Firearms are not toys. Firearms are tools that should be used properly. Not using firearms properly can lead to serious injury or death. Much as not using a chain saw, snow blower (yech), or ladder can lead to serious injury or death.

Which is what happened to this poor young man.

Police: 19-year-old Texas man accidentally kills himself while taking selfie with gun

A 19-year-old Houston, Texas, man accidentally killed himself Tuesday while taking selfies with a gun, according to police.

The gun blast hit Deleon Alonso Smith, a day ahead of starting community college, in the throat, CNN affiliate KPRC reported.

What can be said about this? Young Mr. Smith was playing around with a tool that can cause death or serious injury.

The cousin told police they found the gun earlier in the day. They’re investigating.

Too bad they didn’t just turn the firearm over to the police, but I guess that wouldn’t have been “cool”.

I’ll close with a quote from Robert Heinlein,

Stupidity cannot be cured with money, or through education, or by legislation. Stupidity is not a sin, the victim can’t help being stupid. But stupidity is the only universal capital crime: the sentence is death, there is no appeal, and execution is carried out automatically and without pity.