Boy, 8, Kills Gran After Playing GTA IV

[[SE]Dr_Pepper27]

Everywhere in America can potentially be a bad place. Most likely am I going to be a victim in a smaller town, probably not but you never know.

I do own guns, as do many people I know and I would never shoot another person(unless my life or someone else's depended on it.) My guns are locked up of course, because I, like most gun owners, are very responsible. Teaching proper firearm safety is key in gun ownership. Stories like these are very sad, but rare amongst the gun culture. Whether you want to believe it or not, most gun owners are VERY responsible with guns. You only hear news stories about the very few bad gun owners, and that makes us all look bad.

[Squeak]

Pakinamacindabacofdaac

this kid can join Araatus

[Nathan]

Sheltered kids + idiotic parents = this situation.

[Dillon]

I believe his Grandma had the gun but his parents did not. What this caused is the kid never actually learned the downside to guns so when he first seen it because of possibly GTA IV he seen they were cool and picked it up and tried to play with it and he says it accidentally went off which could be debatable. But odds are if his parents had a gun he would have already been taught about the importance of being safe with a gun.

[momo23232323]

Next if you read the report carefully there is no mention of the boy playing GTA IV by the sherrif. The report mentions 'playing a violent computer game that was M rated'.  The writer of the article is the one who puts forward the name of GTA IV.
With GTA:V on the verge of being released, it is clear the writer wants to start either an awareness or banning campaign. This leaves very large question marks on the validity of the article.

I agree, Stories like this could be used to Ruin the reputation of GTA V by the Mass media and can prove to be very damaging as most people believe what mass media tells them through Opinion Leaders.

[Bundy]

@Pepper

You can't protect yourself from a gun with a gun. If he pulls the trigger, you're too late already. (Unless you're Lucky Luke)

[momo23232323]

@Pepper

You can't protect yourself from a gun with a gun. If he pulls the trigger, you're too late already. (Unless you're Lucky Luke)

And that brings us to the issue of: Should guns be banned?

[Dillon]

This entire thing could have been prevented with a trigger lock or a gun safe so no I don't think guns should be banned. The ironic reality is if the kids parents had guns he would have understood how dangerous they were he probably would have never picked the gun up.

[[WS]Jacob]

This entire thing could have been prevented with a trigger lock or a gun safe so no I don't think guns should be banned.

Should you even give an 8 year a gun with a trigger lock on it anyway, no. This is Australia only 5.7% of the adult population own and use firearms.

[momo23232323]

This entire thing could have been prevented with a trigger lock or a gun safe so no I don't think guns should be banned. The ironic reality is if the kids parents had guns he would have understood how dangerous they were he probably would have never picked the gun up.

Firstly, if guns were banned, none of this would have happened. Secondly, Why would you teach a kid about guns?

[Dillon]

Jacob what are you on about Australia for this was US! And momo you can not ban guns in the US it would be what causes a civil war in itself you wont see it happening. The kid had a perception that guns were cool and fun apparently. If he actually knew about guns do you really think he would have done this?

[[SE]Dr_Pepper27]

@Pepper

You can't protect yourself from a gun with a gun. If he pulls the trigger, you're too late already. (Unless you're Lucky Luke)

But the thing is, 99% of criminals are incredibly shitty shots, most don't even know how to use a firearm. Where as, I've practiced with guns for years. I would still have a significantly better chance then someone who didn't have a firearm.

[[WS]Jacob]

I don't know what I was on about, seems the poster changed the article to a more "trusted" source, it's Sky News. Even still my point stands that your child shouldn't have access to weapons no matter what age. This is another case of bad parenting gone extremely bad and in a way it was the grandmothers fault for letting an 8 year old play a PEGI 18 game. You've got to have some responsibility for a child.

[momo23232323]

Jacob what are you on about Australia for this was US! And momo you can not ban guns in the US it would be what causes a civil war in itself you wont see it happening. The kid had a perception that guns were cool and fun apparently. If he actually knew about guns do you really think he would have done this?

If the kid knew about guns, His age would firstly mean that he is not allowed to use it. But the Curiosity of trying a gun will get to him like 16 year old kids for example in the UK who want to try alcohol but cannot buy it. The curiosity and the will to act like an adult will make them try it. Not sure if this is a clear example

[Dillon]

If the kid knew about guns, His age would firstly mean that he is not allowed to use it. But the Curiosity of trying a gun will get to him like 16 year old kids for example in the UK who want to try alcohol but cannot buy it. The curiosity and the will to act like an adult will make them try it. Not sure if this is a clear example

The gun should have been kept in a safer place obviously. The thing is if the kid understood the gun could kill he sure as hell wouldn't have aimed it at the back of his grandmas head, maybe he would have picked it up and shot a wall or something, but not what he had done.