This is the third time I’ve covered a story like this in as many weeks. Two resulted with children being killed by their parents, and the third resulted in a permanent injuries.

Damn it, people, if you can’t positively identify your target, you have no business pulling the trigger:

A father mistook his 14-year-old son for an intruder and shot him in the neck, killing him, at a East Price Hill home on Tuesday morning, according to Cincinnati police.

The father had dropped the boy off at the school bus stop but the teen returned home.

The shooting in the 1200 block of Blanchard Avenue was reported about 6:30 a.m., according to dispatchers.

The teen was taken to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Shortly after 8:15 a.m., police said the boy had died.

The investigation is continuing and police will discuss the the shooting with the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office, said Capt. Terri Theetge.

I’d be willing to bet that like most other shootings of family members and friends, the shooter didn’t bother to adequately light the suspected home invader, nor did he issue a verbal challenge, both of which would revealed that he was drawing down on his child, who had likely returned home to pick up something he needed for school.

A decent quality gun can cost from $250+.

A decent quality tactical light can be had for less than $50.

Your voice is free.

Good defensive firearms training to teach you to use all three of these essential things to save lives can be had for several hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the length and complexity of the course. How much is the life of your child or spouse worth?

People love to to trumpet the fact that they have the right to own a firearm. Yes, you do.

The fact remains that your right to bear arms is utterly pointless if you don’t know how to exercise that right judiciously and with all due restraint to save your life and the lives of those you love, not threaten them.

Get good defensive firearms training if you own a gun.