As a responsible gun owner, I am appalled. As a human being, I am appalled. As someone who cares for kids, I am appalled.

As noted, it is quite possible to own (and even use) fully automatic weapons in the US -- AFTER the payment of federal and probably state licensing fees and very, very thorough background checks (the cops don't like folks running around with them).

This is the needless waste of a young boy's life. I can only imagine what horrors his father will be living with.