California couple charged with child abuse

[seamusTX]

Police in a town in California were called to a domestic dispute at the home of a 20-something couple. They found a loaded .25-caliber pistol on the dining room floor.

Three children aged 1 through 4 were in the house.

The boys showed the police the location of other firearms, including in one of their bedrooms.

Police arrested the adults, took the children in protective custody, and confiscated the firearms.

http://www.redding.com/news/2008/nov/25 ... -found-in/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Morons.

The takeaway from this incident is that when the police are called to a domestic dispute, the normal rules of search and seizure are suspended.

If these people ever extract themselves from the sinkhole that they dug, it will cost them tens of thousands in legal fees.

- Jim

[WarHawk-AVG]

Notice the absolute bias slant by the bringing up the other incidents of shootings

[bryang]

Yeah, the article was definitely pushing the evil gun theory that kills kids. These kind of things make my blood boil.

-geo

[seamusTX]

Please note:

On Nov. 6, Hunter Rhoads, the 4-year-old son of Redding police officer Jason Rhoads, was able to climb into his father's closet, get his loaded service weapon and fatally shoot himself.

Hunter's death is the second time in less than a year that the son of a Northern California law enforcement officer has shot himself with his father's service weapon.

In April, Tyler Whiteaker, the 3-year-old son of Sgt. David Whiteaker, 33, of the Sutter County Sheriff's Department, shot and killed himself inside the family's Yuba County home, according the Sacramento Bee.

Only one conclusion can be drawn from these stories.

- Jim

[bryang]

I had noticed that outside of the first story that they were all police officers...that just makes it all the worse.

-geo

[nitrogen]

When I read another story on this incident, I had seen that the .25 pistol was in the childs' room.

If it was, indeed loaded and in the childs room, then I think a case could be made.

Lord knows I could be mistaken about this; it wouldn't be the first time and certainly wouldn't make it the last.

[Salty1]

I would expect nothing less from the Kalifornia press, the way I see it the Kalifornia press and politicians are america's enemy

[74novaman]

I'm sure they're spinning it to make it sound as bad as possible.

That being said: I'm not sure it gets much worse then leaving a loaded gun on the floor for your kid to find. That's insane.

[webb3201]

...especially only a .25, I would never be able to control my kids with that calibre!

[barres]

Police in a town in California were called to a domestic dispute at the home of a 20-something couple. They found a loaded .25-caliber pistol on the dining room floor.

Three children aged 1 through 4 were in the house.

The boys showed the police the location of other firearms, including in one of their bedrooms.

Police arrested the adults, took the children in protective custody, and confiscated the firearms.

http://www.redding.com/news/2008/nov/25 ... -found-in/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Morons.

The takeaway from this incident is that when the police are called to a domestic dispute, the normal rules of search and seizure are suspended.

If these people ever extract themselves from the sinkhole that they dug, it will cost them tens of thousands in legal fees.

- Jim

Why would the rules of search and seizure be suspended? The gun on the floor on the dining room would have been in plain sight, if the officers had been invited into the house, and may have been in plain sight to the officer at the door. If California has proper storage laws, and I would imagine that they do, then the officer now has PC to suspect that there may be more firearms not properly stored. The takeaway from this incident is Don't be an idiot, especially with firearms.

[seamusTX]

Why would the rules of search and seizure be suspended?

I can't explain the legal technicalities, but that's how it works on a practical level. I have heard of cases where the police answered a call for a domestic dispute and made arrests for weapons (prohibited persons or contrary to state law) or illegal drugs.

Sometimes one spouse will voluntarily tell the police about such things to get back at the other.

It could be that a good lawyer could get some of these charges dismissed on fourth amendment grounds, but most people can't afford a good enough lawyer.

The other area where you can pretty much kiss due process goodbye is suspected child abuse. Again, I don't know the legal technicalities.

- Jim