13-year old children in Illinois and Tennessee were innocent victims of gun violence today.  Both were innocent bystanders when gunfights broke out between others on the street.  These incidents are part of an epidemic of innocent bystander shootings associated with a national increase in gun violence.

The Chicago, Illinois victim and a man he was walking with were victims of wild shooting during a robbery.  Four people were hurt in all.  The Memphis,  Tennessee 13-year old was struck in the stomach while she was riding a scooter when two men opened fire on each other in the street.

Also today, a 6-year old in Power, Montana was struck by a bullet accidentally fired by his 11-year old brother.  “The 11-year-old was reportedly loading a bolt-action .22 rifle to sight it in. As he was retrieving the gun from the garage, the boy tripped and pulled the trigger, hitting his brother” in the arm.  Detective called the shooting “negligent.”  After a witness applied a tourniquet, the boy was taken to the hospital.

In Epping, New Hampshire, a man cleaning his gun in a mobile home accidentally fired and struck both himself and his wife.  Both will survive and no charges are expected.