'The Crickett rifle is not three feet long...' So how long was it? And is its length relevant? And why should it be quite acceptable for a tiny child to own a gun of any size? Obviously the parents had loaded it, and omitted to take out the cartridge. Well, I suppose they thought a child 'has the right to bear arms', they chose to arm him, and now sadly they must face the consequences. I feel terribly sorry for the lad himself. All his life he will know he shot his little sister. What effect will that have on him? Totally mad over there, glad in UK we aren't quite so daft.