Negligence caused daughter’s death

I am shocked to learn of the mistrial in this case [“Officer’s trial in daughter’s death ends in mistrial,” NWWednesday, Nov. 14]. I believe the father had a duty to protect his children from a loaded handgun.

Being a trained policeman and father of young children, he had a duty to be vigilant at all times. His negligence caused the death of his daughter Jenna and made his 3-year-old a killer. He knew the child could get out of his booster and that the child had a fascination with guns, yet he left his loaded handgun only feet from the children.

His attorney said he just forgot and “it was a momentary lapse.” A momentary lapse would have been getting out of the car, shutting the door and then saying "Oh my gosh, I forgot the gun.” This was more than a momentary lapse, it was negligence.

I am a daughter of a retired policeman, I have six brothers and sisters and I am a mother.

I think this case should be retried and people should set aside their emotions, look at the facts and follow the law.

— Barbara J Evans, Seattle