Accidental Gun Violence
It's no secret that children are fascinated by firearms. Curiosity often compels a child to handle a loaded gun; sometimes, a teen attempts to impress a friend with guns accessible in the household. It is estimated that approximately 1.7 million children live in home with access to an unlocked, unloaded gun. Firearms is the second highest cause of death among children and teens. In 2018, gun accidents killed 73 children. Child Access Prevention laws, or CAP laws, impose criminal liability on individuals who fail to secure firearms and guns from minors. There are no federal CAP laws requiring the safe storage of firearms, and there is no uniformity among the states regarding criminal liability. However, an individual who fails to secure a firearm may be subject to civil liability in a court action for negligence.
Educating gun owners about securing firearms to eliminate the risk of preventable tragedies requires relying upon individuals to acknowledge the inherent danger of firearms and to accept responsibility for securing his or her property. Encouraging local firearms stores and dealers to sell gun locks and to provide educational information to customers may attempt to address the issue at a local level. Continued lobbying by organizations such as Moms Demand Action for stricter gun control and CAP laws push the initiative at a state and federal level. On a personal level, the conversation on gun and firearm safety begins at home. Arm yourself with knowledge and talk to your children and teenagers about gun safety with topics such as "NEVER point a loaded gun at anyone" and if another child or teen shows you a gun, tell a responsible adult. And parents, if your child or teen is spending unsupervised time at a neighbor's home or friend's home, ask whether there are firearms in the home and how the firearms are secured. Responsible gun owners respond responsibly.
Written by Liz Clark.