JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Tuesday's accidental shooting of a 31-year-old woman by her 4-year-old son as she was driving on a Putnam County road drew international news coverage not just because of what happened, but because of her a strong pro-gun stance.
CBS, NBC, the New York Post and Daily News, the Daily Mail in London were among dozens of media outlets that picked up the story.
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Jamie Gilt was taken to UF Health in Gainesville after she was struck by .45-caliber bullet fired by her son, who was sitting directly behind her in the pickup truck. The shot went through her seat an into her back. As of Wednesday, she remained hospitalized in stable condition.
The boy, who wasn't injured, is with relatives. The Florida Department of Children and Families also is investigating.
A Putnam County sheriff's deputy on patrol noticed Gilt's truck pulling a horse trailer stopped partially in the travel lanes of State Road 20 between Palatka and Interlachen. Gilt was in the driver's seat motioning for help. The only other occupant in the vehicle was the boy, who was not harmed.
"We verified she's legal to own the gun, and she possessed a concealed weapons permit," Sheriff's Office Capt. Joe Wells told the Palatka Daily News. "The child was looking for a toy he lost," Wells said. "It could be that he found (the gun) by looking for the toy."
Florida law makes it a misdemeanor for someone to have a loaded gun easily available to a minor. It will be up to the State Attorney's Office to decide whether Gilt will be prosecuted.
The story of her shooting exploded on social media and on media sites across the world because Gilt maintained a Facebook page titled "Jamie Gilt for Gun Sense," where she regularly posted pro-gun positions. On her personal Facebook page, Gilt once bragged about her son: "Even my 4 year old gets jacked up to target shoot with the .22."
One post on the site included a quote: "My right to protect my child with my gun trumps your fear of my gun."
Detectives said they have not yet been able to interview Gilt because of her medical condition. Florida law makes it a misdemeanor for a person to store or leave a loaded firearm in such a way that a child could gain access to it. Authorities said they won't make a decision on charges until they can speak with the woman.
After the news broke about Gilt's shooting, the posts appeared to be inundated with mocking comments from other Facebook users.
In comments posted Monday to one post on the page, a user named Jamie Gilt wrote: "I can promise though, if someone breaks into my house, or tries to harm me or my family pretty anywhere, they will be shot and most likely killed. It's my right to protect my life." The same user later replied to another comment about teaching children to shoot: "All of ours know how to shoot too. Even my 4 year old gets jacked up to target shoot with the .22."
News4Jax learned Gilt was arrested two years ago in Jacksonville on a charge of grand theft. According to reports she was detailed on April 4, 2013, by security guards at the Dillard's department store at the Avenues who reported seeing her stuffing $455 worth of children's clothes into her purse and hiding the bag in a child's stroller.
According to court records, Gilt completed a pre-trial intervention program in November that year and the charges were dropped.