It's every parent's worst nightmare.
Every gun owner's, too.
A small child finds a gun and accidentally shoots himself. It's hard to imagine anything more devastating.
That's just what happened more than a week ago here in Texarkana. Jett Osburn of New Boston, Texas, was with his mother visiting a friend in Texarkana, Ark.
Jett, just 2 years old, found a .22 handgun at the friend's house. Somehow the gun went off and the toddler was shot in the head.
He was airlifted to Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock, where he remains in intensive care. His condition is critical and he is in a medically induced coma.
He has a tough road ahead. We wish nothing but the best for Jett and his family.
We aren't here to cast blame. We've seen enough of that on social media where some folks are ready to throw the book at everyone involved. We understand you can't watch your child 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We understand that some people keep firearms for protection and they never think about a child running across their gun.
No, we are sure the mother and gun owner have already been through so much pain, wondering why this happened, what they could have done to prevent it. They don't need us-or anyone else-second guessing the situation.
Instead, we hope this tragedy proves to be a valuable lesson for others who own guns. Especially if there is any chance a child will be in the house.
If you have kids, keep the guns locked up. Always. If a child is visiting, think ahead and take time to lock up your guns. Maybe you see that as inconvenient. Maybe you think you're kids know better. Maybe whatever.
Better to be inconvenienced, better to be certain. Much better than having to live with a tragedy that you could have prevented.
Gun rights carry responsibilities. Keeping children safe from your firearms is one of the most important.