<body><div>A 5-year-old in Santaquin, Utah. A 4-year-old in Houston, Texas. A 3-year-old in Flint, Michigan. While at a first glance it appears that these kids don’t have anything in common besides their young ages, each of them accidentally shot themselves as a result of improperly stored guns in their parents and grandparents’ homes. Two died, one survived with a minor stroke. USA Today reports that every other day a child dies as a result of being shot. However, with stricter regulations surrounding gun storage and maintenance, children and their families can be better protected from accidental injuries and deaths.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0RNaJp_0vlCHwtI00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0RNaJp_0vlCHwtI00" width="2001" height="1501" ><figcaption>Gun safes can be purchased at big box stores right alongside groceries. There is no excuse for a gunowner to not have one for the safe storage of their firearms. (Riya Bhatt)</figcaption></figure>On a visit to the doctor’s office last winter, I noticed a few posters on the walls about gun-related injuries and deaths regarding children. Later, when I confirmed the statistics, I was appalled. Nationwide Children’s Hospital reveals that around 22 million children have guns in their houses, and about 1300 kids die from shootings per year. Additionally, a child’s suicide risk increases when there’s a gun in their house. I don’t want to become a statistic, and neither did any other child who died as a result of gun violence. The best way to prevent the numbers from rising is to create new policies.In Michigan, as the result of a new law called Public Act 17 of 2023, guns are required to be kept locked in a box or a similar container and unloaded, so as to protect children and families, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Unfortunately, though, Michigan is only 1 of 26 states to implement laws regarding the storage of guns. These laws should not be up to the states. They should be federal laws. States’ laws only affect a certain amount of people, but guns affect everyone.While we can’t force gun owners to lock weapons up safely unless there’s an actual law in place, we can raise awareness for the cause by informing people about the best storage and maintenance methods for firearms. The coordinator of Safe Kids Greater South Haven, Pam Ford, shared in an article for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, “In 2023, Bronson Healthcare helped raise awareness by launching a campaign for National Safety Month…The goal is to assist gun owners in southwest Michigan safely store their firearms.” Bringing attention to a leading cause of death in children ensures that more people understand the risks associated with having an improperly stored firearm in the house, and can lead to more changes in laws concerning guns.The blaring message coming from gun activists and leaders has been to not completely ban guns, but to find laws that help protect children from guns. It’s always been about safety and defense. Even the Second Amendment is about protection. As President Joe Biden said in a speech from 2022, “This isn’t about taking away anyone’s rights. It’s about protecting children. It’s about protecting families. It’s about protecting whole communities.” Protect yours.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

There should be stricter regulations regarding gun storage and maintenance to protect children

A 5-year-old in Santaquin, Utah. A 4-year-old in Houston, Texas. A 3-year-old in Flint, Michigan. While at a first glance it appears that these kids don’t have anything in common besides their young ages, each of them accidentally shot themselves as a result of improperly stored guns in their parents and grandparents’ homes. Two died, one survived with a minor stroke. USA Today reports that every other day a child dies as a result of being shot. However, with stricter regulations surrounding gun storage and maintenance, children and their families can be better protected from accidental injuries and deaths.