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?
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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
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Comments 90
This poor kid is going to grow up feeling like this was his fault and it totally wasn't :(
Guns are not toys. if a 3 y/o is allowed to play with pop guns, nerf guns, squirt guns, or whatever the gun toy is... how is that same 3 y/o to know not to shoot a real gun when he finds it. children can't always tell the difference between play and reality, as a parent it is our job to help nurture their imagination and play time while also being aware that their reality space needs to be safe also.
i don't believe these parents are to be blamed for this tradgedy. it is a horrific end to this father's life. he may have thought this gun in the house was safe and did what he thought was right to protect his kids. but the baby still found it and probably thought he was just playing.
i pray for this family to find peace during this tradgedy. I hope each member of this family is able to get superior therapy. and that this little boy continues therapy thru his growing up years.
We have two "Gun rules" in our house that have been in place sine my youngest could walk. Be it nerf guns, water guns, whatever. Rule #1) We NEVER shoot someone who doesn't have a gun and 2) We NEVER shoot someone in the face. If either of those rules get broken, the guns get taken away for the rest of the day. A sharp end to a fun game. My son has it down pat, now that he's 6. But at three? I can't really remember. I know he KNEW the rules, but I'm positive he forgot/made mistakes from time to time.
I'm SHOCKED that this LOADED weapon was where a 3 year old could get to. Even if he had to climb- which if you have boys, you know you can't hide ANYTHING out of REACH. That's just a challenge, which WILL be accepted!!!- but loaded? Oh man..I just can't figure out why they would leave it laying around loaded.