Recent data highlighted in a report by the Washington Post reveals that, shockingly, there have been 43 incidents involving toddlers aged three and under accidentally discharging firearms in the current year. Of these incidents, 31 involved the child unintentionally shooting themselves.
Let’s pause to reflect on that for a moment.
The article, titled “Toddlers are Causing Weekly Shootings This Year,” presents unsettling statistics: “In 2015 alone, 13 toddlers have accidentally taken their own lives with guns. Additionally, 18 more sustained injuries, 10 unintentionally harmed others, and 2 tragically killed other individuals.” These figures only account for incidents where toddlers were the ones holding the weapon. The reality becomes even more distressing when considering all firearm-related deaths among children.
Nicholas Grant, in a recent opinion piece, pointed out that “more preschoolers are shot and killed each year than police officers in the line of duty.” This claim has been substantiated by Politifact, which found that from 2008 onward, firearm-related deaths of preschoolers consistently outnumbered those of law enforcement officers. It is indeed a grim fact that more young children lose their lives to gun violence than those tasked with protecting our communities.
The Need for Action
Addressing the issue of toddlers accessing firearms and causing harm is crucial. Implementing safe storage laws could significantly reduce these avoidable tragedies. Furthermore, holding adults accountable for negligence when it comes to the safe storage of firearms could also have a positive impact. Alarmingly, fewer than 20 states have laws in place that make adults criminally responsible if a child accesses a firearm and causes harm.
Between December 2012 and December 2013, research from Everytown.org indicated that at least 100 children were killed in accidental shootings — nearly two each week, a staggering 61% higher than federal statistics suggest. “We are aware of the number of children who die each year from gun-related incidents,” stated Dr. Paul Jenkins, co-director of the National Center for Gun Safety, in a 2014 interview. “However, we lack comprehensive data on how many times children pull the trigger leading to fatalities.”
For over two decades, Congress has prohibited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from using funds to advocate for or promote gun control measures. The powerful lobbying efforts of groups like the NRA are a significant factor in this ongoing issue, with their argument being that increased access to firearms enhances safety. Yet, statistics repeatedly challenge this notion, especially in the context of children’s safety.
In light of the tragic events following the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre, former President Barack Obama sought executive action to fund research on gun violence. However, Congress has consistently failed to support even basic legislation aimed at background checks and has neglected to fund research on this pressing issue.
The reality is that our children are losing their lives because Congress is unwilling to take meaningful action to regulate firearm sales and promote gun safety. The disparity in funding for research into gun injuries compared to other public health concerns is stark; from 1973 to 2012, the National Institutes of Health provided 89 grants for rabies research and 212 for cholera, but only three for firearm injuries.
Instead of striving to address the underlying issues of gun safety, parents and victims are often blamed for their inability to manage or secure firearms correctly. Consider the heartbreaking case of a veteran who was accidentally shot by her toddler while tending to her infant.
If society could truly rely on individuals to self-regulate their behavior when handling dangerous instruments, there would be no need for driver’s licenses, traffic laws, or fire safety regulations. Yet, when it comes to firearms, many argue that any form of regulation infringes upon their rights. It’s imperative that we take action. We owe this to our children.
The statistics are alarming: 43 shootings involving toddlers thus far this year. If this doesn’t provoke shock, disgust, and a call to action, it’s difficult to comprehend what would.
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Summary
This article discusses the alarming statistic of 43 shootings involving toddlers aged three and under in 2015, with a focus on the need for improved gun safety measures. It highlights the role of safe storage laws, the implications of adult accountability for firearm access, and the challenges in researching gun violence due to legislative restrictions. The narrative emphasizes the urgent need for society to address this issue to protect children from preventable tragedies.
Keyphrase: Toddler gun incidents
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