Teens and Firearms

[The Dark Dancer]

Today I heard from my Best friend that her boyfriend and my boyfriend's cousin were in an accident.


My boyfriend's cousin, Nathan (13), and my best friend's boyfriend Alex (13) were out Saturday night riding four-wheelers.

They got bored and Nathan suggested that it would be fun if they took a part off of their shells for their shot-guns and just shot the powder.

Alex was hesitant but, he agreed. Alex did his and turned the gun away from him and faced the other direction but, Nathan didn't and he held as if you were just going to shoot. The gun backfired.

The shell came through his eye-socket.

This next part is a bit gross but just highlight here to read >> Nathan fell to the ground and Alex rushed over to pick him up. When he did, the gel out of his eye came out and got all over Alex.


Alex (who is 4'12'' and weighs about 89 lbs.) picked Nathan up and drove to his house nearby. Alex's Mom told Nathan to open his eyes to see the damage. What they saw made Alex and his Dad get sick.

Nathan was rushed to the hospital and into surgery.


Okay, I just talked to my BF, Clay, and he said that his Mom called and the surgery was enough to save his eye, but he is blind in it. If the surgery had been unsuccessful, he would have had to get a porcelain one.


Right now, Nathan cannot do anything but lay on the couch. It hurts him to look around.


Clay sounded okay, but Alex is feeling majorly guilty.

All because he made a mistake, he'll have to pay for it with his eyesight. It's very unfair because he is nice and belongs to a nice family.

Please be careful around guns....The consequences are horrible.

 

[chell]

So sad to hear that. Thankful that the damage was not worse and that he is still alive. Poor little guy.

 

[The Dark Dancer]

So sad to hear that. Thankful that the damage was not worse and that he is still alive. Poor little guy.

Thank you! I agree, I'm so glad that he was not hurt anymore than that, even though that's still horrible.
Thanks again.

 

[aprilgail2]

I am just not getting why a 13 year old would ev en have access to a shot gun or shells never mind having their own?? I don't even let my daughter play at anyones house that owns a gun even if its locked up!

 

[mudnuri]

I am just not getting why a 13 year old would ev en have access to a shot gun or shells never mind having their own?? I don't even let my daughter play at anyones house that owns a gun even if its locked up!

I'm going to guess, that these boys were hunters. Which is why its a shotgun. I'm not saying it was right, but I dont think these boys broke into their dads gun cabinet and stole a gun....I believe they probably have always been responsible so the parents didnt think twice of it when the boys went out that day. Probably went out to shoot targets etc.

Dunno wasnt there, but thats what i'm thinking

Brandy

 

[Disney_1derland]

That sounds just awful and my thoughts are with all of you. I too have personal experience with how awful guns can be in the hands of teens. It devastated my life for many years. Thank goodness he is still here and will recover, the alternative is too awful to imagine.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I am glad that he is still alive. So sorry he lost the sight in one eye. Why did they have guns in the first place?

 

[ladycollector]

I am just not getting why a 13 year old would ev en have access to a shot gun or shells never mind having their own?? I don't even let my daughter play at anyones house that owns a gun even if its locked up!

Some kids, in the south are hunters and have grown up around it their whole lives.

That's terrible about his eye, but at least it wasn't his heart. I bet he'll never do anything questionable with a gun again.

 

[lucyanna girl]

Hi, Dark Dancer (the OP) is my daughter. She is at school this morning.
Yes, the boys in her post are hunters. Here, in Louisiana and much of the rural south our sons and our daughters are often taught about firearms from an early age. I don't know the parents of the boy who was injured but I do know the other boys' parents and they are very involved with their children. I have no doubt that Alex was taught the correct way to handle a gun. Unfortunately, young people do not always do what they are taught is right and in this case an awfully high price is being paid by both young men and their families, One has lost the sight in one eye and the other feels guilt that he did not do something to avoid this accident. Please say a prayer for both boys and their families. Whether or not we agree with the decisions their parents made about allowing them to have a gun they are still suffering and need support.

 

[Disney_1derland]

Hi, Dark Dancer (the OP) is my daughter. She is at school this morning.
Yes, the boys in her post are hunters. Here, in Louisiana and much of the rural south our sons and our daughters are often taught about firearms from an early age. I don't know the parents of the boy who was injured but I do know the other boys' parents and they are very involved with their children. I have no doubt that Alex was taught the correct way to handle a gun. Unfortunately, young people do not always do what they are taught is right and in this case an awfully high price is being paid by both young men and their families, One has lost the sight in one eye and the other feels guilt that he did not do something to avoid this accident. Please say a prayer for both boys and their families. Whether or not we agree with the decisions their parents made about allowing them to have a gun they are still suffering and need support.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Tragedies like this affect you as a teenager in a way no adult can even begin to understand, I guess unless they themselves were subjected to it as a teen. I hope that all involved will get some counseling to deal with their grief and guilt, things like this can really sidetrack your life if nobody reaches out to help you.

 

[The Dark Dancer]

I'm going to guess, that these boys were hunters. Which is why its a shotgun. I'm not saying it was right, but I dont think these boys broke into their dads gun cabinet and stole a gun....I believe they probably have always been responsible so the parents didnt think twice of it when the boys went out that day. Probably went out to shoot targets etc.

Dunno wasnt there, but thats what i'm thinking

Brandy

That's right. All the boys around here have guns...They love to hunt and they are are really responsible. I remember going hunting when I was like, 10 and (with the help of my Dad) I was able to use his gun a bit. The boys have grown up with hunting all their lives and it's just like, well, I'm an artist and I love to draw, they are hunters and they love to hunt...Basically having a pencil to draw for to me is as important to them as having a gun. Guys down here are just like that. All of the guy's parents (that I know) are really involved, dedicated, and protective of their boys. This was just a terrible mistake.


Thank you and Thanks to all who have replied. It means alot to know that prayers are being sent their way.

 

[chell]

How is he doing now? Better I hope. Hope he is dealing with things well and not being too hard on himself.

Where I grew up it was also very common for boys (and lots of girls too) to have guns. It isn't like they go running around playing with them all the time or anything though.

 

[Mickey Mouse Kid]

That's so sad. I hope he recovers from it very quickly.

Some kids in fifth grade that my little brother and cousin knew from school were playing at a friends house (about a week before christmas). They ended up playing with a gun and a girl got shot and killed. Surprisingly the boy who accedintally shot the girl was at school right after christmas break (they had counselers at the school) and I saw the older sister of the girl who got shot at school also (she is in my grade).