Posted on Jun 21, 2023
Accidental shootings by children keep happening. How toddlers are able to fire guns.
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"It's essential to keep a gun locked separately from ammunition, which should also be locked, Fleegler and Lee said. In their experience, guns are often objects of curiosity that children will try to access. They both agreed that talks about safety with young children are not enough to keep them away from guns."
Accidental shootings by children keep happening. How toddlers are able to fire guns.
Posted from cbsnews.com
Firearms and Guns
Safety
Children
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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Why do we see more accidental shootings involving children? I don't know all the reasons, but I can think of several...
1. We see more such shootings simply because every such shooting makes the national news today.
2. Statistically there are more such shootings because even shootings with no injuries or only minor injuries are being reported.
The two reasons above address why we SEE more such shootings, but there are also reasons why there ARE more such shootings
We face that paradox that there are more guns than ever but people are less familiar with guns than ever. Look at the millions of adult "first time gun owners" who had no firearms training before buying their first gun. Even the military doesn't attempt to teach firearms safety - instead military training (even live fire) is designed to try to make the training safe in spite of unsafe people.
And, finally, some of those accidental shootings by children aren't accidents at all. The child might not be able to comprehend the full significance of shooting but at least some of the "accidental" shootings by children are clearly instances where the child deliberately shot someone.
1. We see more such shootings simply because every such shooting makes the national news today.
2. Statistically there are more such shootings because even shootings with no injuries or only minor injuries are being reported.
The two reasons above address why we SEE more such shootings, but there are also reasons why there ARE more such shootings
We face that paradox that there are more guns than ever but people are less familiar with guns than ever. Look at the millions of adult "first time gun owners" who had no firearms training before buying their first gun. Even the military doesn't attempt to teach firearms safety - instead military training (even live fire) is designed to try to make the training safe in spite of unsafe people.
And, finally, some of those accidental shootings by children aren't accidents at all. The child might not be able to comprehend the full significance of shooting but at least some of the "accidental" shootings by children are clearly instances where the child deliberately shot someone.
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I call BS.
Unloaded, locked, and ammunition locked separately defeats the purpose for home safety.
Yes, guns need to be kept away from unsupervised kids. Absolutely. Locking the firearm and ACTUALLY SUPERVISING YOUR KIDS solves problem.
Yes, I understand you can't have eyes on at all times - what if you need to use the bathroom, etc. But you still know where the kids are and what they are doing.
I have the luxury of a 2-floor home. The bottom floor is the "public" floor. Visitors stay down stairs. No one, ESPECIALLY not kids, are allowed upstairs - and I know if any head that way. Even if you don't have that luxury, keeping weapons locked in the master bedroom - which nobody should be going in - when company is over solves problems.
I am an uncle for an infant, a toddler, a grade schooler, and a middle schooler (and a few adults). I am an unofficial uncle for 13 toddlers and grade schoolers. All have been in my home with my rifle upstairs. None have gotten close to my rifle.
Supervision. It works.
Unloaded, locked, and ammunition locked separately defeats the purpose for home safety.
Yes, guns need to be kept away from unsupervised kids. Absolutely. Locking the firearm and ACTUALLY SUPERVISING YOUR KIDS solves problem.
Yes, I understand you can't have eyes on at all times - what if you need to use the bathroom, etc. But you still know where the kids are and what they are doing.
I have the luxury of a 2-floor home. The bottom floor is the "public" floor. Visitors stay down stairs. No one, ESPECIALLY not kids, are allowed upstairs - and I know if any head that way. Even if you don't have that luxury, keeping weapons locked in the master bedroom - which nobody should be going in - when company is over solves problems.
I am an uncle for an infant, a toddler, a grade schooler, and a middle schooler (and a few adults). I am an unofficial uncle for 13 toddlers and grade schoolers. All have been in my home with my rifle upstairs. None have gotten close to my rifle.
Supervision. It works.
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MSG Thomas Currie
The SAFEST way to keep a firearm in the home is holstered on your person, this is also the most accessible. Everything else is some compromise between accessibility and safety.
Unloaded, locked up, with ammunition locked separately is very nearly as safe, but obviously it negates accessibility, not just for children but also for responsible adults. This is the "safe storage" standard that anti-gun people want to impose because eliminating access is as close as they think they can get to eliminating guns entirely. This sort of "safe storage" is probably reasonable for some guns belonging to some people. But clearly it is not an acceptable compromise for a gun that is being kept for home protection.
Every situation is different and every responsible gun owner needs to consider their specific situation to decide on a reasonable solution. Unfortunately most people do not realize that children are quicker, more curious, and not nearly as obedient as they think.
Unloaded, locked up, with ammunition locked separately is very nearly as safe, but obviously it negates accessibility, not just for children but also for responsible adults. This is the "safe storage" standard that anti-gun people want to impose because eliminating access is as close as they think they can get to eliminating guns entirely. This sort of "safe storage" is probably reasonable for some guns belonging to some people. But clearly it is not an acceptable compromise for a gun that is being kept for home protection.
Every situation is different and every responsible gun owner needs to consider their specific situation to decide on a reasonable solution. Unfortunately most people do not realize that children are quicker, more curious, and not nearly as obedient as they think.
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SFC Casey O'Mally
MSG Thomas Currie For folks who have many guns, I do not think this is unreasonable for the majority of guns. The hunting rifle, the sport pistol, 12 of the 13 shotguns, etc. can all be stored locked and unloaded with ammo locked separately.
But the self defense weapons need to be ACCESSIBLE. Which means if there are irresponsible individuals in the home, the guns need to be put up for the time, locked, carried on person, etc. This includes irresponsible adults - and almost no adult is responsible when drunk or high! But even then, there needs to be some way to quickly access that firearm if needed.
But the self defense weapons need to be ACCESSIBLE. Which means if there are irresponsible individuals in the home, the guns need to be put up for the time, locked, carried on person, etc. This includes irresponsible adults - and almost no adult is responsible when drunk or high! But even then, there needs to be some way to quickly access that firearm if needed.
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MAJ Byron Oyler
I have never been worried about locking my firearms up until my son became a teen and all the ups and downs that comes with that. I taught them as my dad taught me and I could trust they would not touch without my presence.
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First, I have grandchildren that spend time at my house. My handguns are loaded but in a handgun safe or on me, for mine and my grands protection. I religiously maintain that my firearms are not accessible to my grands. My other firearms are locked in a gun safe, unloaded.
Second, as for “Safe” Guns, I will never consider one. I would never be able to trust that it would work when needed. My current firearms work well.
Second, as for “Safe” Guns, I will never consider one. I would never be able to trust that it would work when needed. My current firearms work well.
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