A man in his 60s has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter after an eight-year-old boy was fatally shot in the head and face at a farm in Warcop, Cumbria. Police were called to the scene on Saturday afternoon, responding to reports that a child had been injured by a firearm. The boy was airlifted to hospital, but died overnight. The weapon was “secured at the scene”, according to a statement by Cumbria police, who confirmed that an investigation into the death was underway.
This latest tragic incident has emphasised once again the urgent need for tighter regulations around firearms usage in the UK, particularly on private property such as farms. Last month, a 15-year-old boy shot and killed a 12-year-old girl in Sproatley, Humberside, while last year, a man was charged with manslaughter after a 12-year-old boy died from a shot to the head while visiting his grandfather. Although there are laws that limit the accessibility of weapons, the UK has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the world, and the number of firearms licenses issued continues to rise. In 2020, there were 596,618 active certificates for owning a firearm in the UK, and in the year to 31 March 2021, 22,673 new applications were received.
While there are arguments in favour of responsible gun ownership for sporting and recreational purposes, incidents such as this serve as a reminder of the very real risks associated with firearms, and the devastating impact that their misuse can have. Parents, guardians and property owners all have a critical responsibility to ensure that guns are kept out of the reach of children, and that all necessary precautions are taken to prevent accidents from occurring.
Anyone with information about this weekend’s incident in Cumbria is asked to contact police via 101 or crimestoppers@policeconduct.gov.uk quoting log 182 of 26 June
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