Monday, October 19, 2015

Father Arrested after 6 Year old Son Shoots his 3 Year Old Brother - Emily Rosuck - 4th

On Sunday, Michael Santiago, a father living in Chicago, was charged with child-endangerment after his 6 year old son shot his 3 year old son in the face during a game of "cops and robbers." Santiago is a recognized gang member and says he "bought the gun for protection." The child took the illegally bought gun from the top of the refrigerator and started firing.
This type of violence has become a weekly occurrence in Chicago, as this was one of three shootings this weekend. In 2013, 94 kids under the age of 17 were shot and killed unintentionally, usually by another child. These circumstances reflect very accurately how our country is not strict enough of gun regulations and qualifications and how dangerous, and even fatal, that can be. But it is not just gun laws, or lack thereof, that are so dangerous to children, it is also gang relation. Often times children with parents affiliated in a gang, often fathers, have guns and other weaponry in their homes, and face a daily risk of violence of some sort in their lives. Over the 4th of July weekend, 7-year-old Amari Brown was shot and killed in a gang shooting, she was one of three who were killed; though it was her first, a highly ranked gang member, who was the target. Kids who have parents that are involved in gang activity should be removed from their homes immediately. This type of behavior in the household can not only be physically damaging, but very psychologically damaging. A child raised in that environment is likely to perceive this type of behavior and activity as "normal" and is prone to the same future.  It is time for our country to crack down on gun laws and gang activity as it is a direct threat to our society now, and future generations.
The fact is simple: if the gun wasn't in the house, the child would be alive today.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/20/us/chicago-father-charged-after-boy-6-kills-brother-3.html?module=WatchingPortal&region=c-column-middle-span-region&pgType=Homepage&action=click&mediaId=thumb_square&state=standard&contentPlacement=1&version=internal&contentCollection=www.nytimes.com&contentId=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2015%2F10%2F20%2Fus%2Fchicago-father-charged-after-boy-6-kills-brother-3.html&eventName=Watching-article-click

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