Nobody’s perfect. A lot of us make some pretty poor choices in our lives and we either overcome the results and move on, or we deal with them the best we can.

I feel when it comes to firearms, (and most personal injury cases) personal responsibility is understated. There is no such thing as a tragic firearm accident. They are caused by lack of training and/or the lack of respect for what the weapon can do.

Another factor comes into play. Judgment.

It is poor judgment to leave a loaded firearm in your house. It is poor judgment not to keep firearms and ammunition under lock and key. It is poor judgment IMO to teach a small child how to fire your weapon (had to convince a friend of mine that his seven year old son, (my godson) should not be taught to fire my friends’ 9mm Glock). Children should be aware of your guns but they should also know that they are off limits.

And it may have been poor judgment that contributed to your cousin’s death. She was told by her brothers to get rid of the gun. They obviously sensed the danger of the situation and tried to convey it to her.

I hope that doesn’t make me sound like a cold-hearted bastard. I am truly sorry for your loss. I’m not blaming your cousin for her own death but choices she made contributed to it.

I don’t feel that events like these warrant more outcries against gun ownership.