A Chicago columnist and his son, Bubba, have renewed the debate over easy access to guns. Bubba’s dad applied for a firearm owener’s identification card for his son Bubba. . .and got one! That’s right, little 10 month old Bubba has a Illinois State issued firearm owner’s I.D. card. Says the state police who are responsible for issuing the firearms, ‘our job is to keep guns out of the hands of convicted felons.’ And since obviously, Bubba is not a convicted felon, the state doesn’t feel like it is their job to simply keep guns out of the hands of those who shouldn’t own them.
And this brings me to my point. I think parents everywhere should know that gun laws only keep guns out of the hands of felons. (And sometimes not even that.) They don’t necessarily screen for those who shouldn’t own a gun and consequently guns can easily end up in the hands of those who intend harm or otherwise lack the mental capabilities to responsibly own a gun. I’m not anti-gun (I actually had my own Hunter’s Safety certificate by the time I was 13), but I am definitely pro-common sense. I think it is clear regardless of which side of the issue you stand on, that a 10 month old should not have a fire arm license.
So if you do choose to own a fire arm while you have young children in the house (or really any children at all) you need to be mindful and as I’ve already stated–use common sense. Most gun accidents happen when a child finds a loaded gun. Therefore, store any guns that you own unloaded and locked where children cannot stumble upon them. Also, the ammunition for a gun should be stored separately. Never store a loaded gun–even if it’s locked up. If you don’t have a lock, Project Child Safe, as well as your local police department give them away for free.
The AAP’s official position on guns in the home is that guns and children don’t mix. However, this is an individual family decision and it may be that your profession requires a fire arm or that your family hunts. In any case, it is important to educate your young children (yes–even preschoolers) on what to do if they come across a gun or are with someone who comes across a gun. Young children can remember these four steps:
Stop!
Don’t Touch!
Walk Away!
Tell an Adult!
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