6-year old Texas boy gets loaded gun and shoots himself

A 6-year old boy was visiting the home of a relative in Amarillo, Texas, when he found a loaded, unlocked gun that had been hidden and shot himself in the stomach.  The boy was in critical condition, but now is stable, and luckily will live.

From an article:

As of right now, his condition is stable. The homeowner told police the gun had been hidden. And family members who were present say they did not see the shooting take place. 

Mark Carty lives in the same block where this incident happened. He says, "I'm a bit surprised we don't normally have anything unusual happen in this neighborhood. It's normally quiet. Parents seem to watch their children pretty closely in the neighborhood. We see them out in the yards and riding their bicycles." 

Police say incidents like this occur every two to three years in Amarillo, and sometimes are fatal. Corporal Jerry Neufeld says, "This is a chance for the public to take this as a lesson learned. And think okay, 'Where are my firearms in the house? How are they secured? Do I have gun locks on them? Do I have them in a safe? Are they loaded?' 

Things like that. Things that they need to look at. And even a weapon not being loaded isn't always a guarantee that a child can't slide a magazine." 

Officers say the homeowner could face a possible charge of Making a Firearm Accessible to a Child. They'll present the case to the Randall County District Attorney in about two weeks.

Always ASK about guns where you children visit.

Every gun in the home of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.