joejoejoe
Regular Member
http://www.examiner.com/headlines-i...-state-to-keep-guns-locked-and-away-from-kids
September 15, 2010 - Early Wednesday morning the 3-year-old son of a Clark County Sheriff's deputy accidentally shot himself and died, and the issue has been raised that no law exists in Washington State requiring adults to lock up their firearms, even when children reside in or visit their homes.
The Legal Community Against Violence (LCAV) issued a report in 2008 on Child Access Prevention.
According to the report, researchers have found that millions of children in the United States live in homes with easily accessible guns.
The report also indicated that Child Access Prevention (CAP) laws impose criminal liability on adults who negligently leave firearms accessible to children or otherwise allow children access to firearms. Currently 27 states have such laws in place - Washington is not one of them.
What do you think? Should Washington State pass Child Access Prevention laws to protect children by making adults criminally liable if they leave firearms accessible to children? Scroll down to leave your comment.
Clark County Sheriff’s office policy
Clark County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Chad Rothenberger told Examiner.com Wednesday, “We do have a policy in place for employees’ service weapons, but the Sheriff has no authority on how employees store their personal weapons. There are no laws about securing personally owned weapons in Washington State.”
According to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office press release issued Wednesday, the Sheriff’s Office firearms storage policy recognizes the Constitutional right of citizens to keep and maintain firearms.
Policy mandates the safe storage of department issued weapons, and encourages employees to use safe storage techniques for any personally owned firearms as well.
The 3-year-old child, whose father is a deputy for the Clark County Sheriff's Department, shot himself with his father's personal gun, not his service weapon.
Lt. Rothenberger agreed that personally, and professionally, it’s a good idea to secure all firearms, especially in a home where children reside or visit. “When my kids were growing up I worried about it. All of my firearms were locked up,” he said.
The press release also stated, “This event also emphasizes the risk inherent with firearms and we encourage anyone who possesses a firearm to ensure that it is safely secured.”
Lt. Rothenberger said that often deputies responding to calls find loaded weapons in homes, even when children reside in the homes.
Hot issue
Laws dictating how individuals should store firearms in their own homes is, and has been, a hot issue.
No amount of research, report-writing, or arguing about this issue is going to change the fact that too many children are dying because adults fail to use common sense and repeatedly leave loaded guns where children and teens can access them.
A 2000 study of firearm storage patterns in U.S. homes found that “[o]f the homes with children and firearms, 55% were reported to have one or more firearms in an unlocked place,” and 43% reported keeping guns without a trigger lock in an unlocked place.
When you think about that, think about a toddler, school-aged child, or teen living in, or visiting a home with a loaded gun lying around where they can easily access it. It happens every day.
Would you want your child or grandchild going to play at someone’s house where they could get a hold of a loaded weapon, potentially shooting and killing themselves or someone else?
Child Access Prevention laws prove effective
Laws that impose criminal liability on adults who negligently leave firearms accessible to children or otherwise allow children access to firearms have proven effective in reducing the number of children and teens who die or kill others with firearms.
The LCAV report stated a study found that more than 75% of the guns used in youth suicide attempts and unintentional injuries were stored in the residence of the victim, a relative, or a friend. At least two studies have found that the risk of suicide increases in homes where guns are kept loaded and/or unlocked.
A 2005 study found that the practice of keeping firearms locked, unloaded, and storing ammunition in a locked location separate from firearms serves as a protective measure to reduce youth suicide and unintentional injury in homes with children and teenagers where guns are stored.
In October 2000 the U.S. Secret Service published a study of 37 school shootings in 26 states. That study found that in more than 65% of the cases, the attacker got the gun from his or her own home or that of a relative.
Children are curious and guns are intriguing. Especially if they’ve never seen one before or if they know they’re not supposed to touch them.
If a teen is experiencing depression, or a life situation that is extremely difficult for them to cope with, finding a gun could be the simple way for them to end it all, without having time to think through their actions. Once they pull the trigger it’s too late.
States with Child Access Prevention Laws:
States with child access prevention laws include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
September 15, 2010 - Early Wednesday morning the 3-year-old son of a Clark County Sheriff's deputy accidentally shot himself and died, and the issue has been raised that no law exists in Washington State requiring adults to lock up their firearms, even when children reside in or visit their homes.
The Legal Community Against Violence (LCAV) issued a report in 2008 on Child Access Prevention.
According to the report, researchers have found that millions of children in the United States live in homes with easily accessible guns.
The report also indicated that Child Access Prevention (CAP) laws impose criminal liability on adults who negligently leave firearms accessible to children or otherwise allow children access to firearms. Currently 27 states have such laws in place - Washington is not one of them.
What do you think? Should Washington State pass Child Access Prevention laws to protect children by making adults criminally liable if they leave firearms accessible to children? Scroll down to leave your comment.
Clark County Sheriff’s office policy
Clark County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Chad Rothenberger told Examiner.com Wednesday, “We do have a policy in place for employees’ service weapons, but the Sheriff has no authority on how employees store their personal weapons. There are no laws about securing personally owned weapons in Washington State.”
According to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office press release issued Wednesday, the Sheriff’s Office firearms storage policy recognizes the Constitutional right of citizens to keep and maintain firearms.
Policy mandates the safe storage of department issued weapons, and encourages employees to use safe storage techniques for any personally owned firearms as well.
The 3-year-old child, whose father is a deputy for the Clark County Sheriff's Department, shot himself with his father's personal gun, not his service weapon.
Lt. Rothenberger agreed that personally, and professionally, it’s a good idea to secure all firearms, especially in a home where children reside or visit. “When my kids were growing up I worried about it. All of my firearms were locked up,” he said.
The press release also stated, “This event also emphasizes the risk inherent with firearms and we encourage anyone who possesses a firearm to ensure that it is safely secured.”
Lt. Rothenberger said that often deputies responding to calls find loaded weapons in homes, even when children reside in the homes.
Hot issue
Laws dictating how individuals should store firearms in their own homes is, and has been, a hot issue.
No amount of research, report-writing, or arguing about this issue is going to change the fact that too many children are dying because adults fail to use common sense and repeatedly leave loaded guns where children and teens can access them.
A 2000 study of firearm storage patterns in U.S. homes found that “[o]f the homes with children and firearms, 55% were reported to have one or more firearms in an unlocked place,” and 43% reported keeping guns without a trigger lock in an unlocked place.
When you think about that, think about a toddler, school-aged child, or teen living in, or visiting a home with a loaded gun lying around where they can easily access it. It happens every day.
Would you want your child or grandchild going to play at someone’s house where they could get a hold of a loaded weapon, potentially shooting and killing themselves or someone else?
Child Access Prevention laws prove effective
Laws that impose criminal liability on adults who negligently leave firearms accessible to children or otherwise allow children access to firearms have proven effective in reducing the number of children and teens who die or kill others with firearms.
The LCAV report stated a study found that more than 75% of the guns used in youth suicide attempts and unintentional injuries were stored in the residence of the victim, a relative, or a friend. At least two studies have found that the risk of suicide increases in homes where guns are kept loaded and/or unlocked.
A 2005 study found that the practice of keeping firearms locked, unloaded, and storing ammunition in a locked location separate from firearms serves as a protective measure to reduce youth suicide and unintentional injury in homes with children and teenagers where guns are stored.
In October 2000 the U.S. Secret Service published a study of 37 school shootings in 26 states. That study found that in more than 65% of the cases, the attacker got the gun from his or her own home or that of a relative.
Children are curious and guns are intriguing. Especially if they’ve never seen one before or if they know they’re not supposed to touch them.
If a teen is experiencing depression, or a life situation that is extremely difficult for them to cope with, finding a gun could be the simple way for them to end it all, without having time to think through their actions. Once they pull the trigger it’s too late.
States with Child Access Prevention Laws:
States with child access prevention laws include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
