PORT CHARLOTTE — The father of a 2-year-old boy who shot and killed himself with an unsecured firearm in November was charged Thursday with culpable negligence, a third-degree felony, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.

“Citizens do have the Con­stitutional right to own firearms, but, if they are going to own a firearm, they must take responsibility for its security,” Sheriff Bill Prummell said at a press conference Thursday afternoon.