absolutely terrible, but it appears they are a bit old these days in the USA
“An inquisitive 2-year-old boy reached into the purse, unzipped the compartment, found the gun and shot his mother in the head,” Rutledge said.
(if you are a fan of the Simpsons like me, you were probably shocked and thinking of a few episodes)
This is the biggest shocker Ive seen
Washington Post
By By Terrence Terrence McCoy McCoy
December 31, 2014 December 31, 2014
Veronica Rutledge and her husband loved everything about guns. They practiced at shooting ranges. Veronica Rutledge and her husband loved everything about guns. They practiced at shooting ranges. They hunted. And both of them, relatives and friends say, had permits to carry concealed They hunted. And both of them, relatives and friends say, had permits to carry concealed firearms. Veronica typically left her Blackfoot, Idaho, home with her gun nestled at her side. So on firearms. Veronica typically left her Blackfoot, Idaho, home with her gun nestled at her side. So on Christmas morning last week, her husband gave her a present he hoped would make her life more Christmas morning last week, her husband gave her a present he hoped would make her life more comfortable: a purse with a special pocket for a concealed weapon. comfortable: a purse with a special pocket for a concealed weapon.
The day after Christmas, she took her new gift with her on a trip with her husband and her 2-year-old The day after Christmas, she took her new gift with her on a trip with her husband and her 2-year-old son. They headed hundreds of miles north to the end of a country road where Terry Rutledge, her son. They headed hundreds of miles north to the end of a country road where Terry Rutledge, her husband’s father, lived. The father-in-law learned of the new purse. husband’s father, lived. The father-in-law learned of the new purse.
“It was designed for that purpose — to carry a concealed firearm,” Rutledge told The Washington Post “It was designed for that purpose — to carry a concealed firearm,” Rutledge told The Washington Post late Tuesday night. “And you had to unzip a compartment to find the handgun. late Tuesday night. “And you had to unzip a compartment to find the handgun.
On Tuesday morning, that was exactly what Veronica Rutledge’s son did — with the On Tuesday morning, that was exactly what Veronica Rutledge’s son did — with the most most tragic of tragic of outcomes. outcomes. Veronica, 29, arrived at a nearby Wal Veronica, 29, arrived at a nearby Wal--Mart in Hayden Mart in Hayden with her three nieces and son, her with her three nieces and son, her gun “zippered closed” inside her new purse, her father-in-law said. Then, in the back of the store, near gun “zippered closed” inside her new purse, her father-in-law said. Then, in the back of the store, near the electronics section, the purse was left unattended for a moment. the electronics section, the purse was left unattended for a moment.
“An inquisitive 2-year-old boy reached into the purse, unzipped the compartment, found the gun and “An inquisitive 2-year-old boy reached into the purse, unzipped the compartment, found the gun and shot his mother in the head,” Rutledge said. “It’s a terrible, terrible incident.” shot his mother in the head,” Rutledge said. “It’s a terrible, terrible incident.”
The aftermath has been crushing, he said. His son went to the Wal-Mart to collect his nieces and son, The aftermath has been crushing, he said. His son went to the Wal-Mart to collect his nieces and son, and no one now is sure what to say to the boy, who is not doing well. and no one now is sure what to say to the boy, who is not doing well.
“My son is terrible,” Rutledge said. “He has a 2-year-old boy right now who doesn’t know where his “My son is terrible,” Rutledge said. “He has a 2-year-old boy right now who doesn’t know where his mom is and he’ll have to explain why his mom isn’t coming home. And then, later on his life, as he mom is and he’ll have to explain why his mom isn’t coming home. And then, later on his life, as he questions it more, he’ll again have to explain what happened, so we’ll have to relive this several times questions it more, he’ll again have to explain what happened, so we’ll have to relive this several times over.” over.”
6/10/2015
The inside story of how an Idaho toddler shot his mom at Wal-Mart -The Washington Post
Rutledge isn’t just sad — he’s angry. Not at his grandson. Nor at his dead daughter-in-law, “who Rutledge isn’t just sad — he’s angry. Not at his grandson. Nor at his dead daughter-in-law, “who didn’t have a malicious fiber in her body,” he said. He’s angry at the observers already using the didn’t have a malicious fiber in her body,” he said. He’s angry at the observers already using the accident as an excuse to accident as an excuse to grandstand grandstand on on gun rights. gun rights.
“They carried one every day of their lives, and they shot extensively,” Rutledge said. “They loved it. “They carried one every day of their lives, and they shot extensively,” Rutledge said. “They loved it. Odd as it may sound, we are gun people.” Odd as it may sound, we are gun people.”
A lot of people in Idaho are. Earlier this year, the state legislature A lot of people in Idaho are. Earlier this year, the state legislature passed passed a bill that allows people to a bill that allows people to carry concealed guns onto state university campuses. And more than 85,000 people — 7 percent of carry concealed guns onto state university campuses. And more than 85,000 people — 7 percent of the population — are licensed to carry concealed weapons, the population — are licensed to carry concealed weapons, according according to the Crime Prevention to the Crime Prevention Research Center. Research Center.
“They are painting Veronica as irresponsible, and that is not the case,” he said. “… I brought my son “They are painting Veronica as irresponsible, and that is not the case,” he said. “… I brought my son up around guns, and he has extensive experience shooting it. And Veronica had had hand gun classes; up around guns, and he has extensive experience shooting it. And Veronica had had hand gun classes; they’re both licensed to carry, and this wasn’t just some purse she had thrown her gun into.” they’re both licensed to carry, and this wasn’t just some purse she had thrown her gun into.”
The path Veronica Rutledge charted before her death, friends and family say, was one of academics The path Veronica Rutledge charted before her death, friends and family say, was one of academics and small-town, country living. “Hunting, being outdoors and being with her son” was what made her and small-town, country living. “Hunting, being outdoors and being with her son” was what made her happiest, her friend Rhonda Ellis told The Post. She was raised in northeast Idaho and always happiest, her friend Rhonda Ellis told The Post. She was raised in northeast Idaho and always excelled at school, former high school classmate Kathleen Phelps said, recalling her as “extremely excelled at school, former high school classmate Kathleen Phelps said, recalling her as “extremely smart. … valedictorian of our class, very motivated and the smartest person I know. … Getting good smart. … valedictorian of our class, very motivated and the smartest person I know. … Getting good grades was always very important to her.” grades was always very important to her.”
She went on to graduate in 2010 from the University of Idaho with a chemistry degree, according to a She went on to graduate in 2010 from the University of Idaho with a chemistry degree, according to a commencement program commencement program . From there, she got a job at Battelle . From there, she got a job at Battelle ’ ’ s s Idaho Idaho National Laboratory National Laboratory and and published published several several articles articles , , one of which analyzed a method to absorb toxic waste discharged by one of which analyzed a method to absorb toxic waste discharged by burning nuclear fuel. burning nuclear fuel.
While away from the lab, she and her husband, whom she married in 2009, spent time shooting guns. While away from the lab, she and her husband, whom she married in 2009, spent time shooting guns. “She was just as comfortable at a camp ground or a gun range as she was in a classroom,” close friend “She was just as comfortable at a camp ground or a gun range as she was in a classroom,” close friend Sheri Sandow said in an interview. On Facebook, she showed an interest in the outdoors and the Sheri Sandow said in an interview. On Facebook, she showed an interest in the outdoors and the National Rifle Association, and followed National Rifle Association, and followed Guns.com Guns.com , a , a publication that reports on gun life. publication that reports on gun life.
So many locals didn’t discern anything odd with 29-year-old woman carrying a loaded gun into a So many locals didn’t discern anything odd with 29-year-old woman carrying a loaded gun into a Wal-Mart during the holiday season. Stu Miller, a spokesman for the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, Wal-Mart during the holiday season. Stu Miller, a spokesman for the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, told told the New York Times that it didn the New York Times that it didn ’ ’ t strike him as anything out of the ordinary. t strike him as anything out of the ordinary. “ “ It It ’ ’ s pretty common s pretty common around here,” he said. “A lot of people carry loaded guns.” around here,” he said. “A lot of people carry loaded guns.”
Sandow told The Post she often sees people with a gun cradled at their side. “In Idaho, we don’t have Sandow told The Post she often sees people with a gun cradled at their side. “In Idaho, we don’t have to worry about a lot of crime and things like that,” she said. “And to see someone with a gun isn’t to worry about a lot of crime and things like that,” she said. “And to see someone with a gun isn’t bizarre. [Veronica] wasn’t carrying a gun because she felt unsafe. She was carrying a gun because she bizarre. [Veronica] wasn’t carrying a gun because she felt unsafe. She was carrying a gun because she was raised around guns. This was just a horrible accident.”
