probably surrender that too. A gun is a tool which is easily contained. What's the difference between keeping a firearm and a sword or a bow and arrow when there are also tools initially designed to kill/maime?

The control in both these examples comes from the human. Who should be smart enough not to keep weapons or tigers in a house. That decision is available to everyone. Unless your intention is to maim or kill. Then it makes sense.

This is just flat out dumb, none of my firearms have ever been used for violence. They're in a safe, and not loaded, and all my ammo is in another part of the house. Just because you can't fathom how it's possible to be safe with something that's dangerous, doesn't mean they're automatically dangerous by themselves. Do you lock up your kitchen knives? Or make sure your matches are separate from the box they come in?

Why do you have firearms?

Whole bunch of reasons.

I own a farm for one, I hunt, I carry daily, it's a right that should be exercised, I shoot competitively because it's fun, I collect them as well, and I love mechanical things.

And way more of us on the left are armed than you think, and more of us daily are becoming armed. I personally have gotten 4 of my left leaning friends to become firearm owners.

Do you drive a car?

A car can be used to maim and kill. But its main use is transport. Try again.

So, no disinfectants (chemicals intended to kill, just really small things) either?

How about pets? A cat's teeth and claws were designed to kill, as are a dog's fangs ...err canines

Hunting, keeping destructive varmints off your property, self defense.

In the suburbs?

Not everyone lives in the suburbs buddy and some suburbs are less policed than others.

So where are the stories of gun related death

Do you mean geographically or are you asking for examples?

Either way it really has nothing to do with the question of why someone would keep a gun in their home. There are people in the suburbs who hunt and there are suburbs that you can't rely on police for protection. I grew up in one where home invasions and robberies were common.

I don't understand a parent that can plead not guilty after his daughter shoots herself with his gun. Like, whose fault is it, if not his? Just take responsibility for it.

I wouldn't focus on his plea. He's likely doing this on the advice of his lawyer to secure plea deal. Initial charges always very harsh and this is a pretty common tactic in American court. It's like companies who won't say "you're sorry" because it opens them up to liability.

First of all, I agree with you that guns should be locked up if there's going to be kids/morons around them. I want to add that there's also a responsibility if you have both guns and children in your house that you should be teaching the children not to touch them (this is probably a good idea even if you don't have guns and live in the USA). DO NOT TOUCH THE GUNS was drilled into me and my siblings for longer than I can remember. My grandfather kept a rack of long guns in the back bedroom of their house where we would sometimes play as kids and none of use ever even looked at them for more than a few seconds without somebody being like "don't touch those". I do consider that to be irresponsible as fuck but my point is education would certainly help prevent injuries if a kid did happen to get access to a gun.

I mean I completely agree with you and that is definitely a rule in my house however if a parent can't be bothered to lock up their gun I'm not entirely sure they're going to bother teaching their kid not to touch the gun.

Yeah, unfortunately the common trends with gun violence are morons, criminals, and crazy people. All of which are a much bigger problem to solve.

Because people who like guns are generally VERY stupid.

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