It is time to urge the Kentucky legislature and other states to enact legislation to hold "responsible gun owners" responsible when their child gets a gun and kills themselves or another person.
Another child was shot and killed in Kentucky when a mother left her 5 year old son alone with a loaded rifle and his baby sister. He shot his sister and killed her. No charges will be filed against the mother.
Read about the death here and the prosecutor's decision not to file charges:
http://www.lex18.com/news/no-charges-to-be-filed-in-shooting-of-toddler-by-her-five-year-old-brother/
Here is what I propose:
All gun owners must take reasonable steps to secure weapons in their homes, including trigger locks on guns when children live in the home or frequently visit the home. Guns must be stored, unloaded, with trigger locks and the safety engaged if the gun has a safety mechanism. Loaded guns or guns without a safety mechanism must be stored in a secure gun safe or other locked, secure area inaccessible to children under the age of 16.
Gun owners who fail to take reasonable precautions to secure a weapon in their home, automobile, or any other place where the gun is kept and a child under the age of 16 finds an unsecured gun and uses it to shoot himself or another person intentionally or accidentally, and that shooting results in the death of the victim shall be guilty of criminally negligent homicide.
Gun owners who fail to take reasonable precautions to secure a weapon in their home, automobile, or any other place where the gun is kept, will be guilty of assault in the first degree when an injury is caused by a child under the age of 16 who finds an unsecured gun and uses it to shoot himself or another person, intentionally or accidentally, and that shooting does not result in the death of the victim.
It's time to hold responsible gun owners responsible.
