11 year old protects herself with a shotgun.
 

"The suspect eventually opened the bathroom door and closet where the child was hiding with the weapon. The girl aimed the shotgun at the suspect, whom then fled from the home."

"The suspect?s vehicle was located around 30 minutes later in Imlay City by local police, with assistance from the Almont Police Department, Michigan State Police and Lapeer County Sheriff?s deputies.

Two occupants in the vehicle ? a 53-year-old Detroit man and 31-year-old Detroit woman ? were taken into custody without any resistance and remain at the Lapeer County Jail pending formal charges."

11-year-old uses shotgun to scare off suspect during home invasion | 800 Whistleblower



As a pro-gun person, I firmly believe in being a "responsible gun owner." Because of this, I'm torn when I see these kind of stories. On one hand, I'm happy the girl was able to defend herself. On the other, I'm wondering why an 11 year old had access to a shotgun in the first place.

This is why the "gun debate" will go on forever. There are pros and cons to BOTH sides. :2 cents:

WOW that is one lucky family she wasn't killed or kidnapped. I agree with your statement AAron lol tough one.

TOM

Where I live most 11 year old boys know how to use a shotgun since there are tons of hunters here...girls not so much.

Most of the people I know have guns, and they all have kids.

Maybe it had a trigger lock on it, who knows. But I agree completely.

When I was a 11 years old, my younger brother and I had complete access to all of the firearms in the house. We were fully trained in their use, and shot on a regular basis. We hunted deer, pheasant, and shot trap. We also learned how to skin a deer in a our back yard tied up to a tree. All of the firearms were located in a wooden gun cabinet in the living room in plain sight of the front windows.

We did lots of stupid things when we were kids, but we never even considered touching the shotguns and rifles. That was something we did "with dad" (who was really my step father).

Setting aside the fact that us kids had full access to them, it blows my mind that anyone could have stolen them at any time. We never locked the doors back then, and they were less than teen feet from our front door. The shot guns were all from Europe and hand carved were worth a lot of money....

It's a vastly different time.

I dont see anything wrong here.

That little girl deserves a medal.

She just has to watch out for bad 11 year old girls with guns now

no doubt, it's never been a black and white issue, although a lot of people seem to think it is.

Did she even know if the gun was loaded or how to pump/cock it? What if the intruder has a gun and shoots her first?

"What if" she didn't have the shotgun at all?

Nice sig.

Then he can't say he shot her in self defense.

I'm not convinced that debates have two sides but am very glad that all the Tyrannosaurs are extinct!

:food-smil10

Global warming killed the dinosaurs! But the dinosaurs contributed to fossil fuels that contributed to global warming that killed the dinosaurs.

I believe that if he did have a gun, he would not be able to claim self defence anyways. I believe that most States enforce that. There are other states that would back the homeowner shooting you regardless of whether or not you have a weapon, I believe it's called "Castle Doctorine" Im no lawyer though, so I could be wrong.

:)

But, she pointed a shotgun at him. I usually don't pick a side in debates. I just make up stupid shit instead.

I think its the intent, just like if you shoot someone during a robbery, it's automatically considered first degree murder, since you intended to commit the robbery and are then responsible for anything that happens following that act. So in the case of the 11 year old, self defence becomes a moot point for the criminal.

I can't even make up an argument when you're 100% correct.

I got my first gun at 6....a shotgun. I was very well trained in how to treat and clean and use a weapon by the time I was 11 I had access to my guns anytime I wanted or needed them and would have done the same thing. Part of responsible gun ownership and responsible parenting is teaching your kids proper gun safety and when its OK to pull the trigger, then making sure the kid acts in a responsible manner.....but then i wasnt on ritalin or any other psychotropic drug and I spent most of my days doing what they call being free range these days

That could've gone both ways... So glad the girl was able to defend herself.
Me personally as the mother of a 9 year old, I wouldn't leave a gun within his reach for now. But once he is older, definitely yes. My kid is very responsible for his age, so I expect him to grow up to be a very mature teenager.

:2 cents:

I have no issue with children being taught to shoot. My issue is with an unsecured firearm. You could have the best kid in the world but when he/she needs a bathroom break and their visiting friend finds the gun....Who's to say that kid has had the same kind of firearms instruction? Not to mention that an unsecured gun is far easier to steal if somebody breaks into your home.

Part of being a "responsible gun owner" is teaching your kids AND locking up your guns. :2 cents:

Would she had been able to pull the trigger if she had to?

Luckily, the home invaders ran ...

Assuming she had working fingers....Yes.

Nice!!!!!!!!!!!

Exactly. Our limited info implies they were there to steal not kidnap or rape. Maybe the same result just by being there. Or she might have dialed 911. Or?

Nope better to get all misty eyed over the use of the gun.

nancy lanza thought her child was safe with guns. oops. :Oh crap

i wonder how many times a child saves their lives as compared to the innocents shot to death by children of careless parents. seems the stories of accidental deaths from children outnumber stories like these (in the media anyway)

im glad the girl wasnt hurt. if she didnt know how to pump it, at least she was able to scare the intruders away. nice bluffing tho.

Exactly.

I wonder the same. We all know the media is going to show the bad stories over the good though. :disgust

yep. as the media provides news in a partisan prism, its not possible to follow the news & get a feel for this. mostly when accidents happen with kids & guns I chalk it up to karma. especially in that dumbass case where a 9 year old girl was brought to a gun range in AZ to shoot an uzi, & the kickback killed her instructor.

if i were king, i would ban guns for men & require women to carry them. That would be an interesting world. :)

Same reason she has access to her parent's car keys, knives, lighters, chainsaws, rat poison, etc. Her parent's have brought her up with an understanding of how things work, what responsibility is, how to respect dangerous "tools" around the house.

Good parenting, good kid, good outcome to a situation she was forced into.


.