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Tennessee

MaKayla Didn't Need to Die - Keep Guns Away from Kids

My 8 year old granddaughter MaKayla Dyer was killed by her neighbor, an 11 year old boy on October 3, 2015. Because she joked about not showing him her puppy. Our family is devastated by this avoidable tragedy. If the weapon had simply been locked away unloaded, MaKayla would still be here today.

The boy has been charged with 1st degree murder, the youngest individual ever to be charged with that crime in Tennessee. This won't bring MaKayla back, nor will it keep a tragedy like this from happening again. The Washington Post estimates that toddlers are shooting an average of one person a week in 2015 - and in Tennessee alone, 19 children have been accidentally shot this year. This needs to stop.

Tennessee (and every state) should have stronger Child Access Prevention laws to force gun owners to store their weapons responsibly. This isn't about taking away someone's firearm, it's about saving lives, and keeping other innocent children from dying due to irresponsibly stored and inapproriately accessible guns.

Please help me make sure MaKayla's horrible fate isn't shared by one more child. Sign the petition to demand Tennessee's lawmakers act to strengthen Child Access Prevention laws to make gun owners store their firearms safely. If guns are accessible and used to injure or kill someone, the irresponsible owners should also be charged with criminal acts.
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The tragic story of MaKayla Dyer - the 8 year old girl in White Pine, shot and killed by an 11 year old neighbor because she wouldn't show him her puppy - should never be repeated. Please author or support legislation that would make sure that gun owners store their weapons responsibly, using trigger locks and safes. If they do not, they also should face criminal charges if their weapons are used to injure or kill anyone.
Update #28 years ago
MaKayla's Law has been introduced, but a vote has been postponed until March 15th at the earliest. WE NEED TN VOICES TO SIGN AND SHARE THE PETITION. TAG YOUR TN FRIENDS. Each signature from TN is turned into an email to their lawmaker - we need to be louder then the NRA!
Update #18 years ago
HUGE NEWS: MaKayla's Law will be heard in committee in the Tennessee State House next week! If our bill has any chance of keeping any more kids from being shot due to irresponsible gun owners, we need a huge outcry from Tennessee. Click here to share on Facebook, and tag all your TN friends and family.
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