The gun wasn’t invisible, but the chambered cartridge was out of sight until he thought to look — which he should have. That’s why the barrel should never be pointed at a person you don’t intend to kill, because you just MIGHT.
But common sense isn’t common.

And yes, it is much easier to check the chamber than it is to get a COVID-19 test if you are asymptomatic, since there are not enough tests available for everybody because our government leaders drug around and wouldn’t let others even start to make the tests for quite a while. But that’s like not being able to check the chamber…you know you might be infected, the gun might be loaded.

Stupidity is not a felony. Even if stupidity were a felony, too many of us have done stupid things to not realize it happens. I’m glad it didn’t kill the child. I spent much time with my two-year-old grandson today and it would tear me up if I hurt him (and there is no way to be absolutely sure neither of us is infected).

David for safe children in a dangerous world
(and apples and oranges are both fruit)

Felonies are usually reserved for misdeeds with actual evil intent rather than just one-time carelessness. All the advice I have read here is good advice and I’ve given it as well. Always assume a gun is loaded even if you know for a fact that it isn’t. (Sometimes you’re wrong even though you’re sure.) Never point a gun at anything you don’t intend to kill. Always remember you might hit your target or miss it — you WILL do one or the other. Remember bullets go through and hit objects behind the target, miss and hit in front of the target, to either side of the target, above the target, below the target.

All that said, people forget or ignore advice. They don’t intend to do wrong, they just don’t always remember to do right.

Over what? 75,000? people have died of COVID-19 in this country so far. Most were infected by people who meant no harm, didn’t even realize they were “loaded guns.” They didn’t feel like they had COVID-19 since they never had it before. If you could track them down, you couldn’t reasonably charge them with felonies. Any halfway decent lawyer would point out to a jury of their peers that it was just luck that they had not done the same thing — or maybe they did but hadn’t been “caught.” Juries would acquit or hang up.

Same thing with careless/accidental shootings. Jurors might go for a lower charge but not a felony charge unless they were shown it was intent or repeated carelessness.

This is bad. No reason to make it worse.

David for better people