Modesto 14-year-old airlifted after reportedly accidental self-inflicted gunshot
A 14-year-old boy was airlifted to a local hospital after accidentally shooting himself in a south Modesto home Tuesday morning, police report.
Another person in the Danube Court home reported the shooting, which occurred about 10:30 a.m., Police Department spokeswoman Sharon Bear said.
The boy was conscious and alert, and his wound is not considered life-threatening, Bear said. Transporting him by helicopter likely was a precaution taken because of his age.
Information on the circumstances of the shooting and the type of firearm involved was not immediately available.
According to Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit group that advocates for gun control, there have been at least 140 unintentional shootings by children in 2020, resulting in 50 deaths and 95 injuries.
Across all age groups, unintentional shootings account for 1.3% of gun deaths and 18% of gun injuries in the U.S., according to the website of the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. It cited calculations made from 2013-17 data.
Citing a separate report, the Giffords site says the majority of unintentional shooting deaths involve people under 24, who are most often shot by someone else, usually someone their own age.
An article last July from Harvard Health Publishing says one in three U.S. homes with children has a gun, and children as young as 3 years old may be strong enough to pull the trigger on a handgun.
The article says three out of four children (including children less than 10 years old) living in a house with a gun know where the gun is, even when their parents think they don’t.
According to the California Department of Justice, there are six basic gun safety rules for gun owners to understand and practice at all times:
- Treat all guns as if they are loaded.
- Always be aware of where a gun is pointing.
- Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
- Always keep your finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot.
- Know your target, its surroundings and beyond.
- Know how to properly operate your gun.
- Store your gun safely and securely to prevent unauthorized use.
This story was originally published July 8, 2020 at 8:57 AM.
