The Potentially Lifesaving Difference in How a Gun Is Stored

[Madmallard]

More BS from the NY Times.

Legislators and gun safety advocates often focus on how guns are purchased. But many lives could be saved, especially among children, if they looked more at how they are stored.

In the last decade, guns killed more than 14,000 American children. A startling number of those deaths — more than a third — were classified as suicides, and around 6 percent as accidents. Many more children were injured.

Nearly everyone agrees that children should not be able to buy guns, and no state lets them do so on their own. When children die by suicide in this way, it’s a result of being able to get hold of a gun that someone else already obtained — often legally.

How guns are stored matters. A study published Monday in JAMA Pediatrics has found that even a modest increase in owners who lock up their guns would pay off in an outsize drop in gun deaths.

Dr. Michael Monuteaux, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and an author of the study, said, “We need to communicate to parents that storing guns in a way that makes them inaccessible to children can reduce the number of children who die year after year, especially from suicide.”

The Potentially Lifesaving Difference in How a Gun Is Stored

 

[Grimscale]

Or.... and this is just a thought... you can be a parent to your child, explain how guns are dangerous and should only be used responsibly, and notice when your child is depressed and/or suicidal and get them the counseling they need.

Radical, I know, but sometimes you have to actually WORK to be a parent.

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

Dr. Michael Monuteaux, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and an author of the study, said, “We need to communicate to parents that proper education and training can reduce the number of children who die year after year, especially from suicide. Parents need to be better parents to their children and teach them safe handling practices the same way you would teach your children not to drink poisons, how to drive a car, and how to safely cross the street.”

 

[spat]

More BS from the NY Times.

Legislators and gun safety advocates often focus on how guns are purchased. But many lives could be saved, especially among children, if they looked more at how they are stored.

In the last decade, guns killed more than 14,000 American children. A startling number of those deaths — more than a third — were classified as suicides, and around 6 percent as accidents. Many more children were injured.

Nearly everyone agrees that children should not be able to buy guns, and no state lets them do so on their own. When children die by suicide in this way, it’s a result of being able to get hold of a gun that someone else already obtained — often legally.

How guns are stored matters. A study published Monday in JAMA Pediatrics has found that even a modest increase in owners who lock up their guns would pay off in an outsize drop in gun deaths.

Dr. Michael Monuteaux, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and an author of the study, said, “We need to communicate to parents that storing guns in a way that makes them inaccessible to children can reduce the number of children who die year after year, especially from suicide.”

The Potentially Lifesaving Difference in How a Gun Is Stored

When I saw the title of this thread I was expecting a discussion about how to make sure you can get at your firearms in a hurry if you need them.

This is sort of the opposite of that.

 

[S&W Fan]

Or.... and this is just a thought... you can be a parent to your child, explain how guns are dangerous and should only be used responsibly, and notice when your child is depressed and/or suicidal and get them the counseling they need.

Radical, I know, but sometimes you have to actually WORK to be a parent.

Parenting your children 100% of the time in today’s society is unrealistic, but I agree with you on diligently parenting your children . As to knowing when your children are suicidal , that can and is a Much more difficult situation to detect. Especially in pre teen and early teen Children. Please don’t ask me how I know this. Believe me, I’m not advocating for this article, but as gun owners it is Our responsibility to make certain that our firearms cannot be easily accessed by curious young children. As we’ve seen countless times on the news , some gun owners among us are just plain stupid.

 

[99cummins]

Proper storage can save lives. For example, properly storing a pistol on your hip in a good holster can save lives by having a firearm when you need it.

 

[fresch]

I thought we were just aborting children? Now I am confused.
When I grew up we could look at, show, touch, any gun and the ammo was right there but no loading allowed . Started hunting with a red rider.
How ever IF you did touch a gun you had to then clean the gun inside and out! I never touched them when my friends were over because, who the hell wants to clean a gun if you didn't get to shoot it!

 

[Deplorable Me]

Doctors? Aren't they the ones who prescribe psychotropic drugs to people that make them suicidal in the first place?

Depression and suicide risk are side effects of more than 200 common drugs

 

[gun_slinger_boy]

I kind of have to agree here. At night storing my gun on my nightstand in the open with 1 in the pipe saves lives.

 

[Mr. terzmo]

The difference in proper storage and non proper storage relies solely on the supervisor of the gun. I didn't hide my guns. I made sure the children knew they were inn the house and could use them if they asked permission and I in attendance. I trained them on gun safety. Showed them what a gun could do. My daughter lost interest almost immediately. My Son caught gun fever and still has it today. He was given a 12 gauge on his 12th birthday and was in charge of it and ammo. Never an issue. I asked both how they would feel if they accidently shot their Mother or someone else. How being reckless would haunt them forever. They didn't care for that part of training but understood it.

The responsibility is on the Supervisor/parent. If You can't control your children, then lock ALL your guns up in a safe, but better yet: get rid of them because the kids can/will break into the safe.

 

[Jmac00]

The responsibility is on the Supervisor/parent. If You can't control your children, then lock ALL your guns up in a safe, but better yet: get rid of them because the kids can/will break into the safe.

I agree, get rid of the kids, save your guns

 

[Shadow2]

I don't disagree with securing firearms. The best parent in the world can have a kid that just wont listen. Teaching kids is definitely important but it still leaves X% of those kids who will still do dumb shit.

 

[fresch]

The difference in proper storage and non proper storage relies solely on the supervisor of the gun. I didn't hide my guns. I made sure the children knew they were inn the house and could use them if they asked permission and I in attendance. I trained them on gun safety. Showed them what a gun could do. My daughter lost interest almost immediately. My Son caught gun fever and still has it today. He was given a 12 gauge on his 12th birthday and was in charge of it and ammo. Never an issue. I asked both how they would feel if they accidently shot their Mother or someone else. How being reckless would haunt them forever. They didn't care for that part of training but understood it.

The responsibility is on the Supervisor/parent. If You can't control your children, then lock ALL your guns up in a safe, but better yet: get rid of them because the kids can/will break into the safe.

BINGO! Boy or girl we all were trained and we all trained our children, we all shoot too.

 

[Jmac00]

I don't disagree with securing firearms. The best parent in the world can have a kid that just wont listen. Teaching kids is definitely important but it still leaves X% of those kids who will still do dumb shit.

Know thy child. I was never the sharpest knife in the drawer, but once my dad said "don't touch this without me here" that was the end of it.

I was WAAAAAY more scared of my dad than anything on the planet

 

[Shadow2]

AGREE know your kid and i too was scared of my dad but ... "I knew my kid was dumb as fuck but i left my gun unlocked anyway" ... Said No One, Ever! I think the misconception is my gun is hidden good enough or my kid wont find it or he knows not to go in my top drawer. This is naive, kids explore, its what they do.

Know thy child. I was never the sharpest knife in the drawer, but once my dad said "don't touch this without me here" that was the end of it.

I was WAAAAAY more scared of my dad than anything on the planet

 

[Marine Cpl]

I don't disagree with securing firearms. The best parent in the world can have a kid that just wont listen. Teaching kids is definitely important but it still leaves X% of those kids who will still do dumb shit.

I was that kid. My dad showed me his 1911. He let me hold it. He taught me what anyone here would tell their kids.

What did I do when they left me alone to go food shopping at about 8 or 10 years old for about an hour, I found the key to the locked box and played with it. Good thing it wasn't loaded.

I'm not saying that there should be laws to force you to lock it up. I'm just saying that teaching your kid doesn't always solve the problem either. I'm my case, I got past the lock.

 

[Cooolone]

It's a backdoor attempt to knock down that silly ol SCOTUS ruling... Because it's for the children after all!

When my kids were little, there was education sessions in the home regarding firearms. What they were (not toys), where they were (not to be touched, unless of course needed for a "purpose"), and that any time they wanted either #1, it #2, it was ok, as long as they asked, and I was present.

Never ever was there an issue. When I felt old enough, took them shooting so they could experience what they did for real. Not imagined or TV ingrained BS imagery!

That all said, any law providing Govt free access and intrusion into the home absent any warrant where LE can display strong suspicion of criminal activity to a judge and obtain a warrant will just not work out well. Of course, couple this type of BS with the Red Flag laws and you're pretty close to doing just that.

Knock knock...
Hello?
Sir, this is your local sheriff and we want to come inspect your firearms storage!
Yeah well, I'm busy right now, come back later.
Sir, we want to come in, will you let us in.
Naaaaah, busy. Have a nice evening!
Knock knock...
... Crickets...
Knock knock knock knock...
Crickets...
knock Knock knock knock knock knockKnock knock knock knock knock...
Crickets...

Lol

 

[MoMan]

I don't disagree with securing firearms. The best parent in the world can have a kid that just wont listen. Teaching kids is definitely important but it still leaves X% of those kids who will still do dumb shit.

I agree with the hi-lited statement. So what stops them from hanging themselves, or jumping in front of a semi??

My problem with securing the firearms, is that before you know it, it becomes a law!! We DO NOT need anymore "common sense gun laws"!! We DO NOT need the government further into our lives, especially when it comes to what we do in our own homes, with our own property!

My solution is quite simple; If someone wants to lock up their guns, for whatever reason (comfort, security, etc.!!), then by all means they should JUST DO IT!! No one is stopping them from locking up their guns! See, just like I said a simple solution!!

 

[Mr. terzmo]

"I was WAAAAAY more scared of my dad than anything on the planet" My Brother would agree also. A lot of "parents" don't understand there must be "consequences " for bad and GOOD behavior. Mine knew that whatever I said..was going to happen as far as discipline and rewards. A lot of work but I received so many good comments on their behavior that all the time spent paid off 100 times over. It also made me think a bit about what I would say as then I knew I was going to have to carry it out. My Daughter brought our Grandson up the same way and he also is a great child to have...even though he's going to be 21 next month and interested in other things.

 

[subsonic]

Surprised AC didn't sign this back on March 4. Slim to zero odds he doesn't sign it in the end though.

NY State Senate Bill S2450A

AGREE know your kid and i too was scared of my dad but ... "I knew my kid was dumb as fuck but i left my gun unlocked anyway" ... Said No One, Ever! I think the misconception is my gun is hidden good enough or my kid wont find it or he knows not to go in my top drawer. This is naive, kids explore, its what they do.

A kid who is dumb as fuck is likely to have a dad who is dumb as fuck too.

Kids explore, kids are emotional and impulsive, and some parents are terrible. Sweeping new laws that violate rights are not the solution.

If a parent's bad decisions visit themselves on their kid, that is in a sense self-executing. If a parent's bad decisions hurt another person's kids, there's already recourse in the laws (private suits, prosecution for child endangerment, negligent homicide, etc.) without regulating households.