The shocking death of a 4-year-old girl — shot dead with a handgun inside a car outside her grandparent’s home — zeroed in on two issues Sunday:
How did the gun that apparently killed little Rahquel Carr get into the hands of a group of children? And who owned the weapon?
So far it is unclear where did the kids get the gun, but for this particular post let us assume it was inside the vehicle.
I don’t have kids but one thing as sure as God made little green apples is that kids will find something they are not supposed to find when you are not looking. If you have a gun, it is your responsibility to make sure it is not easy to be retrieved by unauthorized parties when you are not in control of it.
It is no longer enough to lock the gun inside the car. The kid can get to the remote when you are not looking and opening the vehicle to go play inside. We have now designed cars as children playgrounds with DVD players, games, etc, so it is not unexpected that little kids want to go inside if other options are not available or they are just bored. Leaving the gun under the seat, in the glove compartment or the center console are not the most smart of options, specially if you keep the DVDs or controllers there.
So, what should you do. Amazingly the most obvious is the one most ignored: keep the gun with you at all times. That means if you do not have a concealed weapons permit, get one! A gun securely stashed in the holster stashed in your hip will go nowhere unless you let it. Purses, fanny packs and other off-body methods only work if they are being worn, not hanging from the back of a chair or relegated to a top of a dresser.
If for any reason (logical) you cannot carry, get a car safe. The requirements are simple: It has to lock, it cannot be opened easily, it is a sturdy box and it is not easy to remove from the car. There are scores of small car safes in the market catering to every budget so there is no excuse for you not to get one.
This is the simplest & cheapest type of gun safe for car available in the market. Made out of steel and comes with a cable that allows it to secure it to the base of a car seat or any other hard point inside the vehicle. You can find it just about anywhere in the interwebs for under $30. That is cheap insurance to avoid a fatality.
Get your damned gun secured, would ya?
I started teaching the grandsons gun safety when they were big enough to walk. Now the two oldest (8 and 9) can recite the 4 rules and have been learning to shoot. The youngest knows not to touch and so far, has shown no interest. Keeping guns out of the hands of children should be a priority. My carry gun resides on the nightstand when I’m home unless the boys are here. Then I carry it on me. It’s the safest place for it short of putting it in the lock box.
The 6 year old in this tragedy is old enough to be taught gun safety. This is where schools should be required to teach the Eddie Eagle program twice a year to every student from K through 6th grade. Teaching them not to touch and leave the area is a lesson that can’t be stressed enough.
Our 4 year old has been around guns since just after she was born. We’re not big gun owners, only having three handguns of our own and four antique rifles (LOVE shooting the Mosin!), but she knows that all she has to do is ask and she can hold any of our guns. Under supervision. And that the first thing we do (we ask her every time) is CHECK THE FRIKKIN CHAMBER. Used a SnapCap once to make sure she was actually checking, and she let me know there was indeed something there. Went to a friend’s property for some shooting one weekend, our babysitter fell through so she came with us. We told her once where the firing line was, and not to go in front of it unless there was an adult with her. She paid attention and we had no problems with her. She even fired a .22 handgun a couple of times (kept the target). Teaching kids that guns are not toys, can be dangerous, but when used properly are a lot of fun to shoot. Respect the firearms cannot be stressed enough. But I’ve also noticed that she is asking to hold them less often in the past year or so…they’re no longer “DON’T TOUCH THAT” items which she immediately starts plotting how to touch. They’re just “Daddy’s guns”. They’re not forbidden, so the temptation to play with them is negated, since she already knows she can handle them (supervised) if she asks.
Now, how to keep her out of my beef jerky stash….
[…] Secure your guns. Or secure your kids. Or teach them well. […]
Although I agree that responsible adults don’t just leave their guns around, I have to say that “I don’t have kids but [here’s a truth about children]” strikes this gun owning parent as almost as believable as “I’m a gun owner and have deep respect for the second amendment, but [we should ban all kinds of stuff]”
I speak from personal experience. I was a kid once and was a curious SOB always making a mess looking around.
Now, if you as a parent think your kids are not curious and will not find something you swear you have hidden…. your kids, not mine.
I should clarify. I agree that kids are curious and will pretty much always find what they shouldn’t. Mine certainly do. I’m just saying that while I agree with that contention, saying “I’m not a parent but…” doesn’t lend it much support. But yes, secure your guns. And teach your children.
More articles like this. Gun safety is paramount to gun rights. Let’s keep it coming!!!
Ditto with my kid. Same methods. But, in addition to telling him that we could take a trip to the range any time , I showed him what happens to a gallon jug of water when hit with a 44 magnum round. It literally explodes and there is nothing left but tiny shards of plastic. Lesson learned. After he got comfortable shooting my model 17 (.22 long rifle) we took regular trips to the range. I think every kid needs not only Eddie eagle but also the opportunity to shoot, to assuage their curiosity.