Last week, Michael Payless, 33, sat watching television in his home with two of his children. Then, in a split second, he was dead from the bullet of a gun. Behind the trigger -- his 3-year-old son.
According to police, the boy found a loaded handgun lying nearby, and picked it up, and accidentally discharged it. His father was pronounced dead at the scene.
The story is so heartbreaking on so many levels. For the children who lost their father, and for their mother who lost her husband and will now be faced to raise her children alone. But mostly I ache for this 3-year-old boy. How do you live your life knowing that you shot your own father?
More from The Stir: Dad Arrested for Driving Drunk With 4 Kids Strapped to the Hood of His Car (VIDEO)
Sure, he'll be told it was an accident, that it wasn't his fault. But will he ever truly be able to accept that and move on? I hope so. I hope he -- and his entire family -- get the kind of support and counseling they need to deal with such a tragedy.
Perhaps most heartbreaking of all, however, is how easily all of this could have been avoided -- if only a loaded gun hadn't been lying around. There are few details, and it's not clear whose gun it was or why it was in the home, but I can't think of any explanation that would justify it.
Nothing can undo this tragedy now, but others can learn from it. I'm not someone who seeks to ban guns, but with the right to bear arms comes the incredible responsibility to treat them with the utmost care, and never ever put them anywhere a child could potentially get a hold of them. Ever.
Do you have guns in your home? What measures do you take to keep them from your children?
Image via Westside Shooter/Flickr
This Hot Dad Wants to Do Your Ironing
KStew Refuses to Shower
This Hot Dad Wants to Cook You Dinner
This Hot Dad Cooks AND Does the Dishes
Comments 90
My dad was a police officer and his firearm was always put on a shelf as soon as he walked in. We knew where it was but I was taught to respect it so much I feared it falling from the shelf. A female officer on his force had her child find her weapon and accidently killed a cousin. They were both toddlers. Also, my neighbors. The parents need to instill the information and the respect. This has NOTHING to do with gun laws and everything to do with parenting.
I just took an NRA pistol class a couple of weeks ago. One woman in the class said "how come you can't just put it in the top of a closet - that would keep it from the 2 year old" and I said..."have you met most 2 year olds?" I know mine could get to the closet if she wanted - I grew up with guns, but they were always in a safe. I had access (at age 10-12) to the rifle safe because I was on the team, but not the pistols - we were very particular. This is a sad case of negligence and underestimating the physical capabilities of a toddler.
I will never have a gun in my house.. if this was me I wouldnt be telling the children or family how he died.. I would simply say he died in an accident. I wouldnt tell anyone to protect that 3 yr old. not to mention if it were me I would ask his name not be put in the news. I agree with the parents who said this wasnt the childs fault but the parents.
if you are going to have a loaded gun in the home keep it under lock and key please! .. all too often does something like this happen
I have two kids 3 and 5, and our shot gun it put up out of their reach and the shells or kept in a different room then the gun. It is very sad that this happened.
I do not feel sorry for the father who was shot, or the wife who lost her husband. I'm just happy it wasn't one of the children who died, although they will have to live with the trauma of what they experienced forever. I don't have sympathy for negligent parents who leave loaded weapons lying around. Call me crazy.
I was raised with guns in our home, and my family also owns guns...the difference here is that while I was growing up the guns were never loaded, and they were locked in a safe so that we couldn't get to them. We were also taught gun safety at an early age. I'm so thankful that my father taught us about guns and kept them safely out of reach because now that I have children I've been able to pass the knowledge to them. Our guns are kept out of reach and unloaded!! My oldest knows that guns are not toys and are not to be touched!! What happened to this family was a horrible accident that could have been avoided!!! I know people have guns for all different reasons, but if you have them (kids or not) keep them unloaded!!