Michigan Mother Charged for Sending 3-Year-Old to Daycare with Loaded Gun

Kelly Reid, a 34-year-old mother from Michigan, faces criminal charges for allegedly dropping off her 3-year-old child at a Royal Oak day care center with a loaded handgun in the child's backpack, which was supposed to contain a snack. Prosecutors said Reid had placed the gun in the backpack to carry it to and from her car but failed to remove it before the drop-off, prompting charges of reckless use of a firearm—a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a $500 fine, with possible suspension of hunting privileges. Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald emphasized the seriousness of unsecured firearms around children and commended the day care employee who found the weapon and contacted police promptly. Reid's case is part of a broader trend in Michigan and nationwide where parents have faced criminal charges related to mishandling firearms, notably including James and Jennifer Crumbley, convicted of involuntary manslaughter for their son's 2021 school shooting. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about gun safety and parental responsibility in preventing firearm-related tragedies involving minors. Reid has not been reached for comment, and no attorney of record has been listed for her in court documents.