Guns Don’t Kill People, Toddlers Do: A Rather Disturbing Reality

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Imagine this: a toddler has accidentally discharged a firearm every single week in the United States for the last two years. Sounds absurd, right? Yet, the statistics reveal a troubling trend: “Guns don’t kill people, toddlers do.” It’s a stark reminder of how gun safety is often disregarded, leading to preventable tragedies.

So, what’s the solution?

Gun safety regulations? Don’t count on it. According to the National Responsible Gun Owners Organization (NRGO), responsible gun owners already know how to secure their weapons. They adamantly oppose any mandates that dictate safe storage practices. In fact, when one community sought to implement laws for safe gun storage, the NRGO responded, “It’s not up to the Board to tell people how to keep their things safe at home.”

Indeed, everyone is aware that firearms should be securely stored — just like we all understand that seat belts save lives. Why bother with laws to enforce such commonsense measures? And while we’re at it, we should abolish laws against murder too, right? After all, criminals will be criminals. Why hold “responsible” gun owners accountable for leaving their loaded guns within reach of their curious little ones? Accidents happen, after all!

But hold on, there *is* a way to curb this alarming trend.

Implementing mandatory safe storage laws across all states and prosecuting those whose negligence leads to tragic outcomes is essential. And just to clarify, I’m not talking about the toddlers.

Yes, I’m being sarcastic, but the underlying issue is serious. Dan Gross, president of the Brady Campaign, pointed out that while the satire is meant to provoke thought, the public health crisis it highlights is far from humorous. Guns slipping into the wrong hands—whether they belong to toddlers, criminals, or those with violent intentions—results in countless lives being irrevocably changed every day.

Shockingly, less than 20 states have enacted laws holding adults criminally liable for failing to store firearms securely, which allows children access to them. Why? Because our lawmakers seem paralyzed to enact meaningful gun regulations, leaving our children vulnerable. It’s worth noting that, between 1973 and 2012, funding for rabies research outpaced that for studying gun injuries by an alarming margin, with only three grants awarded during that time.

Statistics on Gun Safety

According to the Children’s Defense Fund, about one-third of homes with children under 18 contain firearms, and over 40% of gun-owning households with kids leave their guns unlocked. Alarmingly, 22% of children in gun-owning homes have handled firearms without parental supervision. It’s no surprise that many youth suicides involving guns occur with weapons sourced from their own homes.

Yet, when a child manages to get hold of a gun and injures themselves or others, the blame typically falls on the parents. The prevailing sentiment seems to be that we can’t solve stupidity with legislation. But we absolutely can—and we must.

Time for Action

It’s high time we come together. Responsible gun owners and advocates for gun safety share a common goal: protecting our children. We need to prioritize safe storage laws and stop pretending that our hands are tied. If we engage politically, we wield the power to demand change. Our representatives must understand that we will no longer sacrifice child safety to cater to unfounded fears regarding the Second Amendment.

Let’s be clear: no one is trying to take away your guns. The last four sensible gun safety measures proposed in Congress last June, which no reasonable gun owner should oppose, were all shot down. These included preventing individuals on the no-fly list from purchasing firearms and closing loopholes that facilitate gun sales at shows and online. All rejected.

So yes, guns don’t kill people—toddlers do. But we can’t just shrug our shoulders and say there’s nothing we can do about this.

Further Reading

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Summary

This article highlights the alarming frequency with which toddlers accidentally discharge firearms in the U.S., emphasizing the need for mandatory safe gun storage laws. It critiques the complacency surrounding gun safety and the lack of legislative action, arguing that responsible gun owners and advocates for safety should unite to protect children. The piece calls for action against negligence and the implementation of effective laws to prevent tragedies caused by unsecured firearms.