Father of boy who shot friend gets 3 yrs

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Father of boy who shot friend gets 3 yrs
186
Sun, 07-18-2004 - 1:21pm

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apus_story.asp?category=1110&slug=Child%20Shot%20Sentence


Saturday, July 17, 2004 · Last updated 8:28 p.m. PT


Father of boy who shot friend gets 3 years


THE ASSOCIATED PRESS


CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The father of a boy who shot and killed a playmate with a loaded gun he found stashed under a sofa was sentenced to nearly three years in prison, followed by probation during which he must speak monthly on gun safety.


Louis Mevec Sr. was sentenced Friday for felony culpable negligence in the 2003 death of Sean Caroline II. Mevec, who owned the .357-caliber Magnum used to kill the 12-year-old friend of his son Louis, was convicted last month.


During his father's trial, 14-year-old Louis testified that a small group of Largo Middle School students had skipped school and were playing video games at Mevec's apartment when he pointed the gun at Sean and shot him between the eyes.


"I blame you and only you for my son's death," Sean Caroline, Sean's father, told Louis Mevec Sr. in court Friday. "My wife and I are also serving a sentence ... but we got no trial. Ours is a life sentence."


Circuit Judge Brandt Downey sentenced Mevec, 53, to the maximum six-year prison term, but suspended more than half of it and replaced it with probation. His remaining sentence is 34 months, but with good behavior he could be released by late 2006.


The Caroline family had asked that Mevec be required to speak on gun safety after his release.


The younger Louis Mevec was sent to a juvenile facility and is now living in New York with his mother and younger brother.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Mon, 07-19-2004 - 7:38am

Another avoidable killing.


'Must have those guns for protection'.

cl-Libraone~

 


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Avatar for merlins_own
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-25-2003
Wed, 07-21-2004 - 7:46am
What a terrible and so unnecessary tragedy. We have guns for sport shooting (marksmanship) and, of course, home defense, but we got safety training and guns are under lock & key. Children are taught safety as well. There's no excuse for leaving loaded guns around. I just can't imagine what this idiot was thinking -- loaded and under the sofa?! Unbelievable.

Merlins_Own

AS ABOVE, SO BELOW!

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-18-2004
Wed, 07-21-2004 - 9:33am
'Must have those guns for protection'.

This is a tragedy no doubt and the guy deserves a longer prison sentance but it has nothing to do with protection.

This is sloppy ownership.

Guns dont kill people, people do.

I'm willing to bet this family has cleaners & chemicals within easy reach too.

I own handguns. They are secured. I sat my 5 year old down and showed it to him. I explained how dangerous is was and that he should NEVER touch this gun or anything that looks like it, and to call me if he sees one. I grew up with a police officer for a father and he would come in and drop the belt with gun on the floor. We never dreamed of touching it.

If you remove the hidden secretive factor of a gun, show the child and explain how dangerous they CAN be AND then lock them up they are as safe to own as a pair of scissors.

Let's not place the blame on the gun or gun owners, place it on this guy who deserves so much more punishment than 3 years.

By the way...to everyone...even if you don't own a gun but you have children, take them to someone who does and have the gun shown to them, teach them so they aren't curious. You can never depend on another person or parent to be safe. If your child knows the dangers a gun can present they'll be better protected.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Wed, 07-21-2004 - 10:45am

Actually, my reason for posting this had nothing to do with gun control issues.


iVillage Member
Registered: 05-18-2004
Wed, 07-21-2004 - 11:30am
"It had to do with finally having the 'adult' charged and serving time for such blatant stupidity in gun ownership. And yes, three years is NOT long enough but it is a start. "

I agree. The parents who lost their child have a lifetime sentance. There is just no accounting for idiots and their actions.

"Still, many people who would otherwise be quite responsible (i.e...'household cleaners', etc. ) seem to have no clue when it comes to gun safety."

I'm sure you're right, it is just unbelieveable to me that people can be so foolish.

"One of the reasons I'd LOVE to see gun safety classes be mandatory before anyone can purchase a gun. But that's another issue."

Here in Maryland it is nearly impossible to get a license to carry a firearm. Baltimore city and DC have some very restrictive ownership laws and yet they have the highest crime rates. Why they restrict law abiding citizens while the thugs carry guns is just mindnumbingly stupid. (but that is another issue)

They did pass a mandatory gun safetly class when you purchase a gun. Great idea I think. But boy was I disappointed. Now I have experience with guns and safety is paramount in my mind but when they passed the law I had to take the "course". No problem becaues it never hurts to be better educated. I purchased the .45 and while I was waiting for them to package the gun, they stuck in a 10 minute video and after viewing it they handed me my "certification". What a joke.

I'm all for real mandatory classes.

I'm all for right to carry laws.

I'm all for gun safety (but not mandatory gun locks (again another issue))

"She's also not allowed to stay overnight if there is a gun kept in that home..."

That is of course your perogative but it seems a bit too protective to me. If the gun owner is responsible your child is in no danger. For instance your child would be in no danger if she were to stay at my place. The key is to verify how responsible the parent is. If they are sloppy with gun ownership they are likely to be sloppy elsewhere with other safety issues.

"As for the statement...'Must have for protection'...many people have been convinced that they MUST have a gun for protection. That's WHY they buy the gun in the first place. "

I don't think this is accurate. Many people buy guns for protection but I dont' think they feel they must, as in it is their only option.


"They have no clue how to properly and safely store a gun...I doubt many even really know how to shoot their gun in the first place. They are much more likely to kill themselves or someone they know through their own stupidity."

This is very foolish gun owner. You need to be able to tear it apart, put it together, be prepared for jams, etc.

"That's why my SIL & her DH bought their guns...'for protection'..."

I've "heard" you talk about them before. If they are as goofy as you say they are then I think you are right to keep your kid from their responsibility. I mean if Disney never gave Goofy a gun.

:)

Guns are dangerous...just be safe and smart with them.

Jim





iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Wed, 07-21-2004 - 11:30am
Did you not notice my

 


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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-18-2004
Wed, 07-21-2004 - 11:32am
It looked like you were sarcastically "quoting" a gun owner's statement that guns are useful for protection, which they are.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Wed, 07-21-2004 - 11:37am
Right! That's the reason people give for buying them. Didn't protect that dead kid! Did it?
cl-Libraone~

 


Photobucket&nbs

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Wed, 07-21-2004 - 11:58am

"She's also not allowed to stay overnight if there is a gun kept in that home..."
That is of course your perogative but it seems a bit too protective to me. If the gun owner is responsible your child is in no danger. For instance your child would be in no danger if she were to stay at my place. The key is to verify how responsible the parent is. If they are sloppy with gun ownership they are likely to be sloppy elsewhere with other safety issues.

I don't care if the gun owner is responsible or not...accidents happen to even the most 'responsible' gun owners.


iVillage Member
Registered: 05-18-2004
Wed, 07-21-2004 - 12:14pm
"Right! That's the reason people give for buying them. Didn't protect that dead kid! Did it?"

Didn't cause it either. Guns are not the problem irresponsible owners are. This article wouldn't even have been posted if the kid and been over a friends house and drank some drano.

People think guns are dangerous simply because they are guns. This isn't true. Misuse and lack of training are the problems. But of course most gun crime is committed by criminals who can't legally own a gun to begin with, but no need to involve facts into the demonization of guns.


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