8-Year-Old Pulls Gun From Lake Winnipesaukee While On Vacation

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ALTON, N.H. (CBS) - Police are reminding parents to talk to children about firearm safety after a vacationing child found a gun at the bottom of Lake Winnipesaukee on Tuesday.

An 8-year-old boy found this gun at the bottom of Lake Winnipesauke. (Photo credit: Alton Police Department)

According to Alton Police Chief Ryan Heath, 8-year-old Jackson was swimming when a flash of metal at the bottom of the lake caught his eye. He swam down to grab it and found a gun. Jackson told his father, who secured the firearm and called the police.

According to police, the gun was stolen from a Sanbornton home years ago and was not functioning.

Police search Lake Winnipesauke after an 8-year-old found a gun. (Photo credit: Alton Police Department)

"Thankfully, this gun was not loaded and in no condition to be fired. If the circumstances were different, this could have had a very tragic ending," Heath said.

Heath said parents should teach children that if they come across a gun, they should: stop, don't touch, run away and tell an adult.